Serves 4
Prep time 2 h (including marinating time)
Cook time 15 min

​I love this dish; it has a little bit of everything. Anything with South East Asian flair, loads of fresh herbs, a fantastic dressing and some spicy meat has got to be a winner. Bun cha, as the Vietnamese call it, is a great dish to take on picnics as the meatballs are just as good cold. Pack everything in separate containers and and you are ready to go.

Ingredients

Meatballs
     2 tbsp sugar
     5 tbsp water
     500g ground pork
     ½ red onion, finely diced
     3 tbsp fish sauce
     1 hot red chilli, finely diced (optional)
     1⁄4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
 
Noodle Salad
     2 tbsp fish sauce
     2 tbsp rice vinegar
     1 tsp brown sugar
     1 1⁄2 cups water
     1⁄2 tsp. minced or grated garlic
     1 red Thai chilli, minced
     ½ green papaya or green apple or green mango, cut into matchsticks
     350g thin rice noodles, cooked as directed
     1⁄2 head red leaf lettuce, torn into small pieces
     2 good handfuls of coriander, mint, Vietnamese mint, Thai basil
     1 green mango, grated

Method
Combine the sugar with 3 tablespoons of the water in a saucepan over a medium-high heat. Cook until a dark brown caramel forms, about 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the remaining water, swirling the pan. If the sugar clumps a bit just swirl the pan and it will melt again. Cool a little.
 
In a large mixing bowl, combine the pork, red onion, fish sauce, caramel sauce, chilli, if using, and pepper. Cover and marinate in the fridge for 1½ hours.
 
To make the dressing, simply combine the fish sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, water, garlic, chilli and green papaya, apple or mango in a large mixing bowl. Set aside to let the flavours infuse.
 
Remove the pork from the fridge and shape into small balls, 20 in all. Heat your grill to high. Brush the meatballs with a touch of peanut oil then grill or barbecue until fully cooked and slightly charred, 4 minutes each side.
 
Divide the noodles among 4 bowls and spoon over some of the dressing. Place the meatballs to one side. Place the lettuce, herbs and mango to another side and serve with extra dressing on the side.
 

Prep time: 15
Cook time: 30
Serves: 4
 
Ingredients
       For the pork
       1 pork tenderloin, fat and sinew removed
       3 slices prosciutto
       6 sage leaves
       Freshly ground pepper
       300g small potatoes, halved
       olive oil, for brushing

       For the sauce
       1/4 cup white wine
       2 shallots, roughly chopped
       2/3 cup chicken stock
       1 Tbsp wholegrain mustard
       1 tsp. Dijon mustard
       2 Tbsp. chopped sage leaves
       1/4 cup mascarpone
       salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
     For the pork

1. Pre-heat oven to 220° c and place the rack in the centre of oven.
2. Tuck thin end of tenderloin underneath to make it all the same thickness and place sage leaves on top of pork, evenly spaced along the meat. Grind over some pepper, no need to use salt as the prosciutto will do that for us.
3. Take one piece of prosciutto and lay it over-top of one of the sage leaves, tucking the ends underneath. Repeat with another slice of prosciutto, being sure to cover the sage. Use 2 or 3 slices of prosciutto as needed to cover more of the pork. Place pork in the centre of an oven-safe pan or baking dish. Brush the top of the pork/prosciutto with olive oil and brush the empty sides of the pan with olive oil as well.
4. Cut potatoes in half and distribute on either side of the pork. Try not to over-load the pan or the potatoes won’t brown as well. Sprinkle with a bit of salt and pepper and if desired, arrange the potatoes cut-side down in the pan for best browning.
5. Place in to pre-heated oven and cook for approximately 25 minutes or until internal temperature of meat is about 65 degrees. (time will depend on the size of your tenderloin). When meat has reached this temperature, remove from oven. Move rack up one position and turn on the grill. Place pan back in the oven and allow to cook under the grill until the prosciutto crisps up. Remove and rest for at least 5 minutes before cutting/eating.

   
      For the sauce

1.  Remove pork to a cutting board and cover loosely with foil. Remove the spuds and set aside. Keep the tasty juices and return the pan to a med/high heat.
2.  Add the wine and shallots and using a wooden spoon, scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen any browned bits. Cook until shallots have softened and are starting to take on a golden colour and wine has mostly evaporated. Add chicken stock, mustard, sage and mascarpone and allow to cook, until reduced by 1/3. Taste and add salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste. Serve over pork or on the side.

Prep time: 45 mins
Cook time: 2 hours
Serves: 4

Pork belly. Double-cooked. Sticky. You’re welcome.

Ingredients
       1kg pork belly, diced
       ¼ cup light soy sauce
       3 tbsp brown sugar
       2 tbsp dry sherry
       1 cup pineapple juice
       ¾ cup water
       2 star anise
       cornflour for coating
       1 litre cooking oil
       ½ tsp sesame oil
       finely sliced spring onion to garnish
       lettuce leaves to serve

Instructions

1. Place the pork in a glass bowl. Combine the soy sauce, sugar, sherry and pineapple juice and pour over the pork. Marinate for at least 30 minutes.
2. Transfer the meat and marinade to a medium-sized saucepan and add the water and star anise. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and gently simmer until the pork is tender, up to two hours.
3. When the pork is very tender, remove from the heat. Strain and reserve the liquid to make a sauce.
4. Coat the pork lightly with cornflour. Heat the oil in a deep fryer to 170°C. Add the pork and fry until golden brown.
5. Place the reserved liquid in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Reduce to a thick consistency, then add the sesame oil. Add the crispy pork pieces and combine.
6. Serve topped with spring onions and in lettuce leaves as pictured.

Useful tip

• When the pork hits the deep fryer, take care as it'll spit and splutter at you!