Ontario Pork - Sweet Heat Pork Candy

A red Valentine heart box filled with Pork burnt ends. — Ontario Pork – Sweet Heat Pork Candy

Sweet Heat Pork Candy – A recipe for your sweet heart! Valentine's Day is rapidly approaching, and I always hear people say: "the best gifts, are the ones you make, with love!"

Now, I'm not about to start needle pointing a heart onto a pillow, crocheting a cell phone cozy, penning a touching sonnet or crafting a felt ball necklace… but I do have a personalized gift idea that I believe is perfect to give, or receive this Valentine's Day!

Ontario Pork sweet heat pork candy or otherwise known as pork belly burnt ends!

It's the gift that not only tastes incredible but in its depth of flavor perfectly summarizes all the reasons you love your Valentine.

Deep, tender and sweet, with just enough spice to keep things interesting! (You can use that in your Valentine's card - no charge!!!) So, grab a pork belly, fire up the smoker, pellet smoker or grill and get to work on crafting the sweetest gift that your special someone has ever received.

You'll also need a heart-shaped box, some ribbon and 1-inch foil candy cups.

However, if your Valentine understands and appreciates quality BBQ, then go the extra step and create the Ultimate Blind Box/Presentation Box by lining your heart shaped box with curly parsley and then artfully arranging the pork candy on top.

Trust me, you will be judged to be the Grand Champion of personal Valentine's Day gifting!

Ingredients

8-10 lb. Ontario Pork - Pork Belly
3 tablespoons olive oil
½ cup pork rub (use your favourite)
1 cup sweet heat BBQ sauce (use your favourite)
½ cup butter (no salt added)
¼ cup honey
1-2 tablespoons Sambal Oelek

Preparation

Firstly, remove the layer of skin from the pork belly (or ask your butcher to).

A slab of pork belly with layer of the skin removed on a piece of butcher paper with a large knife.

Preheat your smoker, pellet grill or gas grill with smoker box, to 275°F.

Slice the pork belly into ¾" cubes.

In a large bowl combine the cubes with the olive oil and pork rub. Toss well so they are coated evenly.

Cubes of pork belly seasoned on a piece of butcher paper with a large knife.

Add the seasoned pork belly cubes in a single layer to a mesh rack. Then place rack directly on grill grates (using a mesh rack will ensure you don't lose any tasty pork candy, through the grates, as it shrinks).

Smoke for 1 hours and 45 minutes. As a result, the meat will have shrunk and started to crisp on the edges.

Lower smoker/grill temperature to 250°F.

Place pork cubes into a large aluminum pan. Combine BBQ sauce, butter, honey & Sambal Oelek, then add to pan and toss well to coat.