Christmas Crackling Pork

About

This Keto Christmas recipe is prepared with a pork crackling loin joint, marinated in festive seasonings and oven roasted until the pork is tender and the fat is crisp and golden. Simple to prepare, this crackling low carb pork just requires some marinading time before slow roasting in the oven. This is a great option for the days either side of Christmas, perfect served with hot or cold Keto Christmas sides.

Which Cut of Pork Should I Use?

We have used a pork crackling loin joint for our Keto Christmas dinner recipe. If you prefer, you could also use a pork shoulder/butt joint. If you choose to use a different cut or weight of meat, you will need to be sure to adjust your cooking times and marinade quantities accordingly. Please be sure to adjust your macros also to reflect any changes made to the original recipe.

Serving Suggestions

This delicious festive Keto recipe makes a great main for sharing. The pork can be sliced and enjoyed with both cold or hot low carb sides. For a cold side, why not try with our Keto Christmas slaw? Or for a hot option, this would be perfect with our Keto Thanksgiving mashed cauliflower. These recipes and other Keto holiday recipes can be found in our sides section.

Ingredients

1 ¾ pound pork roast, loin, fresh, visible fat eaten
1 tablespoon maple flavored syrup by lakanto
1 teaspoon sage, dried
1 teaspoon rosemary, fresh
1 teaspoon, chopped thyme, fresh
1 tablespoon orange juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ teaspoon salt, sea salt
½ tablespoon mustard
½ teaspoon garlic powder
⅛ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Pat the pork completely dry with kitchen paper. Lightly score across the fat of the pork at one-inch intervals, without cutting through to the flesh. Sprinkle the fat with salt and rub into the scores. Set to one side while you prepare the marinade.
Add the orange juice, olive oil, mustard, garlic powder, lakanto syrup, sage, rosemary and thyme to a small mixing bowl. Whisk together until well combined. You may adjust these seasonings as desired to suit your personal taste.
Baste the marinade all over the pork fat and flesh, working into the scores and folds in the meat. Set to one side in a roasting tin for 45 minutes to marinade and to bring the pork to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
After this time, transfer the pork joint to the oven for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, reduce the temperature to 300 degrees Fahrenheit and baste the pork in the pan juices. Cook for a further 30 mins. Turn the temperature back up to 400 degrees and roast for a final 15-25 minutes, or until the pork fat is crisp, crunchy, golden, and the pork is entirely cooked through. Serve with your preferred Keto Christmas sides.