Spiced pork crackling

Makes about 150 g

• 1.5 tsp allspice berries
• 1 whole star anise
• 0.333 small nutmeg
• 0.5 tsp black peppercorns
• 300g coarse sea salt
• 1 lemon
• 300g pork skin

Step 1
Combine the allspice berries, star anise, nutmeg and peppercorns in a spice grinder or a pestle and mortar until powdery.

Step 2
Add the salt and stir.

Step 3
Add the lemon zest and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to the spice mixture and mix well.

Step 4
Cut the pork skin into 4 roughly equal pieces.

Step 5
Sprinkle one-third of the spice mixture in the bottom of a glass dish, lay two pieces of pork skin on the top (don't worry if you have to overlap the pieces slightly), then sprinkle with another one-third of the spice mixture.

Step 6
Add the remaining two pieces of pork skin and sprinkle with the remaining mixture.

Step 7
Cover and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours, turning the pieces over after 12 hours.

Step 8
Preheat the oven to 180C/gas mark 4.

Step 9
Remove the pork skin from the refrigerator, rinse off the spice mixture, and pat dry.

Step 10
Using a Stanley knife or box cutter score the skin at 6mm intervals, being careful not to cut all the way through the skin.

Step 11
Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminium foil and place the pork on the foil in a single layer, skin-side down.

Step 12
Cover with a sheet of parchment paper, and then another baking sheet.

Step 13
Place a heavy cast-iron pan or casserole lid on top to weigh it down, and bake for 20 minutes.

Step 14
Remove the baking sheets from the oven and lift off the pan and set aside.

Step 15
Pour off any fat from the bottom baking sheet and reserve for another use.

Step 16
Turn the pork skin-side up and then cover again with the parchment paper and the second baking sheet and weigh down again.

Step 17
Bake until the skin is golden brown, another 15 minutes.

Step 18
Remove the pork from the oven, pour off any rendered fat and let cool slightly.

Step 19
Scrape off any excess bits of fat from the skin, if necessary.

Step 20
Increase the oven temperature to 200C/ gas mark 6.

Step 21
Return the pork to a single baking sheet and cook until the pieces curl and crisp up, about 10-15 minutes.

Step 22
Remove them from the oven and break into pieces before serving warm or cold.