HowTo: Make Your Own McDonald's McRib

On November 2nd, the legendary McRib returned to McDonald's across the country. McRib fans rejoiced. BUT, as every true fan already knows, the sandwich will be pulled from the menu again December 5th.

If you subscribe to the cult of the McRib, don't let McDonald's tease you with this on-again, off-again nonsense. Get even with their flip-floppy ways. Learn to make it yourself.

Saveur's recipe for Barbecue Pork Belly Sandwich with Quick Dill Pickles and Red Onions "reinterprets the McRib using pork belly, which, over the course of a three-hour braise, turns from a three-pound cut into something like the preformed pork patty's blindingly spectacular cousin."

You Will Need:

2 six-inch white sandwich rolls, split in half
1/2 small red onion, cut into batons

For the pork belly:

3 lbs. pork belly, trimmed into a 5" x 2.5" rectangle
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 tbsp. vegetable oil
2 medium carrots, roughly chopped
2 medium yellow onions, roughly chopped
2 stalks celery, roughly chopped1 bay leaf
3–4 sprigs of fresh thyme
6 cups chicken stock or fresh water

For the pickles:

4 medium cucumbers, sliced
1 cup kosher salt
2 big pinches pickling spices (coriander seeds, bay leaf, peppercorns, dry mustard seeds, fennel and cumin seeds, cloves)
3 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
5– 6 sprigs of fresh dill
2 cups water
2 cups white wine vinegar
1/4 cup sugar

For the BBQ sauce: