Growing up in a Cuban family, pork has always been a comfort food for me. An even more special treat is chicharrónes. Chicharrones are fried pork belly – sometimes with the skin. Originally from Spain, the dish is found throughout Latin America. The Spanish word chicharrón translates to “crackling” or “cracklins” – depending on where you are from.
The fat, crunch, and salty satisfaction make these a top snack for family gatherings or a good movie. They are usually prepared by frying the pork bellies in fat, low, and slow at first, then raising the temperature to crisp them.
The authentic method of cooking these can be laborious and require hours of preparation and long, slow cooking. I don’t have the patience or the time. My method does not result in traditional chicharrónes, but it only takes 20 minutes, and the result delivers the fat, crunch, and salty goodness.
I recently rediscovered these delectable morsels while looking for something satisfying while on the carnivore diet. The carnivore diet involves eating all animal products. As with any restrictive diet, you get bored eating the same foods. I first turned to store-bought pork rinds as a snack, but those quickly became tiresome.
My recipe is very simple and done in an air fryer. Surprisingly good-quality pork belly is available at Costco. You cut the pork belly strips into 1″ cubes. I like to cut them into slightly different sizes, knowing that smaller pieces will have more crunchy bits and larger pieces will retain more fat – I like the variety of textures. Dry the pork thoroughly, season them, and pop them in the air fryer. Twenty minutes later, let the snaking begin.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. pork belly strips (1/2-inch thick)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
Instructions
Preheat your air fryer to 350°F.
Cut the pork belly strips into 1″ cubes—approximately. Different-sized chunks will add to the variety of textures. Dry them thoroughly with ample paper towels. Coat the pork belly with olive oil—this helps the seasoning stick to the pork while in the air fryer. Season the cubes with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Place the pork belly cubes in the air fryer, being careful not to overcrowd them.
Cook the pork for 20 minutes (turning after 10 minutes). At the 20-minute mark, check for desired doneness and crispiness. Place on a drying rack. Since you won’t be able to resist, be careful not to burn yourself. Enjoy.