Bacon is one of the most popular foods in the world. Nowadays, you can even get bacon sundaes, bacon ice cream, and alarm clocks that awaken you to the smell of frying bacon.
Just when you thought bacon couldn’t get any better, along comes chicharron.Believe it or not, it could be better than bacon.
What Is Chicharron?
If you think Colombian coffee is great, wait until you’ve tried this all-day snack.
Put simply, this dish is like bacon on steroids. It’s also made from pork belly — except it’s carved into thick rashers instead of slivers.
Another variety consists of only the skin, or rinds, which are deep-fried.
Chicharrones originated in Spain but soon made their way to Latin America, where the Colombians perfected the dish.
The process is simple enough, but there’s a knack to it.
Try out this chicharrones recipe and see if you can master the art.
How to Make Chicharrones
The ingredients are pretty simple. All you need is 1½ pounds of pork belly, 1½ teaspoons of baking soda, 2 cups of water, and as much salt as you want.
You’ll also need a frying pan or wok, some paper towels, a sharp knife, and a chopping board.
Step One
Slice the pork belly into one-inch thick strips.
Rinse the strips and pat them dry. Rub baking soda all over the meat and place it in a container. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour.
Step Two
Remove the strips from the container, rinse them and pat dry.
Next, place the strips on a chopping board, skin-side down and slice them into portions.
Afterward, cut into each piece making 1½ inch crosswise cuts. Be careful not to cut through the fat and skin.
Step Three
Fill your pan with enough water to just cover the pork belly. Add a little salt and then place the meat in the pan.
Cover and bring the pan to the boil over high heat. When it starts bubbling, turn down the heat to medium-low.
Cook the meat for about 1½ hours or until the water has evaporated.
Step Four
There should be quite a lot of rendered lard at the bottom of the pan, don’t discard it.
Increase the heat to medium and fry the pork strips until golden brown on all sides. This should take about 20 minutes.
The lard will get quite hot and start popping, stay out of the way!
Step Five
Remove the pork from the pan and place it on paper towels to drain.
Season them with salt and allow to cool slightly before serving.
What Can Go Wrong
There’s not a lot that can go wrong with this simple yet delicious dish.
The only problems you might encounter are if you skimp on the boiling time or allow the oil to get too hot.
Both these blunders can result in your meat coming out tough and chewy.
A little patience and attention to detail go a long way in Colombian cookery.
More Latin Dishes to Love
Your first experience of a chicharron is sure to whet your appetite for more Colombian delicacies. If you are ready for dessert, check out 11 Colombian Desserts To Treat Your Sweet Tooth.
By the way, it’s not just the Colombians who love chicharron. One of Peru’s most beloved sandwiches is the Pan con Chicharron.
Keep reading our blog to learn more about all the Latin foods you love.
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Jorge Garcia is the founder of AmigoFoods, where he has spent over 20 years helping readers discover authentic Latin American and Spanish cuisine. Raised in a Cuban-American household, Jorge learned to cook at the hands of his mother and grandmother, carrying forward generations of family recipes. That heritage, backed by his family’s four-generation history in the Latin food industry, inspired him to launch AmigoFoods in 2003. With more than 1,000 published articles on recipes, ingredients, and food culture, Jorge’s mission is simple: make authentic Latin cooking approachable for home cooks everywhere while honoring the traditions behind every dish.