So what am I going to do with this thing? (bought a pork belly)

[geezer]

So there we were at Sam's in the meat section. I bought some rib eyes and a 3-pack of baby backs and then I saw them, a bunch of pork belly's.

Now I'll be honest; this is the first unadulterated pig undercarriage I've ever bought.

So what do you good people suggest I do with this thing?

For now I went ahead and froze it. 

 

[bena]

I would pick one of the several tried and true recipes in the cold smoking bacon forum-- might as make it right the first time.

Pops, lots of good "step by steps" to help you out.  

 

[geezer]

 
I would pick one of the several tried and true recipes in the cold smoking bacon forum-- might as make it right the first time.

Pops, lots of good "step by steps" to help you out.  

If I go the bacon route I'll have to locate some curing salt. Decisions, decisions. 

 

[dirtsailor2003]

If you don't want to cure it, braised is good too.

Google these:

HONG SHAO ROU

Dong Po

Or Chinese Red braised pork belly

 

[bena]

Great time to support a site sponsor! Or sausage maker has a decent price on sale.
www.sausagemaker.com/insta-cure-no-1-1lb-p/11-1012.htm

Can't go wrong with bacon!


PM me for my mailing address and mail it to me!



OR



you could go to the cold smoking bacon section and read on the many many ways to make your own best-you-ever-had bacon.


Pop's Brine

 

[browneyesvictim]

Chicharrón perhaps?

 

[geezer]

If you don't want to cure it, braised is good too.

Google these:

HONG SHAO ROU

Dong Po

Or Chinese Red braised pork belly

I'll have to look into these dishes as I have no idea what they are.

Hell, I might learn something. 

 

 

[geezer]

Great time to support a site sponsor! Or sausage maker has a decent price on sale.
www.sausagemaker.com/insta-cure-no-1-1lb-p/11-1012.htm

Can't go wrong with bacon!
 
PM me for my mailing address and mail it to me!

OR

you could go to the cold smoking bacon section and read on the many many ways to make your own best-you-ever-had bacon.

Pop's Brine

Yeah, I know I eventually want to try my hand at some bacon. Even tho I can buy bacon cheaper than pork bellies. 

 

[geezer]

 
Chicharrón perhaps?

I'll have to investigate this too. 

 

[tallbm]

I have never done it but I put it on my list recently.

Since pork belly is the cut of meat that is directly against the spare ribs I wanted to cook it like spare ribs.  If you look at the meat side of a pork belly it looks just like the meat side of spare ribs without the bones!

I would trim the fat and skin off to get a good cut of meat.  I would use the saved fat and such for the wild game sausages I make every year after I finish hunting :)

Also look up Spicy Korean Pork Belly (Dwaejibulgogi).  The spicy and sweet flavor of a marinated chile rubbed pork belly is AMAZING.  If you continue to go full Korean bbq style you can feel good about eating it in lettuce leave wraps like you are offsetting the huge amount of calories from pork belly with the lettuce leaf

 

[geezer]

 
I have never done it but I put it on my list recently.

Since pork belly is the cut of meat that is directly against the spare ribs I wanted to cook it like spare ribs.  If you look at the meat side of a pork belly it looks just like the meat side of spare ribs without the bones!

I would trim the fat and skin off to get a good cut of meat.  I would use the saved fat and such for the wild game sausages I make every year after I finish hunting :)

Also look up Spicy Korean Pork Belly (Dwaejibulgogi).  The spicy and sweet flavor of a marinated chile rubbed pork belly is AMAZING.  If you continue to go full Korean bbq style you can feel good about eating it in lettuce leave wraps like you are offsetting the huge amount of calories from pork belly with the lettuce leaf

That's a neat idea on doing a belly like ribs. When you do that make sure to make a thread about it. 

I'll look into the Korean dish too. Not sure about the lettuce tho. 

 

[SmokinAl]

There have been several threads on making burnt ends with a pork belly.

I haven't tried it yet, but they sure look good.

Here is a link.

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/newsearch?search=pork+belly+burnt+ends

Al

 

[johnnyb54]

Yeah, I know I eventually want to try my hand at some bacon. Even tho I can buy bacon cheaper than pork bellies. :help:

That may be true but homemade bacon trumps store bought any day. Once you make your ow its real hard to eat store bought.

 

[sauced]

 
There have been several threads on making burnt ends with a pork belly.

I haven't tried it yet, but they sure look good.

Here is a link.

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/newsearch?search=pork+belly+burnt+ends

Al

I would go with the burnt ends too. BUT maybe do half as bacon and other half burnt ends.

With bacon, you can never go wrong!!!

 

[geezer]

 
There have been several threads on making burnt ends with a pork belly.

I haven't tried it yet, but they sure look good.

Here is a link.

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/newsearch?search=pork+belly+burnt+ends

Al

Thanks, Al. 

 

[dirtsailor2003]

 
Thanks, Al. 

The recipes I mentioned are very similar to burnt ends, but with an Asian kick that takes them over the top!

 

[geezer]

 
The recipes I mentioned are very similar to burnt ends, but with an Asian kick that takes them over the top!

But, but,  Al provided me with a link even! 

But seriously, I've been looking at Hong Shoa Rou recipe videos, a couple of which are even in English. It sounds very tasty, I have enough pork belly to try it a few ways, which I probably will.

I appreciate everyone's input. 

 

[c14james35]

There have been several threads on making burnt ends with a pork belly.

I haven't tried it yet, but they sure look good.

Here is a link.

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/newsearch?search=pork+belly+burnt+ends

Al

 

[c14james35]

I did not know pork belly burnt ends existed Al. Now im gonna have to try these!

 

[c14james35]

Not sure what I did with the first reply lol those two posts were supposed to be together.