Air-Fried Lechon Belly: A Tasty, Crispy Treat

Lechon belly is a traditional Filipino dish made with pork belly. It is usually deep-fried, but you can also cook it in an air fryer. This method is healthier, safer, and less time-consuming than deep-frying. You can boil or simmer the pork with seasonings before air-frying it to get the same crispy texture as deep-fried lechon belly.

Air fryer pork belly recipes

Yes, you can cook lechon belly in an air fryer. This method yields healthier results and saves time and effort. You can enjoy the same crispy texture as deep frying but without the mess and with less fat and fewer calories.

To make air fryer pork belly, you can boil or simmer the pork with seasonings before air-frying. This ensures the pork is already thoroughly cooked and adds flavour to the meat. You can boil the pork for 45 minutes to one hour, or simmer for one to one and a half hours. Then, set the desired temperature and cooking time on your air fryer.

Ingredients:

• Pork belly
• Seasonings of your choice

Method:

• Boil or simmer the pork with seasonings for 45 minutes to one hour, or until thoroughly cooked.
• Set the desired temperature and cooking time on your air fryer.
• Place the pork in the air fryer and cook until golden brown and crispy.
• Serve and enjoy!

How to get crispy pork belly without deep frying

Yes, you can cook lechon belly in an air fryer. It's a healthier alternative to deep frying as it uses less oil or sometimes none at all, which means fewer calories and less fat. It's also quicker and easier as there's no need to monitor the temperature levels or risk splatters and burns.

To get crispy pork belly without deep frying, you can follow these steps:

Firstly, boil or simmer the pork with seasonings for 45 minutes to 1 hour. This will add flavour to the meat and ensure it's already thoroughly cooked. Then, heat the pork over high heat until it comes to a boil. Lower the heat, cover, and let it simmer for 1 to 1.5 hours. This will help the meat stay tender and the skin soft and gelatinous, which will make it fry up crispy.

Finally, put the pork in the air fryer. This will brown the pork and make it crispy and crackly. Set the desired temperature and cooking time, and there's no need for regular monitoring. You'll be left with a healthier, yet still delicious, crispy pork belly.

Pre-cooking pork belly before air frying

Yes, you can cook lechon belly in an air fryer. Pre-cooking pork belly before air frying is an important step in the process of making lechon belly. This ensures that the pork is thoroughly cooked and also adds flavour to the meat. There are a few different ways to pre-cook the pork belly. Some people choose to boil the pork for 45 minutes to an hour, while others simmer it with aromatics and seasonings for 1 to 1.5 hours. This longer cooking time helps to keep the meat tender and ensures that the pig skin will be soft and gelatinous, resulting in a crispy texture when fried.

The air fryer is then used to brown the pork and give it a crispy, crackly texture. This is similar to the effect of deep-frying but with less oil and mess. Air fryers are also healthier than traditional deep frying methods as they use less oil or sometimes none at all, resulting in fewer calories and less fat.

When using an air fryer, you can set the desired temperature and cooking time, and there is no need for regular monitoring. This makes the process of cooking lechon belly much easier and more convenient than traditional deep frying.

Health benefits of using an air fryer

Yes, you can cook lechon belly in an air fryer. The pork is boiled or simmered with seasonings before air-frying to make it crispy and delicious.

Air fryers offer a healthier alternative to deep frying. They use significantly less oil or sometimes none at all, which means fewer calories and less fat. Lowering saturated fat intake has many health benefits, such as helping to manage cholesterol levels and decreasing a person's risk of cardiovascular disease. Air fryers also remove the safety risk of spilling, splashing, or accidentally touching hot oil.

Air fryers are also easier to use than deep fryers. You just set the desired temperature and cooking time, and there's no need for regular monitoring. They also save time and effort, as there's no need to stand by a pot of hot oil while carefully monitoring temperature levels.

Air frying also appears to curb the omega-3 fatty acids in fish. These "good fats" help lower blood pressure and raise "good" HDL cholesterol levels, and they may help protect the heart.

Air fryer vs deep fryer

Yes, you can cook lechon belly in an air fryer. This method yields healthier results than deep frying and saves time and effort. Air fryers use a combination of hot air and only about one to two tablespoons of oil to promote caramelisation, whereas deep fryers often require at least four to six cups of oil.

Air fryers cook food with rapidly circulated hot air and little to no oil. Deep fryers heat oil or fat to high temperatures to cook. The hot air in an air fryer crisps and browns food using little to no additional oil, whereas deep frying submerges food in hot oil or fat to cook at high temperatures.

Deep fryers generally cook food faster than air fryers, but they require more preparation and attention during the cooking process. Food needs to be dipped in a wet batter for deep frying, whereas with air frying, you can simply place your food in the appliance, select the temperature and setting, and let the air fryer do the rest. Deep fryers need to be monitored throughout the cooking process to avoid hot oil splashes and burnt results.

Air frying can be done using a countertop air fryer or an oven with air fry capabilities. A convection oven may also yield similar results. If you want to deep fry foods, you will typically need a pot or an appliance specifically designed for this cooking method.

Frequently asked questions