Air-Fried Chicharron: A Crunchy, Crispy, Easy Treat

Air fryers are a great way to make chicharron, also known as pork rinds, pork belly or cracklings. This Latin American classic is a popular street food and can be made in an air fryer in under 45 minutes. The air fryer is a healthier, less messy alternative to deep-frying and the results are a delicious, crispy, tender, mouthful of savoury goodness.

Choosing the right cut of pork

Selecting the Right Type of Pork

The first step is to choose between pork belly and pork skin/rind. Both options are commonly used for making chicharron, but they have distinct characteristics.

Pork belly, also known as uncured and unsmoked bacon, includes a layer of meat under the skin and fat. This option is ideal if you prefer your chicharron with some juicy, tender meat attached to the crispy skin.

On the other hand, pork skin or pork rind is purely the fatty skin of the pig with little to no meat attached. This option is better if you're looking for a lighter, crispier texture similar to pork rinds or cracklings.

Finding a Good Source

Once you've decided on the type of pork you want to use, it's time to find a reliable source. Here are some options:

• Butchers or Local Markets: Visiting a butcher shop or a local market with a butcher is a great way to get the exact cut you need. They can also cut the pork belly or skin into bite-sized pieces for you, saving you time and effort.
• Grocery Stores: Many grocery stores carry pork belly, especially those with a butcher section. However, finding pork skin might be more challenging, and you may need to explore other options.
• Hispanic or Latin American Markets: If you're looking for pork skin, these markets are excellent places to check. They often carry this cut of pork, as it is a key ingredient in traditional dishes like chicharron.
• Asian Markets: Asian markets are another good source for pork skin, as suggested by some home cooks.
• Online Purchase: If all else fails, you can always order pork skin or pork belly online. This option ensures you get the exact cut you need and may offer more specialized suppliers.

Preparing the Pork Skin/Belly

After you've acquired your chosen cut of pork, there are a few preparatory steps to consider:

• Trimming Excess Fat: If you're using pork belly, you may want to trim off some of the excess fat attached to the skin. This step isn't necessary, but it can help ensure even cooking and a better texture.
• Cutting into Bite-Sized Pieces: Cut the pork skin or belly into bite-sized pieces, typically about 1-inch in size. This step is crucial for air frying, as it ensures even cooking and crispiness.
• Drying the Pork: Before seasoning and air frying, make sure the pork is very dry. Pat it down with paper towels to remove any excess moisture, including any leftover lime juice if you've marinated the pork.
• Seasoning: While chicharron can be delicious with just salt, you can also experiment with various seasonings like baking soda, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, or even a Latin spice blend like Sazon.

Remember, choosing the right cut of pork for chicharron depends on your personal preference for meatiness and crispiness. With the right ingredients and preparation, you'll be well on your way to making mouthwatering chicharron in your air fryer!

Marinating the pork

Firstly, ensure you have the right cut of pork. You will need pork belly, cut into bite-sized pieces or 1-2 inch cubes. You can ask your butcher to cut the pork belly for you, or you can do it yourself.

Next, prepare a marinade for the pork to soak in. There are a few different options for the marinade, depending on your taste preferences. A simple option is to use lime juice. Squeeze lime juice over the chopped pork, ensuring each piece is coated. You can also add other ingredients to the lime juice marinade, such as salt, ground black pepper, and granulated garlic. Mix these ingredients together and coat the pork belly pieces.

If you want to add more flavour to your chicharron, you can use a Latin spice blend called Sazon, which can be found in the Hispanic section of your local supermarket. Combine the Sazon with other spices like oregano, cumin, and black pepper. You can also add baking soda to the mix, which will help make the pork extra crispy. Pour oil over the pork belly cubes, followed by the spice blend, and mix well.

Once the pork is coated in the marinade, it's important to let it rest. Leave it covered in the fridge for about 25 minutes. This allows the flavours to penetrate the meat and ensures the pork is dry, which is crucial for achieving a crispy texture.

After the pork has rested, it's time to cook it in the air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to 350-400°F. Place the marinated pork pieces in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Avoid stacking them on top of each other. Cook for 20-25 minutes at the lower temperature, then increase to 400°F and cook for another 5-10 minutes, or until crispy.

Now you know how to marinate the pork for chicharron in an air fryer! Remember to experiment with different spices and ingredients to find your perfect flavour combination.

Seasoning the pork

Firstly, you should pat the pork belly dry with a paper towel. This is an important step to ensure the pork is very dry before adding it to the air fryer, which will help to achieve that crispy texture.

Next, you can combine your chosen spices in a small bowl. The exact spices you use are up to you, but some common options include sazon, salt, ground black pepper, baking soda, granulated garlic, oregano, cumin, and onion powder. You can also use adobo seasoning or a spice blend of your choice.

Once you have combined your spices, pour them over the pork belly cubes, along with some oil and baking soda (if using). Mix well to ensure that all the pieces of pork are coated with the seasoning blend.

At this point, you can also add some lime juice to the pork and let it sit for a while to tenderise the meat. However, make sure to pat the pork dry again before adding it to the air fryer, as any moisture will affect the crispiness of the final dish.

Cooking the pork

Preparation:

First, you'll want to cut the pork belly into bite-sized pieces, ideally about 1 inch in size. You can ask your butcher to do this for you to save time. Then, preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for around 5 minutes to ensure it's nice and hot when you put the pork in.

Seasoning:

In a bowl, squeeze lime juice over the chopped pork, then pat it dry with a paper towel. It's important that the pork is very dry to achieve that crispy texture. Next, season the pork belly with your chosen spices. This could include Sazon, salt, ground black pepper, baking soda, granulated garlic, oregano, cumin, or adobo seasoning. Make sure to coat each piece of pork evenly with the seasoning blend.

Cooking:

Place the seasoned pork into the preheated air fryer in a single layer. Avoid stacking the pieces on top of each other. For crispy chicharron, cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 45 minutes. However, it's a good idea to check on the pork every 10 minutes and give the basket a good shake to ensure even cooking. If you have smaller pieces of pork, check on them at the 25-minute mark to prevent overcooking.

Serving:

Once the pork is cooked to your desired level of crispiness, remove it from the air fryer and serve! It pairs well with fresh lime wedges, hot sauce, or chimichurri guacamole on the side.

Tips:

• Before adding the pork to the air fryer, ensure it is very dry to achieve the crispy texture.
• You can use baking soda to help achieve that extra crispiness, but it is optional.
• Don't forget to read your air fryer manual before using it, as cooking times and temperatures may vary slightly between models.
• For oven cooking, preheat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and cook the meat on a wire rack for 25-30 minutes.

Serving the chicharron

Chicharron is a quintessential street food in Latin American cooking. It is a crispy and tender mouthful of savoury goodness. There are many ways to serve this delicious dish. Here are some suggestions:

• With a squeeze of lime: A squeeze of lime over the top of your chicharron will add a fresh zing to the flavours. You can also serve it with lime wedges on the side.
• With a dipping sauce: While chicharron is not typically served with a dipping sauce, you can make a wasakaka sauce to serve with it.
• With a beer: A very cold beer is typically found next to this dish.
• With a dessert: A chicharron is often followed by a Dulce de leche cortada or a Dulce de leche dominicano for dessert.
• With a side: Tostones, Yuca fries, or Batata frita are the perfect companions for chicharron.
• With a salad: You can serve chicharron with a chimichurri guacamole salad. Chimichurri is an herbaceously acidic topping typically used in Argentinian cuisine.
• With a dipping sauce: You can also serve chicharron with a hot sauce for dipping.

Frequently asked questions