Air Fryer Chicharrones: A Quick, Crispy, And Easy Treat

Chicharrones are a quintessential street food classic in Latin American cooking, typically deep-fried until crispy and tender. Air-fried chicharrones are a healthier alternative, using little to no oil, without compromising on the crunch and flavour. This introduction will cover how to make chicharrones in an air fryer, including the ingredients, method, and serving suggestions.

Choosing the right cut of pork

Opt for Pork Belly or Pork Skin

The ideal cut of pork for chicharrones is pork belly, which includes both the meat and skin. This combination ensures a golden brown colour and an extra crispy bite. When purchasing pork belly, look for a good balance of fat and skin. Insufficient fat will result in a less crispy texture. Alternatively, you can choose pork skin (also known as pork rinds) exclusively, trimming off any excess meat and fat.

Ask Your Butcher for Help

If you're unsure about cutting the pork yourself, don't hesitate to ask your butcher for assistance. They can cut the pork belly into bite-sized pieces, making the process more manageable. Additionally, they can ensure the pork skin is clean and properly trimmed.

Source Your Pork from the Right Places

You can typically find pork belly at your local grocery store or butcher shop. Ethnic markets, such as Latin American grocery stores, are excellent sources for finding pork skin or pork belly. Online retailers are also an option if you can't locate it locally.

Prepare the Pork Skin Properly

Before using pork skin for chicharrones, ensure it is fully clean. If necessary, wash it and dry it with a paper towel. Cut the pork skin into pieces that fit your cooking pot. Boiling the pork skin in water for about an hour helps remove excess fat, making the skin puffier during frying.

In summary, selecting the right cut of pork for chicharrones involves choosing pork belly or pork skin, seeking assistance from a butcher, sourcing the pork from the right places, and properly preparing the pork skin if that is your chosen cut. With the right cut of pork, you'll be well on your way to making delicious, crispy chicharrones in your air fryer!

Preparing the pork skin

Step 1: Sourcing and Cleaning the Pork Skin

Start by sourcing good-quality pork skin from your local butcher or grocery store. Ensure that the skin is clean and free from any dirt or impurities. If necessary, give it a quick rinse under cold water and pat it dry with a paper towel.

Step 2: Cutting and Cooking the Pork Skin

Cut the pork skin into pieces that will fit comfortably into your cooking pot. Place the skin in the pot, cover it with water, and add a heavy object to ensure the skin stays submerged. Cook the skin on a stovetop over medium heat for about an hour. This step helps to soften the skin and make it easier to work with.

Step 3: Removing Excess Fat and Drying

Once the pork skin is cooked, remove it from the heat and let it cool down. Use a sharp knife to carefully scrape away any remaining fat from the skin. The key to getting crispy pork rinds is to ensure that the skin is as fat-free as possible. Once you've removed the excess fat, make sure the skin is completely dry before proceeding to the next step.

Step 4: Dehydrating the Pork Skin

Place the dried pieces of pork skin on dehydrator racks and turn on the dehydrator. Leave the skin to dehydrate for approximately eight hours. During this time, you may need to swap the trays around to ensure even dehydration. The dehydration process is crucial, as it helps the pork rinds puff up and become crispy when fried.

Step 5: Storing Dehydrated Pork Skin (Optional)

After the pork skin is fully dehydrated, you can choose to store it in an airtight container for future use. Dehydrated pork skin has a long shelf life and can be stored for several months.

Step 6: Air Frying the Pork Skin

When you're ready to make your Chicharrones, take a few pieces of dehydrated pork skin and place them into the air fryer. Remember that the pork rinds will expand, so don't overcrowd the air fryer. Set the air fryer to its highest temperature setting and cook the pork skin for 7-10 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.

Now you have perfectly prepared pork skin, ready to be seasoned and served as a delicious snack!

Seasoning

Types of Seasoning

The most common seasonings used for Chicharrones are:

• Salt
• Pepper (black pepper or ground pepper)
• Garlic (granulated garlic or garlic powder)
• Lime juice
• Oregano
• Cumin
• Onion powder
• Baking soda

Other seasonings that can be used include:

• Paprika
• Chili powder
• Red wine vinegar
• Olive oil
• Soy sauce
• Ginger

When to Season

• Combine the chosen seasonings in a small bowl and mix well.
• Pour oil over the pork belly pieces and coat them with the spice blend.
• Ensure that the pork belly pieces are well coated with the seasoning blend.
• Optionally, pat the pork dry with a paper towel before seasoning to achieve a crispier texture.

Customization

The beauty of making Chicharrones in an air fryer is that it allows for customization of flavours and seasonings. Here are some ideas for customizing your Chicharrones:

• Add a kick of spice with cayenne pepper, chipotle powder, or hot sauce.
• Infuse fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro, or oregano for a flavour twist.
• Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and sea salt for a sweet and savoury contrast.
• Grate Parmesan or cheddar cheese over the Chicharrones after cooking.
• Sprinkle sesame seeds, chia seeds, or flax seeds on the dough for added texture and nutrition.
• Prepare a honey-Sriracha glaze and brush it onto the Chicharrones for a sweet and spicy flavour.
• Experiment with Asian-inspired flavours like soy sauce, ginger, and garlic powder.
• Use olive oil and Italian seasoning for a Mediterranean touch.
• Add lime juice and chili powder to the dough for a classic Mexican flavour.

Cooking time and temperature

The cooking time and temperature for making chicharrones in an air fryer will depend on the type of chicharrones you are making and the specific model of your air fryer.

If you are making chicharrones from pork crackling or pork belly, the cooking time will be around 25-30 minutes at 350 ºF [175ºC]. It is important to preheat the air fryer to this temperature before placing the meat in the basket to ensure even cooking and a crispy texture. You may need to cook the pork belly for a further 5-10 minutes after flipping the meat halfway through the cooking process.

If you are making chicharrones from dried chicharrones de harina, the cooking time will be much shorter, around 5 minutes at 350 ºF [175ºC]. Again, it is important to preheat the air fryer and cook the chicharrones in a single layer to ensure even cooking.

For both types of chicharrones, it is recommended to check on the food regularly during the cooking process and adjust the time and temperature as needed to avoid overcooking or burning.

Serving suggestions

There are many ways to serve chicharrones, a popular snack in the Caribbean and Latin America.

In the Dominican Republic, chicharrones are often served with a plate of freshly-fried crispy tostones (twice-fried plantains) and lime wedges to drizzle over the chicharrones. Lemon juice can be used instead of lime juice. Some people also like to serve it with hot sauce on the side.

In Mexico, chicharrones are served with corn tortillas, homemade chili pequin sauce, and garnishes. They can also be crumbled on tostadas with refried beans, avocado, salsa, onion, and lettuce.

Chicharrones can also be served with batata frita (fried sweet potato slices), yuca frita (cassava fries), guineos verdes en escabeche (unripe bananas), or yuca al mojo de ajo (boiled cassava in garlic sauce).

Chicharrones can be served as an appetizer, side dish, or chopped up and used as a filling for tacos.

Frequently asked questions