Craving a crispy, succulent, and keto-friendly dish? Look no further than this air fryer pork belly recipe! This method provides an easy way to cook pork belly, achieving a crackly, crispy exterior and incredibly juicy interior in a fraction of the time compared to traditional cooking methods. Whether you're looking for a main course, appetizer, or snack, this recipe is versatile and satisfying.
Why Air Fry Pork Belly?
Traditional pork belly recipes often require long cooking times to properly render the fat. An air fryer offers a streamlined approach to achieving the same results, with several advantages:
- Speed: The air fryer significantly reduces cooking time, making it a convenient option for busy weeknights.
- Crispy Texture: The circulating hot air ensures even cooking and promotes maximum crispiness of the pork skin.
- Healthier Option: Air frying requires little to no oil, reducing the overall fat content of the dish.
- Easy Clean-Up: The air fryer basket is easy to clean, unlike the mess associated with pan-searing or deep-frying.
- Mostly Hands-off: The air fryer does most of the work in this recipe, and there’s almost no babysitting needed, unlike pan-searing and deep-frying.
Ingredients You'll Need
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. You only need a few key ingredients:
Essential Ingredients:
- Skin-on Pork Belly: The quality of your pork belly is paramount. Look for slabs that are evenly marbled with fat and are bright pink with no signs of discoloration. Getting pork belly from an actual butcher VS a local grocery store to be so much better. The meat is typically fresher and doesn’t contain any preservatives. Also, please don’t use frozen pork belly- it just won’t crisp up the same.
- Sea Salt: Enhances the natural flavors of the pork and aids in achieving a crispy skin.
- Olive Oil Spray: Prevents sticking and promotes even browning.
Optional Ingredients for Enhanced Flavor:
- Worcestershire sauce
- Garlic powder
- Pepper
- Mushrooms: Add the mushrooms. Garlic mushrooms are so good!
- Onions: Add even maybe some onions and dinner is served!
- Other vegetables: If you don’t like mushrooms, add other veggies of your liking. The flavors are fantastic and the texture is juicy and wonderful.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Air Fryer Pork Belly
Follow these simple steps to create perfectly cooked air fryer pork belly:
- Prepare the Pork Belly: Always pat it dry. Use paper towels to pat the pork belly dry before cooking. Use a sharp knife to score the top layer of skin in a criss-cross pattern. This helps the fat render and the skin crisp up.
- Season the Pork Belly: Pat dry the pork, then rub salt all over it. Feel free to cook bite-sized pieces of pork belly instead of an uncut slab. To do this, place the meat in the freezer for about 20 minutes so it’s easier to slice.
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 200C/400F. Spray cooking oil inside the basket. Preheat the Air Fryer at 400°F for 4 minutes. This will give a pork a nice sear.
- Air Fry: Place the pork belly in the greased air fryer basket. Air fry for 20-25 minutes, or until the skin crackles. Air Fry at 400°F for 10-18 minutes, shaking and flipping and the pork belly 2 times through cooking process (time depends on your preferred doneness, thickness of the pork belly, size & cooking intensity of your air fryer).
- Rest, Slice, and Serve: Transfer the cooked pork belly to a cutting board and let it rest for 10 minutes.
Air Fryer Pork Bites with Vegetables: A Variation
If you prefer bite-sized pieces, you can easily adapt this recipe:
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- Cut the Pork: Cut the pork chops into 3/4” sized cubes. Cut pork chops into bite sized pieces but make sure they’re they’re all about the same size for even cooking. The size you cut the pork cubes will vary and so will sizes of air fryers. These will all affect how quick the pork will cook.
- Combine with Vegetables: Combine with the mushrooms (or your favorite veggie). If you don't like mushrooms, you can cook it with your favorite veggie. Just make sure they are cut small enough to cook around same time as the pork.
- Season: Coat the pork and mushrooms with the melted butter or oil, and then season with Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
- Air Fry: Spread the pork and mushrooms in even layer in air fryer basket. Air fry and stir/toss about 3 times during cooking. Keep checking to make sure they cook to your preferred texture. Check the pork chop bites to see how well done it is cooked. If you want it more done, add an extra 2-5 minutes of cooking time.
- Serve: Season with additional salt & pepper if desired. Serve warm, right away.
Tips for Achieving the Perfect Crisp
- Dry the Pork: Always pat the pork belly dry with paper towels before seasoning. This removes excess moisture and helps the skin crisp up.
- Score the Skin: Scoring the skin in a criss-cross pattern allows the fat to render properly and promotes even crisping.
- Don't Overcrowd the Air Fryer: Ensure the pork belly is placed in a single layer in the air fryer basket to allow for proper air circulation.
- Adjust Cooking Time: Air fryer sizes and styles vary, which will change cooking times. Keep an eye on the pork belly and adjust cooking time as needed to achieve your desired level of crispiness.
Serving Suggestions
Air fryer pork belly is incredibly versatile and can be served in a variety of ways:
- Main Course: Serve with a side of rice, roasted vegetables, or a fresh salad for a complete meal.
- Appetizer: Cut the pork belly into bite-sized pieces and serve with dipping sauces like hoisin sauce, sweet chili sauce, or a homemade glaze.
- Snack: Enjoy crispy pork belly as a satisfying and flavorful snack.
- Add to Bowls: Incorporate pork belly into rice bowls, noodle bowls, or lettuce wraps.
Flavor Variations
While salt is essential, you can experiment with different spices and flavoring agents to customize the flavor of your pork belly:
- Glazed: My 3-ingredient ham glaze, hot honey sauce, katsu sauce, and pork tenderloin marinade would be great as a glaze.
- BBQ: Use your favorite BBQ rub or sauce to create a smoky and tangy flavor.
- Candied: Sprinkle brown sugar and a pinch of cayenne pepper for a sweet and spicy candied pork belly.
- Hot and Spicy: Add chili flakes, cayenne pepper, or your favorite hot sauce for a fiery kick.
- Garlic: Incorporate minced garlic or garlic powder for a savory and aromatic flavor.
Freezing and Reheating Instructions
- To Freeze: If you want to freeze leftover pork belly, let it cool, wrap it in foil or plastic, and then freeze it in a sealed bag for up to 3 months. Yes, the cooked pork freezers great. But the mushrooms will be slightly mushy when they thaw out. If you don’t the texture, then you’re good to go. This is a great recipe if you want to make alot ahead of time.
- To Reheat: Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and reheat the pork belly for 5-10 minutes, or until heated through and crispy.
Important Considerations
- Pork Quality: The quality of the pork belly significantly impacts the final result. Opt for high-quality, fresh pork belly for the best flavor and texture.
- Internal Temperature: The safe internal temperature for pork belly is 63ºC/145°F. Let it rest before slicing.
- Air Fryer Variations: Cooking times may vary depending on the air fryer model. Monitor the pork belly closely and adjust cooking time as needed.
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