Indulge in Keto-Friendly Pork Belly Recipes

This article explores various delicious and easy-to-make keto pork belly recipes, perfect for those following a low-carb lifestyle. From quick Vietnamese-inspired dishes to oven-baked burnt ends and crispy air fryer bites, discover how to enjoy this flavorful and fatty cut of meat while staying within your macros.

Keto Vietnamese Pork Belly with Mushrooms (Under 30 Minutes!)

Craving a taste of Vietnam without the carbs? This recipe delivers a flavorful pork belly dish in under 30 minutes. Unlike traditional recipes, this keto version uses a low-carb sweetener, making it suitable for diabetics and those watching their sugar intake.

Ingredients:

• Pork belly strips, cut in bite-sized pieces
• 1 TBS lard or coconut oil
• Pinch of salt
• 1 TBS erythritol (or other low-carb sweetener)
• 1 small onion, cut in strips
• Mushrooms, cut in thick slices

Instructions:

1. In a large pot bring water with a pinch of salt to boil.
2. In a boiling water, add pieces of pork belly and cook for 10 to 15 minutes and after 15 minutes drain the meat and set it aside.
3. Melt 1 TBS of lard or coconut oil in a skillet, put cooked pork belly on a hot oil, add pinch of salt and 1 TBS of erythritol.
4. Stir everything and cook for 3-5 minutes. Cover if necessary to avoid blisters on your hands!
5. After 3-5 minutes, add 1 small onion cut in slices and mushrooms cut in thicker slices.
6. Stir everything and cook for a few more minutes, until the pork belly is caramelized and the vegetables are tender.

The mushrooms perfectly complement the pork belly, creating a delightful combination of flavors. Serve this dish with fried cauliflower rice for a complete and satisfying keto meal.

Crispy Oven-Roasted Pork Belly

For a truly indulgent treat, try this oven-roasted pork belly recipe. The key to achieving that irresistible crackling is to ensure the skin is dry and well-salted. The long, slow roasting process renders the fat, resulting in tender meat and crispy skin.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs. pork belly, bone-in
• 1 tbsp. flaked sea salt
• 1 tbsp. cracked black pepper
• 2 onions, quartered

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 F.
2. Score the pork belly skin, taking care not to cut down to the meat.
3. Rub the pork belly generously with salt and pepper.
4. Place the pork belly in a roasting pan and add the quartered onions.
5. Put the pork belly in the oven and allow it to roast for 30 minutes at 400 F, then turn the heat down to 320 F and roast for 25 minutes per ½ lb.
6. When the pork belly is cooked through, switch the grill/broiler on and allow the skin to crisp.

Serve with a side of celeriac mash to balance the richness of the pork belly.

Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers

Keto Air Fryer Pork Belly Bites

Looking for a quick and easy low-carb appetizer or snack? These air fryer pork belly bites are the perfect solution. They're crispy, flavorful, and packed with protein and fat, making them ideal for a ketogenic diet.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. Pork belly cut into pieces
• 2 tbsp. Olive oil
• 1 tsp. Garlic powder
• ½ tsp. Paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Cut the pork belly into bite-sized pieces.
2. In a bowl, toss the pork belly with olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
3. Add your seasoned bites to the preheated air fryer basket and bake for 20 minutes until crispy, flipping them once at the halfway point.

Serve these pork belly bites with your favorite dipping sauce or as a main meal with harmonizing extras. Leftovers can be re-crisped in the air fryer for a quick and easy snack.

Keto Shanghai-Style (Red Braised) Pork Belly

This recipe delivers a flavorful and aromatic pork belly dish with a touch of sweetness and spice. The combination of soy sauce, monkfruit sweetener, ginger, and chili flakes creates a complex and satisfying flavor profile.

Ingredients:

• 1 kg pork belly, cubed
• 1 cup water
• 2 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp golden monkfruit sweetener
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp rice vinegar
• 1 tsp red chili flakes
• 1 star anise
• 1 bay leaf

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400F.
2. In a medium bowl, prepare the sauce by whisking together the water, soy sauce, monkfruit, ginger, vinegar and chili flakes.
3. In a large ovensafe skillet or pan, heat the cubed pork belly over medium-high heat.
4. Once the pork begins releasing its oils, sautee about 5 min, until browned on all sides.
5. Pour the sauce over the pork belly, then add the star anise and bay leaf.
6. Allow to simmer about 5-8 min.
7. Transfer the skillet or pan to the oven and bake 60 min, until the sauce thickens.
8. Remove the pork belly from the oven, then serve with your choice of side.

Keto Pork Belly Burnt Ends

Inspired by the classic Kansas City BBQ, these keto pork belly burnt ends are a sweet and smoky treat. The pork belly is cooked until the fat crystallizes, creating a crispy coating that's reminiscent of bacon.

Ingredients:

• Pork belly, cut into bite-sized pieces
• Keto-friendly BBQ sauce (check for no sugar or corn syrup)
• Swerve brown sugar substitute
• Chili powder
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 300F.
2. Place the Swerve brown sugar substitute, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder and salt and pepper to taste to the bowl.
3. Mix the bbq sauce with the pork belly pieces, and cover with aluminum foil.
4. Bake for 2-3 hours, or until the pork belly is tender and the sauce has thickened.

Serve these burnt ends hot and fresh out of the oven with your favorite keto-friendly salad and BBQ side dishes.

Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide

Pork Belly: A Keto-Friendly Protein Source

Pork belly is an excellent choice for those following a ketogenic diet due to its high-fat content. On ketogenic diets, fatty meats are recommended over leaner sources like chicken or fish. Pork belly skin adds even more fat content if you choose to leave it on your dish.

Tips for Cooking Pork Belly

• Crispy Skin: The secret to crispy pork belly skin is to make sure the skin is dry; salt aids in that.
• Cooking Time: Cooking time may differ slightly based on how you chop your pork.
• Storage: Store any leftover pork belly in an airtight container and refrigerate; they should keep for a couple of days.
• Re-crisping: If you want to re-crisp your bites, simply pop them in the air fryer for an additional 5 minutes before eating.
• Frozen Pork Belly: You can safely cook pork belly in the air fryer from frozen. As a general rule, it's recommended that you cook frozen pork belly for double the normal cook time.

Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto

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