Fried Pork Belly Sandwich

Fried Pork Belly Sandwich

I have had this idea of Chicken Fried Bacon in my head for months, but I could not find thick enough slices to make it work like I wanted…until now!

 

Things to know:

What is pork belly?

Pork belly is a boneless, fatty cut of meat from the underside of a pig.  It is a thick slab of meat with alternating layers of fat and red-pink meat, often topped with a layer of skin.  It is high in fat, which melts during cooking to make the meat tender and delicious!

Is pork belly really just bacon?

Sort of. American streaky bacon is made from pork belly, but pork belly itself is not automatically bacon.  Brined (cured) and smoked pork belly, typically sliced thin is what American’s know as bacon.

Is pork belly good meat?

Pork belly is widely considered a delicious and flavorful cut of meat, prized for its rich combination of tender meat and melting fat.

Why is Kewpie mayo so darned good?

Kewpie mayo tastes so good because it uses only egg yolks instead of whole eggs, adding a rich, custardy texture and deep savory flavor.

Here are the main reasons why it stands out:

Extra Egg Yolks: Each bottle contains double the yolks of regular mayo, creating a thicker, smoother, and silkier mouthfeel.

The Power of MSG: Adding monosodium glutamate (MSG) brings a savory, deep umami punch that standard mayonnaise lacks.

Unique Vinegar Blend: It uses a smoother blend of apple cider, rice, or red wine vinegars instead of harsh distilled white vinegar, giving it a milder, slightly sweet tang.

Finer Emulsion: The oil particles are blended much smaller than in typical homemade or store brands, making the texture ultra-velvety.

Is Kewpie mayo healthier than mayo?

Kewpie mayonnaise is not healthier than regular mayonnaise, as it actually contains slightly more calories and fat per serving.

Ingredients:

 

2-3 lbs of thick cut pork belly (we got ours at Costco)

1 cup Sweetwater Spice Company’s Ancho Chipotle Brine 

enough water to cover the pork belly and brine in a gallon sized ziplock bag

Southern Fry Kings Chicken Fry Batter Mix  

sandwich bread

mayo (we used Spicy Kewpie Mayo)

sharp cheddar cheese slices

sliced tomato

romain lettuce slices

 

1. The night before, cut the pork belly slices in half so they will fit on the bread.

2. Chuck the pork belly into a gallon sized ziplock bag.  Add the brine and water, then shake vigorously to mix.

3. Chuck that bag into the fridge over night and dream of crispy pork belly sandwiches.

4. On the day of the cook, fire up your deep fat fryer to 375F and set up your breading station by adding a couple of cups of your breading mixture to a baking sheet.

5. Remove the pork belly slices from the ziplock bag, shake off any excess brine, then dredge in the batter mix.

6. Chuck the breaded pork belly into the fryer and cook until the pork belly has reaches at least 165F (170-180F is even better) and the breading is golden brown.  For us it was about 4 minutes per batch.

7. Lay down a layer of mayo on the bread, then the cheese, a couple pieces of the pork belly, a tomato slice, lettuce, the the top bread slice.  Serve and ENJOY!

 

Equipment used:

T-fal Deep Fryer with Basket 

Hestan – OvenBond Collection – Tri-ply 4-Piece Sheet Pan & Rack Set

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