Cracklin Skins Recipes

BEST STOP CRACKLIN

Steps:

• Fill a cast-iron pot halfway with oil and heat over medium heat until the oil reaches 350 degrees F.
• Add the pork belly to the oil and cook, stirring constantly, until golden brown and the skins begin to float, crack and pop, about 1 hour. Drain on a sheet tray lined with paper towel and allow to cool for 30 minutes.
• Again, heat the oil to 350 degrees F and fry a second time, stirring occasionally, until the cracklings are crisp and golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain on a sheet tray lined with paper towel. Sprinkle liberally with Cajun seasoning.
• Allow to cool slightly and serve.

CRISPY FRIED CHICKEN SKIN

Steps:

• Place chicken skins in a large stockpot. Cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes. Drain and transfer to a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, scrape off excess fat and cut skin into 1/2-inch wide strips.
• Place skin on a baking sheet and refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 8 hours.
• Heat oil in a large stockpot to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lower a handful of skins carefully into the hot oil. Fry until crisp, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain and sprinkle with salt. Repeat with remaining chicken skin.

CHICKEN CRACKLING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Pat chicken breast skins dry with kitchen paper. Place on a sheet of baking parchment on a baking sheet. Sprinkle on white pepper, smoked paprika or any dried herb to taste. Put another sheet of baking parchment on top, then place another baking sheet on top to weigh down the skins. Bake for 25-30 mins until crisp and golden.

CRACKLIN' SKINS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300˚F.
• Scrape any fat and meat off the skin, leaving only the skin. Using kitchen shears, cut the skin into cracker-size pieces. Place the skin pieces on top of a cooling rack in a large sheet pan, and sprinkle them with kosher salt. Cook in the oven until the fat is rendered in the bottom of the sheet pan and the skin is golden brown and crispy, usually about 3 1/2 hours.
• Remove the pan from the oven and place the skins on paper towels to drain and cool.
• Dust the cracklings with your favorite rub or dip them into your favorite barbecue sauce.

CRACKLINS (DEEP-FRIED PORK BELLY)

Steps:

• Heat about 4 inches of oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Fry pork belly squares in batches until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
• Heat about 4 inches of oil in another large saucepan to 425 degrees F (218 degrees C).
• Fry pork belly squares in batches a second time until skin "pops," 30 seconds to 1 minute. Drain on fresh paper towels.

KATE'S CRISPY CRACKLINGS FROM LEFTOVER ROTISSERIE CHICKEN SKIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375F degrees.
• Remove skin from rotisserie chicken. Remove excess fat from around cavity opening and remove tail. Remove small bones from tail and discard bones. Remove layer of fat along thighs.
• Arrange skin, tail, and removed fat (from cavity opening and thighs) in one layer in a metal baking pan that has sides (not a shallow cookie sheet). Do not line pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper because skin must be in contact with hot metal pan to sufficiently render oil in order to crisp. Almost all excess oil will render leaving a crispy "chip." Use rotisserie chicken meat for chicken salad, casserole, soup, etc.
• Sprinkle skin and fat with salt and black pepper if rotisserie chicken is not already seasoned or flavored. Bake, uncovered, for 15 minutes at 375F degrees. Remove from oven and drain off all oil. (While wearing oven mitts, I carefully tip the baking pan and use a paper towel to soak up the oil that pools in the bottom corner.) Bake for 15 more minutes. Drain off oil. Skin and fat should be golden brown (not burnt) and crispy (not limp and chewy). If not crispy, bake for 10 more minutes. Loosen cracklings from pan with spatula and transfer to paper towels. Eat while still warm.
• Note: this method works for any baked/roasted poultry including holiday turkey skin and fat. Furthermore, this method will still work for refrigerated leftovers- just add five extra minutes of baking time for skin to warm up.