Cuban Inspired Smoked Pork Belly Recipes

SMOKED CUBAN (CUBANO) PORK

Steps:

• 1. Gather your ingredients
• 2. Add all the marinade ingredients to a large bowl and stir until completely dissolved.
• 3. Use a sharp knife to cut a crosshatch pattern into the fat cap, and the bottom of the pork.
• 4. Chef's Note: This will help the marinade to penetrate into the pork.
• 5. Add the pork and the marinade to a large Ziploc bag, or non-reactive bowl.
• 6. Chef's Note: Because of the size of these pork butts, I'm using turkey-basting bags that I got from Williams-Sonoma.
• 7. Place in the fridge for 12, and up to 24 hours.
• 8. Chef's Note: If you're like me, and you like to peek into the fridge every now and then... Well, while you're in there, give the bag a big old squeeze or two.
• 9. Chef's Tip: Ziploc bags have been known to spring a leak. To keep this from becoming a problem, place the bag in a bowl, or on a large plate.
• 10. After 24 hours remove the pork from the marinade, and save about two cups.
• 11. Place the marinade into a small saucepan, and allow it to simmer for about 20 minutes, then remove and reserve.
• 12. Preheat your smoker to 225f (107c).
• 13. Thoroughly coat the pork with the dry rub... Rub it in good.
• 14. Chef's Note: My dry rub consists of equal amounts of black pepper, cumin, paprika, onion powder, salt, and then a pinch or two of cayenne pepper.
• 15. Add the pork butt to the smoker, along with two bricks.
• 16. Chef's Note: The bricks are optional, but I'll explain that later.
• 17. Allow the pork butt to smoke until reaching an internal temperature of 200f (94c).
• 18. Chef's Note: Once an hour, for the first 6 hours, open the smoker, and mop the pork butt with the reserved marinade.
• 19. Chef's Note: Depending on your cut of meat, it could take 12 hours to reach the magic number. But don't hasten the process by raising the heat... have patience.
• 20. Optional Step: Remove the pork butt from the smoker, wrap in foil, then place into a beverage cooler, and place some tea towels around it, plus the two hot bricks. Let it sit for two hours. What this does is finish up the melting of the collagen, and makes this pork melt in your mouth.
• 21. Chef's Tip: I made my own box out of Styrofoam, but a typical Coleman cooler will work just fine.
• 22. Remove from the cooler, and shred. If the meat is a bit dry, add a small amount of the reserved marinade.
• 23. Chef's Note: I tried several ways to cut the meat for a Cubano sandwich; however, shredded is the way to go.
• 24. There you go... the perfect Cuban smoked pork. Keep the faith, and keep cooking.

CUBAN INSPIRED SMOKED PORK BELLY

Steps:

• 1. Combine ingredients 2-14.
• 2. Add marinade to pork belly. Olace in zip lock bag. Marinate over night.
• 3. Smoke at 250 degrees for 6 hours. Baste with marinade and add additional wood chips as needed.
• 4. Rest, Slice. Enjoy!

21 BEST WAYS TO COOK PORK BELLY

Steps:

• Select your favorite recipe.
• Organize all the required ingredients.
• Prep a pork belly recipe in 30 minutes or less!

PORK CARNITAS - SLOW COOKER

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil, orange juice, lime juice, salt, cumin, oregano, red pepper flakes, and pepper.
• Make slits in the pork with a paring knife and rub liberally all over with the oil mixture.
• Place pork in the slow cooker, along with the onion, garlic, and bay leaf. Pour the remaining juices from the bowl over the pork.
• Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or until an internal temperature of 202 degrees F is reached.
• Transfer pork to a cutting board and let cool slightly. Using tongs or forks, shred into thick chunks.
• You can enjoy as is or take it a step further by crisping it up in a pan, which is recommended!
• To pan fry: warm a tablespoon of oil in a nonstick skillet or cast iron pan over medium-high heat. Working in batches to avoid over-crowding, spread the pork in the pan in an even layer, drizzling with some of the juices. Once the juice evaporates and the bottom of the pork is golden and crispy, sear it quickly on the other side and then remove from the skillet. You want it browned all over, but not dry.
• Serve as desired. You can't go wrong with any of our suggestions!
• Note: If f you have time and can remember, I do recommend marinating the pork overnight, for even more incredible flavor. Combine everything in the slow cooker the night before then place it in the fridge (the insert, not the base). Take it out in the morning and let it warm slightly, then set it to cook.
• Note: More serving suggestions, storage, tips, and alternative cooking methods are included in the full article.

SMOKED PORK BELLY - SIGNATURE PORK RECIPE

Steps:

• Mix your agave nectar and olive oil. Use a sharp knife to make incisions into the fat side of your pork belly. Use your mixture to coat your pork.
• Mix your dry rub then coat your entire pork belly. You need to set aside some of your rub for later.
• Let your rub soak into your pork belly for about one hour.
• When your smoker reaches a temperature of 250 degrees Fahrenheit, put your smoked pork belly into your smoker.
• Always put your pork into your smoker with the fat side up. This will enable your pork belly to render and become tender.
• Once you have been smoking your pork belly for two hours, wrap your pork in aluminum foil to prevent the meat from burning while rendering the fat.
• Prior to placing your smoked pork belly on the foil, sprinkle a small bed of brown sugar along the length. Place your pork on the foil and cover with your remaining pork rub.
• Now drizzle your tiger sauce on the top.
• Mix your honey and honey barbecue sauce together then drizzle on top of your meat.
• Now put your butter on the very top. Turn over your meat and repeat the same process on the other side.
• Wrap you smoked pork belly in the aluminum foil and put it in your smoker for two to three hours.
• Use your meat thermometer to determine when your smoked pork belly reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Remove your pork from your smoker, place on a platter, cover lightly with aluminum foil and let it rest and cool for a few minutes.
• Now you need to decide how to serve your delicious smoked pork belly. You can shred your pork for amazing sandwiches, cube your pork and insert toothpicks or slice your pork into moist and tender servings.