Smoked pork belly is one of my favorite foods to prepare. When I first tried to teach my wife how to properly smoke, this was one of the first foods we worked on. Although we can’t decide who makes this better, we both agree that it tastes delicious.
Today, you will learn how to make this recipe yourself. It takes a few hours to prepare but it’s well worth the effort. If you plan on making this for dinner, it’s best to get started on this around lunchtime so everything will be ready once it’s time for dinner.
Is pork belly the same as bacon?
While they are both cut from the underside of the pig, there is a difference between the two.Starting with pork belly, it is the whole slab cut from the belly of the pig. Pork belly is also uncured.
With bacon, it’s also cut from the belly of the pig but it’s not cut from the same slab as the pork belly. Unlike pork belly, bacon is cured or brine. Then there’s the fact that bacon can be cut from different parts of the pig such as back and shoulders.
Can you overcook pork belly?
It’s very possible to overcook pork belly. You will know when pork belly is overcooked because the muscle and fat will become rubbery. This is why it’s important to not set the temperature too high and to not cook too long.
Like with making all other foods, patience is key. If you rush the process, the recipe won’t come out as good as it should.
Do you smoke pork belly fat side up or down?
There is really no right or wrong way for the fat to face as it’s a personal preference. However, most people like to smoke the pork belly with the fat side facing up.
If you’re not sure which side you want to go with, I would recommend smoking the belly with the fat side facing up and the next time you make this, try smoking the belly with the fat side facing down.
What makes a good smoked pork belly recipe?
Many people like to use bbq sauce with pork belly. This is because pork belly and bbq sauce go great together. But it’s not just any bbq sauce they use.
Don’t get me wrong, bbq sauce will go great with this, but sweet bbq sauce will take it to a whole new level of goodness. The sweet flavor you get from the bbq sauce and the smoky taste of the pork belly complement each other nicely.
OTHER RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
Smoked Pork Belly
Delicious pork belly bites smoked in just 4 hours
Ingredients
- 2-3 lbs Pork Belly
- 1 tbsp Paprika
- 3/4 cup Brown Sugar
- 1 tbsp Salt
- 1 tbsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Ground Black Pepper
Instructions
Preheat your smoker to 275F.
Cut the pork belly into 1 1/2 inch cubes.
Grab the black pepper, garlic pepper, salt, brown sugar, paprika, and mix them up to break any lumps. Spread that mixture over the pork belly cubes and be sure to rotate the cubes so all of the sides are equally seasoned.
After seasoning, put the cubes into the smoker for 2 hours.
After two hours, put the cubes onto an aluminum drip pan and cover that with aluminum foil. Proceed to cook the cubes for another 2 hours.
Once finished, remove the aluminum foil and drain all of the liquid. Pour bbq sauce over the cubes and be sure to coat them evenly.
Raise the temperature of your smoker to 350F and put the cubes back into the smoker for 10-15 minutes.
Remove the cubes and let them rest at room temperature for 20 minutes. Proceed to eat and enjoy it!
EXPLORE MORE
Again, this requires a few hours of cooking, but once you taste the smoky and juicy pork belly, you will understand why it takes a few hours to make.
This is one of my favorite recipes to make and it’s great if you are new to smoking. Not much work is required on your part so this recipe is very easy and delicious!