Switch things up with 5 unique grilled pork belly dishes – Mytour

As the weather turns chilly towards the end of the year, there's nothing quite like gathering with family for a grilling feast. And grilled pork belly is an excellent choice to elevate any gathering. Below, Mytour presents you with some recipes for air-fried grilled pork belly, incredibly convenient and straightforward. If you're planning to showcase your culinary skills, don't miss out on this fascinating read!

1. A glimpse into grilled pork belly

Pork belly, also known as bacon, is a beloved ingredient cherished by many for its balanced mix of fat and meat. It doesn't overwhelm the palate or dry out when cooked, offering a harmonious flavor profile. Moreover, dishes made from pork belly are incredibly diverse and abundant. Among them, grilled pork belly stands out as a highly favored Vietnamese delicacy.

The key to making this dish lies in the grilling process. Without careful attention and skill, you risk burning or drying out the meat. However, with an air fryer, everything becomes simplified and effortless. Below are various methods for air-frying pork belly that are both flavorful and straightforward.

• Explore more: What delicious dishes can you make with pork belly?

2. Different ways to air-fry pork belly

Traditional air-fried pork belly

Traditional grilled pork belly is probably a dish familiar to every Vietnamese family. To achieve the best results, it's advisable to choose pork belly with less fat. This ensures the meat is tender and more flavorful. Clean the pork belly thoroughly and slice it into thick slices. Then, use a knife to poke the skin so the meat absorbs the seasoning more easily.

Prepare ground lemongrass, garlic, minced chili, and mix them thoroughly with honey, unsweetened yogurt, and spices to make the marinade. Massage the meat well to ensure it absorbs the flavors evenly. Wrap it tightly and refrigerate for about 4 hours. After marinating, place the meat in an air fryer and cook at 200°C. After 10 minutes, take it out and evenly spread the remaining marinade on both sides of the meat. Then, grill it again as done previously. Isn't this air-fried pork belly recipe straightforward?

Crispy pork belly with an air fryer

Crispy pork belly is a trending dish on social media platforms. First, clean the meat thoroughly and keep the skin intact. Then, season the inner side of the meat with a little salt, ground pepper, and chili powder. Sprinkle each seasoning layer on the meat and rub them evenly. Marinate the meat for about 30 minutes to absorb the flavors. After marinating, steam the meat over boiling water for 15 minutes.

Use a knife to score the skin of the pork belly and pat it dry thoroughly. Once the skin is completely dry, sprinkle a little sea salt over the entire surface. Employ the double-frying technique to ensure the meat stays moist and cooks evenly. For the first round, place the pork belly in an air fryer and fry at the highest temperature for 20 minutes. Then, remove any excess salt and continue frying for a second round at 200°C for another 20 minutes. And there you have it, perfectly crispy grilled pork belly.

Caramelized pork belly with an air fryer

Caramelized pork belly is a signature dish from the province of Lang. For those who haven't had the chance to try this dish, now you can learn how to make it at home. The recipe is quite simple; the first ingredient you'll need is a piece of whole pork belly. After purchasing the pork belly, blanch it in boiling water with ginger and salt. Then, remove it and pat the skin dry. Use a sharp skewer to pierce the entire surface of the skin and sprinkle a layer of fine salt over it.

Place the salt-coated pork belly in an air fryer and fry at 100°C for 20 minutes. Then, remove it, scrape off all the salt from the top, and pat the pork dry with paper towels. Next, marinate the meat with finely minced spices and arrange the magnolia leaves on top. Securely tie and roll the pork belly with string, then place it in the air fryer. For the second frying round, adjust the temperature to 200°C and fry for 30 minutes. Then, simply serve and enjoy!

Explore more: Secrets to making delicious honey grilled pork ribs

Skewered pork belly grilled with an air fryer

Have you ever tried making skewered pork belly using an air fryer? It may sound strange, but the method is quite simple. Soak the pork belly in a diluted saltwater solution for about 10 minutes to clean off any dirt. Then, slice the meat into square pieces of moderate thickness. The marinade consists of minced garlic, shallots, condensed milk, and a bit of five-spice powder along with spices. Marinate the meat for 4 hours to ensure it absorbs the flavors evenly.

There's a method to fry pork belly using an air fryer to enhance the flavor, which you can apply. That is to alternate honey between each frying round. After the first round of frying, take out the meat and evenly spread honey on both sides of the meat. Similarly, for the second and third rounds of frying. Each time, set the air fryer to 160°C and fry for 7 minutes. With just a few simple steps, you'll have completed a deliciously fragrant skewered pork dish.

Air-fried lemongrass and tamarind pork belly

Here's another fantastic recipe for air-fried pork belly that homemakers shouldn't miss. After thoroughly washing and lightly boiling the pork belly with some ginger and salt to remove impurities, marinate it with dried shallots, garlic, chili, and a bit of five-spice powder for added depth of flavor. Let it sit for 60 minutes to allow the meat to absorb the marinade evenly. To prevent the meat from releasing water during marination, you can add a little cooking oil.

After marinating, place the meat in an air fryer and grill at 200°C for 20 minutes. Once the meat is evenly golden on both sides, slice it into bite-sized pieces. Mix the meat with lemongrass, sliced chili, shredded lime leaves, spices, and a little tamarind juice. Toss gently and squeeze lightly to ensure the meat absorbs the sauce evenly. Now, the lemongrass and tamarind pork belly dish is ready to be enjoyed.

3. Tips for air-frying meat with an air fryer

• Avoid opening the lid while the pot is cooking: Opening the lid while the pot is cooking will weaken its performance and may lead to quick damage. Moreover, the temperature inside the pot at this point is very high, which could cause severe burns.
• Avoid over-frying: The best way to air-fry pork belly is by using the multiple-fry technique. And each fry should last a maximum of 30 minutes.
• Avoid overloading: Only put a sufficient amount into the frying basket. If there's too much food, you can divide it into multiple batches.
• Limit frying wet foods in the air fryer. Or you can use a dry coating on the outside to enhance the crispiness of the food.

Above are the ways to make air-fried pork belly deliciously convenient that Mytour wants to introduce to you. What are you waiting for? Get cooking right away. Don't forget to follow the page for more delicious and unique recipes!

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