Many of us have tried this crunchy, hearty and fragrant dish, but few have wondered what cracklings are. Pork greaves are fried bacon, which is considered to be the national Belarusian dish, which is in demand among the population of Ukraine, Russia and Belarus.
In this article, we will tell you about simple and quick ways to cook pork greaves, and also offer you some interesting dishes with this ingredient.
Cracklings recipe
To prepare this dish you will need the following ingredients:
- lard - 1 kg;
- salt - 4 tsp;
- allspice - 4 tsp.
What are cracklings, we have already told you, now we will proceed to their preparation. This recipe is so simple that it is not even worth describing. Even a schoolboy can cope with the preparation of pork greaves. However, before starting the process, you must choose the right fat. It should be pink in color and have a pleasant smell.
Step cooking
What are cracklings and how to cook them? Now we will tell you everything!
Having prepared all the products we need, we can safely proceed to the following actions:
- if a piece of bacon has a very thick skin, it is better to cut it, but if you like crisps, you can leave it;
- wash our main ingredient under cold water, dry with paper towels;
- Now we cut it into several parts, sprinkle it with plenty of spices: salt and pepper;
- take a deep saucepan or cauldron, pour the cut fat there and put on a small fire;
- periodically stir the resulting mass, simmer under the lid;
- after the cracklings are completely ready, we take them out of the saucepan and transfer them to a convenient storage container.
If you like fried and crispy slices of fat, then fry the product until crusty. Otherwise, as soon as the fat begins to melt, carefully remove the pork cracklings and transfer them to a jar. Thus, the final dish will turn out to be very soft and tender, which will easily spread it on bread.
How to cook bacon from bacon with onions?
Essential Ingredients:
- pork fat - 300 grams;
- onions - 2-3 pcs.;
- salt - 2 tbsp. l .;
- pepper - 2 tbsp. l .;
- seasonings for bacon.
Cooking method:
- we wash the fat under water, cut it into longitudinal pieces;
- heat the vegetable oil in a frying pan, fry our slices until a crust forms;
- remove the husk from the onion, cut it into small cubes and add to the pan;
- add salt, pepper and spices;
- as soon as the onion gets a golden hue, remove the pan from the heat, transfer the dish to the plate.
This dish is perfect for boiled young potatoes in combination with rye bread, sour cream and a bunch of green onions.
Pie with cracklings
Another interesting and simple recipe with cracklings is homemade cakes, for which we will use potatoes, greens and lard.
So, the necessary products for cooking:
- wheat flour - 300 grams;
- dry yeast - 1 sachet;
- milk - 150 ml;
- lard - 800 grams;
- potatoes - 5-6 pcs.;
- parsley and dill;
- chicken eggs - 2 pcs.;
- a pinch of sugar;
- salt;
- allspice;
- vegetable oil for lubrication.
Before proceeding to the cooking process, cut the fat into small pieces, drain the fat from it (it is not needed in the recipe). Fry the greaves in a skillet until golden brown.
How to make a pie?
Step 1. Peel the potato, rinse it underwater with dirt, cut into small slices and cook until tender.
Step 2. In a deep bowl, sift the wheat flour, add dried yeast, sugar and pour some milk.
Step 3. Knead the dough and set it aside in a warm place for half an hour.
Step 4. Make mashed potatoes, add the remaining milk and beaten eggs to it. Then salt and pepper.
Step 5. Combine the dough and mashed potatoes, add the greaves and knead until the dough starts to lag behind the bowl.
Step 6. Cover the bowl with foil and wait about 20-25 minutes.
Step 7. Lubricate the baking dish with vegetable oil, put the dough into it and send it to the oven preheated to 200 degrees for 40-50 minutes.
After the set time has passed, turn off the oven and allow the cake to cool. Then we transfer it to a beautiful plate, sprinkle with chopped parsley and dill.
Such pastries are suitable for both daily meal and for the festive table, allowing you to diversify the usual dishes.
Useful Tips
If you are not a supporter of diets or allow yourself fatty and high-calorie dishes, then this little advice is for you. What are cracklings we have already figured out, and now we will tell you about how you can make a dressing from the remaining products. After you fry the greaves, the released fat can be used as a spread for sandwiches and sandwiches.
The cooking process itself is extremely simple:
- transfer the melted fat to a storage container;
- chop parsley and dill greens in small pieces;
- take a couple of cloves of garlic, chop them and mix with the rest of the ingredients;
- add salt, black allspice and some spices to taste, such as basil, coriander and so on;
- mix everything thoroughly and refrigerate for several hours.
Thus, you get a delicious, delicate and nutritious bread dressing.