Description
Succulent pork belly burnt ends deliver a mouthwatering journey through smoky, caramelized perfection. Rich Texas-style barbeque magic combines tender meat, sweet glaze, and irresistible bark that pulls you into a flavor adventure waiting to be savored.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 3 pounds pork belly, sliced into 1-inch cubes
Spice Blend:
- 3 tablespoons kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon chipotle powder
- 1 tablespoon coarse black pepper
- 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
Finishing Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 3 teaspoons Tabasco or hot sauce of choice
Instructions
- Prepare the smoker at 225°F using cherry wood pellets, positioning a wire rack over a foil-lined baking sheet.
- Meticulously trim excess fat from pork belly, cutting into precise 1-inch uniform cubes.
- Drizzle olive oil over cubes and generously coat with prepared dry rub, ensuring complete coverage.
- Arrange seasoned cubes on wire rack, spacing them slightly apart for optimal smoke circulation.
- Smoke uncovered at super smoke setting for 1 hour, then increase temperature to 250°F and continue smoking for an additional 2.5 hours.
- Create glaze by combining butter, brown sugar, honey, and Tabasco in a saucepan, heating until sugar dissolves completely.
- Transfer smoked pork belly cubes to a foil pan, drench with prepared glaze, and cover tightly.
- Return to smoker and cook for 1 hour or until internal temperature reaches 200°F.
- Remove foil, close smoker lid, and smoke for final 20 minutes to caramelize exterior.
- Plate immediately, drizzling with any remaining sauce for enhanced flavor profile.
Notes
- Choose fatty pork belly cuts with consistent marbling for maximum flavor and tenderness during smoking process.
- Use cooking spray generously on wire rack to prevent cubes from sticking and ensure easy removal.
- Consider adjusting Tabasco sauce quantity based on personal spice tolerance, allowing customization of heat level.
- Allow extra resting time after cooking to let meat absorb remaining sauce and enhance overall flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Smoking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 479 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 1380 mg
- Fat: 44 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 27 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg