SERVES 4-6
200g pork skins
(we generally use skins
from the belly)
coarse sea salt
groundnut or vegetable
oil, for deep-frying
24 BAR FOOD
Homemade pork
scratchings
We are probably one of very few nations in the world who
eat snacks with hairs protruding from them! If you happen
to be cooking pork belly and won't need the skin, remove
and freeze it until you have time to prepare these savoury
scratchings. Otherwise, your local butcher should be only
too happy to sell you some pork skins. The crunchy pork
scratchings keep well in an airtight container so you might
want to double up the recipe.(ut away or scrape off the excess fat from the pork skin , leaving an
even layer attached to the skins, about 3mm thick. Rub or massage
the skin with sea salt, place on a baking tray and chill in the fridge for
24-48 hours, to draw out excess moisture.Dab off the beads of moisture with kitchen paper, then cut the skin
into neat strips, about Km wide and lOcm long. Heat the oil in a deep-
fryer or a heavy-based pan until it reaches about 120°(; the pan should
be no more than half-full. Fry the skin strips in batches f or about 8-9
minutes until they are cooked through and firm. Remove and drain.Increase the heat and bring the oil to 195-2oo°C. Re-fry the pork skins
in batches for another 2 -3 minutes until they are golden brown and
crisp; the skins may curl and bubble as they fry. Remove and drain on
a tray lined with kitchen paper. The skins will continue to crisp up as
they cool. When completely cooled, store in an airtight container
unless you are serving the pork scratchings straight away.