Cracklin Bread Recipes

Steps:

• Fill a cast-iron pot halfway with oil and heat over medium heat until the oil reaches 350 degrees F.
• Add the pork belly to the oil and cook, stirring constantly, until golden brown and the skins begin to float, crack and pop, about 1 hour. Drain on a sheet tray lined with paper towel and allow to cool for 30 minutes.
• Again, heat the oil to 350 degrees F and fry a second time, stirring occasionally, until the cracklings are crisp and golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain on a sheet tray lined with paper towel. Sprinkle liberally with Cajun seasoning.
• Allow to cool slightly and serve.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Heat a cast-iron skillet over low heat until warmed through. Meanwhile, grind or cut the bacon into a small dice. Spread over pan evenly. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently so that it doesn't burn, until the fat is rendered and the bits of bacon are crispy, 4-5 minutes. Drain the bacon in a strainer, reserving the fat to use in the recipe. (You will need 5 tablespoons.) Place skillet into the preheated oven to heat.
• In a mixing bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, eggs, and salt. Slowly whisk in 3 tablespoons of the bacon fat. In a separate bowl, combine the cornmeal, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and bacon bits. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, just to combine.
• Move the skillet from the oven to the stove, placing it over low heat to keep it hot. Add 2 tablespoons of the reserved bacon fat to the skillet and swirl to coat the bottom. Pour the batter into the center of the skillet, distributing it evenly. It should sizzle. Cook on the stove over medium heat until the edge is golden and pulling away from the pan, 1-2 minutes.
• Bake the cornbread until a toothpick placed in the center comes away clean, about 20-30 minutes. Optional: Rub a bit of lard on top of the finished cornbread and broil until golden and sizzling (less than one minute).
• Serve in the skillet or flip out of the pan onto a plate. Slice into wedges and serve hot.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degree C).
• In a 10 inch oven-proof skillet, fry the pork till crisp. Add onion, and cook till just tender. Drain off liquid fat, and reserve 2 tablespoons.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine corn meal, flour, baking powder, soda, and salt. Combine eggs, honey, buttermilk, and juice: mix into cornmeal mixture. Stir in pork and onions.
• Return reserved fat to skillet, and heat till very hot. Pour batter into skillet. Transfer to oven, and bake for 30 to 35 minutes.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Sift dry ingredients into a mixing bowl and stir to combine. Add milk and stir to combine. Fold in cracklins. Form batter into oblong cakes the size you desire and then roll in shortening. Bake in a greased baking dish for 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease a 9x9 inch square baking dish.
• In a medium bowl, mix together the egg, shortening and buttermilk. In a separate bowl, stir together the cornmeal, sugar, flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until smooth, then stir in the pork cracklin's. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish.
• Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until center is set and the top is slightly brown.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Put the butter or bacon grease in an 8- or 9-inch cast-iron skillet and set over a medium-low flame. Heat until the bubbling subsides.
• Meanwhile, combine the dry ingredients in a bowl and gradually stir in the buttermilk. Add the eggs and cracklings or bacon. Stir in the melted butter or grease and pour the batter into the hot skillet. Bake for 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool 15 minutes, then invert over a plate or cooling rack. Serve warm. The cracklings respond especially well if the corn bread is toasted the next day.

Steps:

• Mix all the dry ingrediets together. Add the milk and stir untl smooth. Fold in the cracklin's. Pour into a hot, greased skillet or greased 13x9-inch baking pan. Bake 30 to 45 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven until brown.