Do you like that salty, crunchy goodness of a potato chip? Who doesn’t?! Unfortunately a good replacement tends to be lacking in a Paleo diet.
I promise you pork skin is delicious when cooked crisp and crunchy!
I was so excited to finally find pig skin (not to be confused with Pigskin) so I could make my own Paleo Pork Rinds! Also known as chicharrones.
Since When Are Fried Foods Healthy?
Normally, we agree with conventional wisdom that fried foods aren’t healthy. Not because they’re fatty, but because they’re usually fried in rancid vegetable oils.
By frying your own pork skin at home, you can use your favorite Paleo-approved fat to make sure you’re getting a healthy helping of stable, saturated fat.
Commercially-made fried food is almost always made with vegetable oils full of oxidized polyunsaturated fats, and you definitely want to avoid those.
What Exactly Are Pork Rinds?
If you’ve never heard of them, let me be the first to introduce you to this delicious Paleo snack!
As you know an animal is made up of more than just it’s muscle meat, which is what we’ll typically find served for dinner. Think: chicken breast, pork chops, steak, etc.
But there is so much more to these animals than muscle meat! We need to think about the whole animal, which is why you’ll see people talk about eating nose to tail.
As I mentioned earlier I was super excited to spot pig skin at Caputo’s because that is one of two to three ingredients you need to make pork rinds.
When you cook the skin in it’s own fat (lard) it pops up to the consistency of popcorn and gives the same crunch in your mouth with that airy, crunchy goodness.
Whenever I head to the grocery store I’m always on the look out for skin and other odd bits. Not only does it give me a chance to experiment in the kitchen and try something new, I get to introduce it to you. AND you’ll find that most odd bits and organ meats are not only the most nutrient dense but also cheap because not many people buy them.
Very Few Ingredients
Although the number of steps involved may seem intimidating, there is a lot of waiting in between. You’ll wait for it to boil until soft.
You’ll wait for it to thicken up in the fridge.
You’ll wait for it to dehydrate and you won’t spend a lot of time in the kitchen throughout the life of the recipe, until it comes time to fry them up.
A Homemade Snack That’s Worth The Effort
These three ingredients pack a hefty punch of healthy fats and mineral-rich sea salt, so you don’t have to feel guilty about chowing down on this crispy snack. If you’re looking to add some fat into your diet (for example, if you’re following a ketogenic diet), these Paleo Pork Rinds are just what you’re looking for.
