Arkansas Country Rind On Slab Bacon Recipes

Steps:

• Rinse the pork belly and pat dry. Transfer to a resealable 2-gallon plastic bag. To make the spice rub, mix the kosher salt, pink salt, brown sugar, honey, red pepper flakes, paprika and cumin in a bowl. Coat the pork belly all over with the mixture.
• Close the bag and refrigerate 7 to 10 days, flipping once a day, until the pork belly feels firm. It should take 7 days for a thin belly that is about 11/2 inches thick, longer for a belly that's 2 to 3 inches thick.
• Remove the pork belly from the bag, rinse thoroughly and pat dry. Refrigerate the belly on a rack, uncovered, 48 hours.
• Set up your smoker according to the manufacturer's instructions using applewood chips, and set to 200 degrees F. Smoke the pork belly 3 hours, or until the bacon reaches an internal temperature of 150 degrees F.
• Remove the rind (optional), then slice and cook as desired. To store, wrap the bacon in plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 1 week or freeze up to 2 months.
• Pink curing salt is a mix of salt and sodium nitrite. It keeps the meat pink and protects it from bacteria. You can find it at specialty food stores or online.

Steps:

• 1. Remove rind from slab bacon. FYI The rind makes great Pork SKINS, Bake in 400 degree oven on a rack for about 20 minutes and they get real crisp like pork skins or rinds. Save in zip lock in freezer till you have more, & cook a bunch at a time.
• 2. Using a sharp knife, cut bacon into small pieces to be sautéed.
• 3. Add the cut pieces into a large pot that you plan to cook the green beans in. Saute until pieces are crisp tender. Then remove bacon with a slotted spoon to a platter lined with paper towel. Leaving rendered fat in pot.
• 4. Add the chopped onions & minced garlic to the rendered fat and sauté until transparent. The brown crust on the bottom of the pot is added flavor, stir until onions are almost tender about 5 minutes.
• 5. Add in green beans & bacon & bay leaf and almost cover the top of beans with water. Cook about 10 minutes over medium high heat.
• 6. While beans are cooking prep and cut the carrots and add to pot, stir to mix, add in steak seasoning & any other spices if desired. Cook until tender or as desired about 15 minutes more for me.
• 7. Taste and add additional spices if desired. Can drain liquid if desired before serving or serve the pot liquor with the green Beans over corn Muffins if desired. In the South We would pour the pot liquor over the corn Bread or muffins & eat it. Enjoy.