Bacon Burnt Ends

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Bacon Burnt Ends — Smoky. Sweet. Salty. A flavor unmatched by other barbecue. Yes, unmatched.

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Ingredients

  • 2 1/2-3 lb – Pork belly, skin removed
  • 1 TB – Light brown sugar
  • 1 TB – Kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup – Light brown sugar
  • 2 TB – Coarsely ground black pepper
  • 1 TB – Kosher salt
  • 1 TB – Paprika

Preparation

Step 1

Instructions
Rub light brown sugar and Kosher salt all over the pork belly; place in zip-close bag and refrigerate for 3-4 days, flipping daily.
Remove pork from zip-close bag; rinse thoroughly and pat dry. On a smoker
If you own a smoker, smoke the pork belly fat-side up over hardwood (oak, hickory or pecan) until it reaches 195°F internally. The slower (6 hours or more), the better. On a charcoal grill
Soak a couple handfuls of hardwood chunks in water while preparing the coals for cooking, about 20-30 minutes.
Fill grill about halfway up with hardwood chunks (oak, hickory or pecan); burn until the wood has turned to coals.
Using a small trowel or other tool, move coals to one side of the grill; place aluminum drip pan on other side (next to coals), and fill with water, apple juice or beer.*
Place soaked wood on coals.
Put grate on the grill and place pork belly – fat-side up – directly over the drip pan (away from coals).
Cover grill and allow to smoke for about 2 hours.
Remove pork belly from grill and place in slow cooker with about 2 TB of water; cook on low for 4 hours. The final steps
Remove pork belly from slow cooker or smoker and refrigerate until firm – at least overnight.
Cut lengthwise (as if you were cutting bacon) into 1-inch slices; then cross slice to create 2-inch cubes.
Place cubed pork belly in disposable aluminum roasting pan.
Top with all ingredients on Topping list.
Place pan over medium-high grill and cook, stirring regularly, until much of the fat has rendered and the topping has reduced to a syrupy consistency, about 20 minutes.
Remove meat from pan with a slotted spoon.
Serve in sandwiches, tacos or even on a platter with toothpicks.

Instructions

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