Crispy Salt & Pepper Pork
These make for great party food, a side or snack. You can't eat just one.
In progress...
A crispy, garlic-and-chili pork dish inspired by Chinese-American salt-and-pepper preparations.
Ingredients
4 servings
Pork
- 8 thin-cut, boneless pork chops (about 1½ pounds)
- 2½ tbs soy sauce, to help the coating stick and add some flavor
Breading
- ⅓ cup finely ground pork rinds
- 2 tbs finely grated Parmesan
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground white pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Aromatics
- 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 4 hot peppers, thinly sliced crosswise
Instructions
Prep
- Cut each chop in half and pound until about ¼-inch thick.
- Transfer the pork to a medium bowl and add the soy sauce. Coat the chops well, and let them marinate for at least 10 minutes or up to 1 day.
- Mix together the pork rinds, Parmesan, white pepper, garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon of salt in a large, shallow bowl.
Air Fry
An air fryer tends to work better for this than other frying solutions.
- Preheat air fryer to 325–340°F.
- Arrange pork in a single layer and cook for 4–6 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Increase temperature to 385–400°F.
- Cook an additional 2–4 minutes, until the coating is crisp and lightly browned.
Target internal temp: 138–140°F
Carryover brings it to ~145°F.
Rest 3–5 minutes.
Aromatics
- Turn down the heat to medium-low, and add the sliced garlic and hot peppers to the oil.
- Fry for 1 minute or until the garlic turns a light golden brown and the peppers are slightly colored. Use a slotted spoon to remove the fried garlic and peppers from the hot oil.
Top the chops with the fried garlic and peppers and serve.
Storage
Short-term holding (same day):
- Hold on a wire rack in a 200°F oven to maintain crispness for up to 30–45 minutes.
Refrigeration
- Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Expect loss of crispness; coating will soften.
Reheating
- Reheat on a wire rack in a 375°F oven until hot and re-crisped.
- An air fryer also works well for restoring texture.
- Avoid microwaving; it will make the coating soggy.
Freezing
- Not recommended; texture of the coating degrades significantly.