CHICHARRON RECIPE MEXICAN RECIPES

Steps:

• For the pork: Put the pork skin in a large pot and cover with water. Weigh down with a plate to keep it submerged. Bring the water to a boil and cook until the skin is soft and pliable but not falling apart and the water is white, 1 1/2 to 2 hours (adding more water as needed).
• Carefully remove with a large spider or slotted spoon and arrange the skin in an even layer, with no folds, on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet. Discard the cooking water. Put in the fridge, uncovered, and allow to cool until completely cold, about 2 hours.
• Once the skin is cold, use a spoon or bench scraper to remove all subcutaneous fat, being careful not to tear the skin. Place the scraped skin on a rack set over a baking sheet. Set the oven to its lowest possible setting (ours was at 200 degrees F) and dehydrate the skin overnight, until dry, brown and brittle.
• For the spicy-sweet blend: Mix the salt, sugar and chile powder in a small bowl.
• For the five-spice blend: Mix the five-spice and salt in a bowl.
• For the dipping sauce: Mix the vinegar, fish sauce, chili paste and garlic in a small bowl.
• To fry the pork skins: Snap the skin into small (1-inch square) pieces. Heat a deep-sided pot with about 4 inches of lard, peanut oil or a combination of the two to 385 to 400 degrees F. Fry one square at a time, prodding it until it puffs up and turns crispy, about 15 seconds. Remove to a paper-towel-lined tray and season with one of the spice blends while hot. Serve immediately or to cool to room temperature. Serve with Richmond's dipping sauce if desired.
• You can also store the squares in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days before frying.

Steps:

• DUCK-FRIED RICE: This works with either homemade or doggie-bag rice and duck from a Chinese dinner out. Heat 1 tablespoon sesame oil in a wok. Add 1 clove of garlic, minced, a quarter-sized piece of ginger, minced, and cook until fragrant. Add 1/2 carrot, grated, a strip of red pepper, chopped, and 3 scallions, sliced. Break in an egg and cook until it forms curds. Add 1 cup of shredded cooked duck and 2 cups of cold, day-old rice. Heat through and season to taste with soy sauce and pepper flakes. Makes enough for two.
• SALAD: Toss mixed salad greens with vinaigrette of olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Divide the greens among plates. Lay a few slices of duck breast on each plate and garnish with a dollop of cherry marmalade next to the duck.
• ANOTHER SALAD: Take a page from a chicken-salad recipe. Mix diced, smoked duck with diced celery, chopped scallions, roasted and chopped hazelnuts and a little good mayonnaise. Season with salt and pepper and serve as an open-face sandwich.
• SOUP: Use the duck carcass the same way you would make chicken soup and you'll have, you guessed it, rich duck soup.