EDITOR’S NOTE (January 9, 2019): Updated recipe and recipe video (bottom of page). If a slightly sweet cornbread is preferred, use my recipe for Homemade Self-Rising Cornbread. After pouring cornbread batter in skillet, sprinkle crumbled cracklings (fried pork) on top before baking.
Savory cornbread seasoned with crumbled fried pork fat back (aka cracklings). Delicious as is, drizzled with honey or maple syrup. Excellent with fresh collard greens.
For this recipe, I used Royal Food’s brand of Cured Salt Pork Fat Back and my favorite cast iron skillet provided by Lodge Manufacturing.
The cured pork salt pork fat back is very, very salty. If some salt is preferred in fried cracklings, boil 5 minutes. Drain the water before frying. To eliminate all of the salt, boil 20 to 25 minutes. Drain the water before frying.
IMPORTANT: Although fried pork is tender, the hard outside edge (meat skin) can damage teeth. Remove hard edges and discard. Do not add to cornbread batter.
Enjoy the recipe!
| Prep Time | 30 minutes |
| Cook Time | 35 minutes |
| Servings |
servings
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- 5 thick slices cured salt pork fat cold
- 1/2 cup water for boiling
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil for frying
- 1 cup self-rising white cornmeal mix
- 1/2 cup self-rising flour, sifted See recipe notes for all-purpose flour.
- 2 tablespoons sugar (optional)
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 cup buttermilk
Ingredients
Cracklings
Homemade White Cornbread
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- Place all ingredients on the kitchen counter. Use an 8" skillet (thick cornbread) OR a 9" skillet (thin cornbread). Cornbread will be baked in the same skillet in which cracklings are fried.
- Place 5 slices of cold pork fat back strips in preferred sized cast iron skillet or other cookware. Cover with about 1/2 cup of water. Add more water if necessary.
- To decrease salt, simmer over low-medium heat for 5 minutes. Drain water before frying. To remove all salt, cover with 1 cup of water. Boil 20-25 minutes over low heat. Drain the cloudy water before frying.
- Leave meat in skillet over low-medium heat. Meat will produce a little fat (also called lard). Add 2 tablespoons vegetable oil.
- Fry until light golden brown on both sides (3-4 minutes each side). WARNING: Place a lid over skillet as a shield of protection from popping HOT fat.
- Turn off heat. Drain cracklings on paper towels. To protect teeth, remove hard edges (aka meat skins). Crumble soft cracklings. Set aside. Leave drippings in skillet.
- Make the cornbread (recipe below).
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- In medium sized bowl, combine cornmeal mix, flour, sugar (if using), eggs, and buttermilk. Stir until smooth. Small lumps okay. Set aside.
- Over medium heat, heat skillet with drippings until hot. Pour in cornbread batter. Sprinkle top with crumbled cracklings.
- Reduce oven to 375. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean and cornbread is golden brown.
- Serve hot.
How to substitute 1 cup of all purpose flour for 1 cup of self-rising flour...
INGREDIENTS
1 cup of all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
INSTRUCTIONS
Sift together in a medium sized bowl. Use 1/2 cup for this recipe. Store remainder in a zippered bag. Refrigerate until ready to use.
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[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5c12-45AlQ[/embedyt]
Your recipes look great but I needs little more instructions on preparing the cracklin. How long do you cook the salt pork and how much water do you use?
Thank you for visiting and for the compliment! I’ve updated the recipe and added a recipe video. The amount of water depends on the size of your skillet. I suggest starting with 1/4 cup. Gradually continue pouring just until pork strips are covered with water. Simmer for about 10 minutes to decrease salt. The pork will need a “little” salt for seasoning. Drain water before proceeding. If you taste fried pork and it’s bland, simply sprinkle it with a little salt before adding to cornbread batter. Please let me know if I may be of further assistance. Enjoy!