Portuguese torresmos

Portuguese Torresmos are a tasty snack made from pork belly or skin. They’re fried until they’re golden and crunchy.

This dish is a hit in Portugal, often served at parties or special occasions. People enjoy them with hearty meals or just as a treat.

Making them is easy but you need to pay attention to get that perfect crunch.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds pork belly (with skin, cut into 1½-inch pieces)
• 1 tablespoon coarse salt
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons lard or olive oil
• Vegetable oil for frying (enough to cover the pork)

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, mix the pork belly pieces with salt, garlic, both paprikas, black pepper, and vinegar. Stir well.
2. Cover it and put it in the fridge for at least 2 hours, or overnight if you can. This helps the flavors soak in.
3. Heat the lard or olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat.
4. Add the marinated pork and cook until it’s lightly brown all over, about 5–7 minutes. This helps get the fat out.
5. Take out the pork pieces and set them aside.
6. Turn up the heat, and add vegetable oil to the skillet.
7. You need enough to cover the pork.
8. Heat the oil to 350°F.
9. Fry the pork pieces in batches to not overcrowd the pan.
10. Cook them until they are golden brown and crunchy, about 5–8 minutes per batch.
11. Use a slotted spoon to take them out and let them drain on paper towels.
12. Put the torresmos on a serving plate.
13. Enjoy them warm as a snack, side dish, or with rice or bread.
14. You can add lemon wedges for extra flavor.