Want minimally processed bacon on your plate? Side pork is pristine, no-ingredients-added pork belly, sliced up and ready to fry. We like to call it naked bacon because it comes from the same cut as bacon, but no ingredients or processing has been added to the meat. To get that great crispy, savory flavor that bacon provides, you’ll want to add a few steps before you fry up your side pork. Here are a few flavor varieties to try. Cook them up in a skillet or try them on your grill/smoker. It’s delish!

Basic Ingredients:

1lb Ramstead Ranch side pork

Brine:

• ¼ c Kosher salt
• 2 c water

Brine Instructions:

1. Combine water and salt and heat on stove. Stir until salt dissolves.
2. Allow brine to cool before adding to side pork.
3. In a glass container, place raw side pork and add brine. Add water to mixture until meat is fully submerged.
4. Store mixture in refrigerator and allow side pork to soak 4-24 hrs.

When you are ready to cook, choose your ingredients below, or make up your own amazing blend.

Sweet Heat Pepper Side Pork Ingredients:

• 3 Tbsp D&B Sweet Heat Peppers (or other spicy canned pepper brand, but these locally-produced peppers are favorites) plus splash as much juice from the jar as you want to add flavor to your side pork.
• Allow to marinade up to 1 hr.

We used D&B Sweet Heat Peppers to add some spice to the breakfast table.

Savory Garlic & Herb Side Pork Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp chopped garlic
• 1 Tbsp fresh chopped herbs. Rosemary is a great choice
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Stir and let marinade for up to 1 hr

Garlic and rosemary are two flavors that go really well with pasture raised pork.

Brown Sugar Side Pork Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp brown sugar
• Salt to taste
• Stir and let marinade for up to 1 hr

We cooked our Brown Sugar Side Pork on the Traeger....a really good idea...!

Grill/smoker cooking instructions:

1. Heat your grill/smoker to 375°F
2. Place side pork in even, flat strips directly on grill racks.
3. Cook about 10 min per side, or until golden brown and slightly crispy.
4. Enjoy pork divinity!

Slightly smoked and seriously delicious!

Skillet Cooking Instructions:

1. Using two separate skillets, add oil and heat: One very hot skillet to cook your side pork. One med-high to put the final sear on your side pork.
2. Add side pork to first skillet. It is normal for a lot of juice to come out of the meat. Fully cook, about 3 min.
3. Transfer meat to your second skillet and allow the side pork to get a crisp sear on both sides, being careful not to scotch sugar if you are using sweet ingredients. About 2 min per side or until desired crispyness. 
4. Serve and enjoy!

When cooking your side pork in the skillet, be prepared for a lot of excess juice. We recommend having 2 pans heated and ready--one to cook your side pork, then transfer into a second pan to add a final crispy sear to the meat. Perfection!