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Chicharrón de Cerdo Dominicano

A time-honored Dominican snack — Chicharrón de Cerdo is the island’s beloved crunchy pork, boiled in salted, lime-spiked water until tender and then fried in its own rendered fat until shatteringly crisp.

⏱ 15 minPrep time
🔥 50 minCook time
🍽 6Servings
🏷 AppetizerCategory
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Chicharrón de Cerdo Dominicano - Dominicain recipe

A time-honored Dominican snack — Chicharrón de Cerdo is the island’s beloved crunchy pork, boiled in salted, lime-spiked water until tender and then fried in its own rendered fat until shatteringly crisp. Sold by the pound at roadside stands and piled into mofongo, it is as much a snack as a dish. The Dominican version keeps the meat juicy while the skin turns into pure crackle.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Place the pork pieces in a wide pot, cover with water, and add the salt and lime juice. Bring to a boil over high heat.
  2. Lower the heat to medium and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the water evaporates and the pork starts frying in its own rendered fat, about 35 to 45 minutes.
  3. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue frying the pork in the fat, turning often, until the pieces are deeply golden and the skin is crisp and crackly, 15 to 20 minutes more.
  4. Scoop the chicharrón out with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
  5. While still hot, toss with the mashed garlic, oregano and black pepper, and serve immediately with lime wedges and tostones.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Patience is everything — the water must fully evaporate before the pork truly fries, and rushing the heat will give you chewy skin instead of crackle. The rendered fat (manteca) is gold: save it for frying rice or plantains.

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Recipe details

Prep15 min
Cook50 min
Servings6
CategoryAppetizer
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →