Pork Belly Burnt Ends as a Main Dish?

[Michael_in_TX]

Hi all,

I've been traveling for three weeks so I've been really eager to grill something and this weekend's weather looks perfect. However, in my zeal, I may be getting a head of myself.

I got it in my mind to try pork belly burnt ends after watching a lot of videos over the past week. Now, I've never had pork belly burnt ends, let alone every cooked them. When I think more about it, this is more of an appetizer-type thing than a main dish, isn't it? I don't think I clued in to how sweet they probably are. So, am I right? Too much for a main dish?

[scottranda]

I’d say more of an appetizer. Curious as to what others say. Maybe could use the burnt ends with tacos, then it could be a main-dish-ish?

[HawkerXP]

PB burnt ends?!? Yummmmmm.

Mrs. Hawker would frown on that as a main course. I would have to agree.

[shify]

It’s not that it’s too sweet, although some recipes are, it’s that they are so rich you don’t want (or can’t eat) more than a few pieces. Def works better as an appetizer than a main dish

[texastweeter]

Pork belly burnt end bhan-mii can be a main...

[Michael_in_TX]

Yeah, that is what I was afraid of. No problem, I will simply push this back until the holidays when I'll have time to grill multiple times per day!

[jfmorris]

I can eat it as a main for sure, and so would my family. They are truly scrumptious, and a pile of them on my plate with some sides would be a meal. I usually make them along with something else, but have done a 9 pound belly only as well, as burnt ends.

[Dewesq55]

Plus 1! I don't get the "you can only eat a few pieces" stuff.

[holehogg]

I'm with jfmorris I love burnt ends and always have them as a main. They go well in wraps with a side of deli slaw.

This for a nice easy main:-
I smoke some chicken breasts along with the PBBE and take the breasts off before they are totally cooked through. Let the belly cubes go until they are nice and tender. I don't do the steam part of the recipe just let them rest in Huskees Shawsh. I cube the chicken and marinade with a lemon and herb basting.
Onto a skewer alternating pork and chicken with bell pepper and onion slices between each protein. Then grill over high heat to finish.

I do lots of other things with belly.
In case I haven't mentioned it I love pork belly.

[HawkerXP]

I think you might have mentioned that.

[klflowers]

Hey, I heard a rumor that you really like pork belly. True?

[Jerod Broussard]

https://amazingribs.com/tested-recipes/pork-recipes/smoked-pork-belly-burnt-ends-banh-mi

[Michael_in_TX]

Ah, that is what texastweeter was talking about. Hmm....I like that....the heat of the jalapeños and siracha would play nicely against the sweetness of the pork.

[Attjack]

Sounds like something I would do.

[RustyHaines]

Great picture and oh lawdy lawdy they look so good.

[JimLinebarger]

A couple of days ago we did 2 versions (1. our Memphis rub and sauce, 2. PBC AP rub) of pork belly burnt ends as our main dish with baked spuds as sides.

[Michael_in_TX]

Interesting....maybe it would work. I notice a lot of the videos for these tend to be what I am starting to call "competition style" in that there is so much sugar, so much glaze that they are essentially candy. I wonder if just using a relatively sweet BBQ sauce for the braise and pulling back a bit on the brown sugar and honey that I see dumped in there.

[Jerod Broussard]

Exactly.

[JoeSousa]

I would think pork belly would be a bit too rich for a straight main dish. 6-8 ozs (or 16-20 for most of us) is a lot of pork belly to eat. I am planning on having some for an appetizer on Thanksgiving. If you have those along with another meat I think they could be a good accompaniment but not a main.

[Craigar]

Sorry, I'm late to this party. My wife thinks they would make a great sandwich on garlic butter toasted hoagies.

[JGo37]

um, what wouldn't? ;o)

[RustyHaines]

I agree with your wife along with heaps of cooked vidalia onions.

[ColonialDawg]

I’ve served it as a main dish. It’s kind of like ribs without the bone.