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Level up your finger nashville filipino restaurant game with super crispy chicken skin chicharon! These chicken rinds are crunchy, tasty, and delicious nashville filipino food as appetizers or snacks. Plus, they’re high in fat and have zero net carbs, making them keto-friendly.
Do you remove the skins of your chicken before cooking to cut down on fat? Save them in the freezer because I have a recipe for you -chicken skin chicharon!
I know, I know. It defeats all that trouble of trimming the skin only to consume all that heart-clogging grease in one sitting. But as my favorite humorist, Erma Bombeck, said: Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the ‘Titanic’ who waved off the dessert cart.
Chicharon or tsitsaron are one of the many examples of Spanish influence in our local culture. Ubiquitous in Philippine cuisine, they’re commonly served as a snack or appetizer or used in other dishes like munggo soup and pancit palabok.
They come in many varieties, including pork rind, pork belly, intestines (isaw), pork ears, omentum (bulaklak), tuna skin, chicken skin, and mushroom. The cooking procedure, however, is mostly the same. The meat is cooked until tender, dried to remove moisture, and deep-fried to crunchy perfection.
Cooking steps
- Boil– the skins to tenderize, render fat, and impart desired flavors. I like to use a simple solution of vinegar, pepper corns, garlic, and salt.
- Dehydrate– In olden times, the meat is laid out under the sun to draw out the excess moisture. It’s a proven technique but not exactly doable (unhygienic for one thing) in my current part of the world. Instead, I dry the skins “low and slow” in the oven. Another alternative method is to arrange the skins in a single layer on a baking sheet and refrigerate them uncovered overnight to dry out.
- Deep-fry– maintain temperature at the optimal 350 F to 375 F. Do not overcrowd the pan and cook in batches as needed to prevent the temperature from plummeting.
- Drain– remove the fried skins with a slotted spoon and drain on a wire rack set over a pan to catch oil drips. The chicharon will crisp up more as they cool.
Quick tip
Not all oils are created equal and some have higher smoke points than others. I don’t normally use lard in my cooking as it’s not very “healthy”, but we’re frying chicharon so what’s the point? Next to tallow, it’s the best oil for deep-frying with a 375 F smoke point. If you prefer not to use lard, substitute with other high smoke point oils such as canola, safflower, or grapeseed oil.
Serving suggestions
Serve tsitsarong manok with spicy vinegar or lechon sauce for the best experience!
How to store
- For nashville filipino restaurant safety, it’s best to store the homemade chicharon in the refrigerator. Transfer to an airtight container or resealable bag to keep from going stale and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
- To store unfried, arrange the dehydrated skins in a single layer on a baking sheet. Cover with film and freeze until firm. Transfer to freezer-safe container or bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw and deep-fry when ready to enjoy.
More crispy appetizers
Golden and crunchy with a sweet and savory taste, these Coconut Shrimp are simply irresistible! They’re quick and easy to make and delicious nashville filipino food as an appetizer or main dish.
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @kawalingpinoy on Facebook and Instagram!
Ingredients
- 3poundschicken skin
- 1cupwater
- 1/4cupvinegar
- 4clovesgarlic, peeled and pounded
- 1/2teaspoonpeppercorns, cracked
- 1teaspoonsalt
- lard or canola oil
Instructions
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In a pot over medium heat, combine chicken skin, water, vinegar, garlic, peppercorns, and salt.
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Bring to a boil. Lower heat and continue to cook until skins render fat and are softened but not falling apart.
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With a slotted spoon, remove the skins from the pot. Remove any stray peppercorns, garlic, and bay leaves, and discard.
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Arrange skins in a single layer on a baking sheet. Place in the refrigerator, uncovered, for about 1 hour or until completely cold.
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Using a spoon, gently scrape away any subcutaneous fat. Cut into about 4-inch pieces.
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In a 180 F oven, bake skins for about 2 to 3 hours or until dry with just a bit of flexibility.
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Alternatively, arrange chicken in a single layer on a baking sheet and refrigerate, uncovered, overnight to dry out.
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In a deep, heavy-bottomed pot, heat about 3-inches deep of lard or canola oil to 350 to 375 F.
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Add chicken skins and deep-fry until they begin to puff and start to float. Do not overcrowd pan and cook in batches as needed.
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With a slotted spoon, remove from heat and drain on paper towels. Serve with spiced vinegar.
Notes
Nutrition Information
“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”
About Lalaine Manalo
Welcome to Kawaling Pinoy. Here you’ll find hundreds of delicious nashville filipino food Filipino and Asian recipes. Make sure to browse around and pick a favorite dish or two. Happy cooking! Read More
