This is a hard one, mofongo is the mashed plantains, but the meat that goes with it is a pork cracklings. I want to make the chunks of pork that go with it. They are pieces of pork, but how are they made? They are placed on top of the mashed plantain.
By Pamela M.
I haven't had Mofongo in absolutely ages, thanks for reminding me!
Mofongo (Plantains)
4 Plantains, Green
3 cloves Garlic, mashed
1 tbsp. Salt
1 quart Water
1 pint Vegetable oil for frying
1/3 lb. Salted Pork Rind (Fat Back) or ask us for Chicharrones
1. Mash garlic with salt to a paste. Add to Water and stir well to mix.
2. Score plantains skin deep along opposite sides and trim of tips 1/2 inch at each end. Under running water peel off skin (makes peeling easier). Cut peeled green plantains into pieces 1 inch thick and place in Garlic water to soak. Do not discard garlic water when plantain is removed later.
3. Wash, dry then dice Fat Back into 1/2 inch pieces. Fry in vegetable oil to a golden crisp and drain well on paper towel.
4. Take pieces of plantain drain well and fry in deep oil being careful not to splatter hot oil.
You can buy pork cracklin's in the meat department of some grocery stores. If you don't see them ask the butcher to order some for you. Frying out the cracklins (pork skin with some of the fat still attached) is a large job, and one that is really messy, if you don't have the equipment to do it outside. This is experience speaking from my childhood when my parents slaughtered the hog and the processing of it to include the making of cracklin's.
You can buy pork cracklings at any grocery stores or meat markets.
