Popcorn Pork Recipe - Crispy fried pork nuggets!

buttermilk

🥗Healthier: Greek yogurt

💰Cheaper: milk + vinegar

Greek yogurt reduces calories while maintaining creaminess.

all-purpose flour

🥗Healthier: whole wheat flour

💰Cheaper: cornmeal

Whole wheat flour adds fiber, cornmeal gives a different texture.

pork tenderloin

🥗Healthier: chicken breast

💰Cheaper: pork shoulder

Chicken is leaner, pork shoulder is cheaper but requires longer cooking.

vegetable oil

🥗Healthier: canola oil

💰Cheaper: peanut oil

Canola oil has a better health profile, peanut oil is often cheaper.

Open the boneless pork shoulders and slice them into bite-sized chunks, about 3/4 inch.

Transfer the cubed pork to a baking sheet and spread it out.

Season the pork with a pork rub mixed with Chipotle chili powder.

Place the baking sheet with pork on a Weber kettle grill with Kingsford charcoal and a bit of hickory wood for smoking.

Smoke the pork for about 1 hour without cooking it all the way through, as they will be deep-fried later.

While the pork is smoking, prepare a dipping sauce by mixing 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/2 cup cream cheese, and one package of ranch dressing powder.

Add some barbecue sauce to the dipping sauce mixture and adjust to taste, adding Crystal hot sauce for extra flavor.

Set the dipping sauce in the fridge to let it come together.

After 1 hour, remove the pork from the grill and transfer it to a frying insert over hot coals.

Add vegetable oil to the frying insert and let it come to temperature before adding the pork.

Fry the pork chunks until they are golden brown and crispy, then remove them from the oil.

Serve the popcorn pork in paper bags and enjoy with the barbecue ranch dipping sauce.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens