Description

Deliciously sticky and flavorful pork belly bites cooked to perfection in an air fryer. Tender pork belly pieces are first slow-cooked in foil to retain moisture, then air-fried to achieve a crispy exterior before being coated in a tangy and sweet chilli, soy, and clementine glaze. Perfect as a savory snack or appetizer, served with refreshing cucumber strips.

Ingredients

Scale

Pork Belly

1kg skinless pork belly

Glaze

120g chilli jam
60ml soy sauce
3 clementines or easy peelers, juiced
1 ½ tbsp caster sugar
3 tbsp water

To Serve

Thin cucumber strips

Instructions

Pre-cook the Pork Belly: Heat the air fryer to 170°C. Place the whole skinless pork belly in the center of a large piece of foil, add a splash of water, and wrap tightly. Cook in the air fryer for 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes until the pork is cooked through. Remove and allow to cool. The cooked pork belly can be stored chilled for up to three days.
Cut and Air Fry Pork Belly Bites: Once cooled, cut the pork belly into bite-sized pieces approximately 3 x 5 cm. Preheat the air fryer to 180°C. Place the pork belly pieces in the air fryer basket and cook for 20-25 minutes, turning once or twice to ensure even cooking and browning.
Prepare the Glaze: While the pork cooks, combine the chilli jam, soy sauce, clementine juice, caster sugar, and 3 tablespoons of water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 2-3 minutes until slightly reduced and the sugar is fully dissolved.
Coat Pork Belly Bites: Transfer the air-fried pork belly pieces to the saucepan with the glaze and stir well to coat all pieces evenly.
Final Air Fry: Return the coated pork belly pieces to the air fryer basket and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes until the glaze is sticky and the pork is nicely browned.
Serve: Let the pork belly bites cool slightly. Thread them onto skewers and serve alongside thin cucumber strips for a refreshing contrast.

Notes

This recipe requires an air fryer for both cooking and crisping the pork belly.
You can prepare the pork belly up to three days in advance and store it refrigerated.
Adjust the sweetness or heat of the glaze by varying the amount of caster sugar or chilli jam to suit your taste.
Ensure the pork belly pieces are evenly sized for consistent cooking.
Use fresh clementines or easy peelers to maximize natural citrus flavor.
Serve as finger food or as part of a main meal.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Category: Snack, Appetizer
Method: Air Frying
Cuisine: Modern Australian

Keywords: pork belly bites, air fryer pork belly, chilli jam glaze, clementine glaze, crispy pork belly, appetizer, snack