Iberian Pork Belly

The Iberian pork belly is a cut taken from the lower part of the Iberian pork, specifically from the belly area. It consists of alternating layers of lean meat and marbled fat, giving it a tender, juicy texture and an intense, distinctive flavor. Thanks to the Iberian pork's natural diet of acorns and pasture, the fat in the pork belly is especially aromatic and melts easily when cooked. It can be eaten fresh —grilled, roasted, or pan-seared— or cured, in which case it is salted and air-dried to produce a richly flavored product typical of traditional Spanish charcuterie.