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Pork belly is a fatty, boneless cut of meat that comes from the belly of the pig. When kept whole, the cut looks like a brick of meat with a thick layer of flat running along the top and smaller layers of fat marbled throughout. The function it's possibly most famous for? Bacon! When pork belly is stripped of its fatty outer layer then smoked, cured, and sliced thinly it becomes what we know as everyone's favorite sizzling breakfast food. It's traditionally used in Asian, Hispanic and Northern European cuisines where it plays both a starring role (like in a pork belly bao) and a salty add-on to other dishes (like pancetta).

What does pork belly taste like?

It's salty, it's meaty, and it's hearty. When kept whole, pork belly has an incredibly rich flavor thanks to the thick layer of fat that runs along the top. When cured and smoked, it's packed with the irresistible umami flavor that makes bacon so tempting.