Pan con Chicharrón (Peruvian Pork Sandwich with Sweet Potato)
In short: Spiced simmered pork fried until crisp, stacked in crusty rolls with fried sweet potato and a lime-dressed red onion and cilantro salad. It takes about 1 h 50 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 1 h 30 min
- Total
- 1 h 50 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 830 kcal
Pan con chicharrón is the Sunday breakfast sandwich of Lima. Chunks of pork are simmered with cinnamon, clove and orange peel, then fried until the edges crisp, and stacked in a crusty roll with slices of fried sweet potato and a sharp red onion salad called salsa criolla. The sweet, salty, tangy mix is the point. Eat it hot, with hot sauce and a strong coffee.
Instructions
- Put the pork, water, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, orange peel and salt in a pot. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 45 to 60 minutes, until tender but not falling apart. Drain, pat very dry and cut into thick slices.
- Make the salsa criolla: soak the sliced onion in cold water for 5 minutes, drain, then toss with the lime juice, cilantro, chili and salt. Leave for 15 minutes.
- Heat the oil for the sweet potato in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the slices for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until golden and soft. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with the salt.
- Wipe out the skillet and heat the 60 ml of oil for the pork. Fry the pork slices for 4 to 5 minutes per side, until deep golden and crisp at the edges. Drain on paper towels.
- Split the rolls and fill each with pork, sweet potato slices and a generous heap of salsa criolla. Serve hot, with hot sauce on the side.
Tips
- Pat the simmered pork completely dry before frying, since wet meat spits in hot oil and will not crisp.
- To use less oil, bake the sweet potato slices at 220°C (425°F) for 25 minutes, turning once, instead of frying them.
Questions and answers
What bread is used for pan con chicharrón?
A crusty roll with a soft center, such as the local pan francés. Ciabatta or a French-style roll works well abroad.
Is pan con chicharrón a breakfast food?
Yes. It is a popular Sunday breakfast in Lima, eaten with coffee, though it makes a filling lunch as well.
Can I make the pork ahead of time?
Yes. Simmer the pork a day ahead, cool it and refrigerate. Slice and fry it just before serving so it is crisp.
How long does it take to make Pan con Chicharrón (Peruvian Pork Sandwich with Sweet Potato)?
About 1 h 50 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 1 h 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Pan con Chicharrón (Peruvian Pork Sandwich with Sweet Potato)?
About 830 kcal per serving, with 42 g of protein, 76 g of carbohydrates and 40 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 830 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 42 g |
| Carbohydrates | 76 g |
| Fat | 40 g |
| Fiber | 7 g |
| Sugar | 12 g |
| Sodium | 1500 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
