Gan, also known as pork fat or lard, is an essential ingredient used in a variety of dishes across many cultures. It adds flavor and texture to food that can’t be replicated using other ingredients. Here are five delicious dishes where gan plays a starring role:
1. Char Siu: This Chinese barbequed pork dish is marinaded with a sweet and savory sauce made with gan, sherry, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sugar, honey and five-spice powder.
2. Chicharrones: This classic Mexican snack consists of deep-fried cubes of pork fat that have a crunchy outside and a soft, buttery inside.
3. Hainanese Pork Ribs Soup: This comforting Chinese soup is made with pork ribs boiled in a broth flavored with gan, garlic, ginger, star anise and soy sauce.
4. Patatas Bravas: This iconic Spanish tapas dish consists of potatoes fried in gan and served with a spicy tomato sauce.
5. Pancit Palabok: This Filipino noodle dish is made with gan-fried shrimp, pork, eggs, garlic and onion on a bed of rice noodles topped with a rich sauce of crab meat and fish sauce.