Pork Back Fat

Fatback is a slab of hard fat on both sides of the backbone of a mature pig that can be used in many ways. Cut into tiny pieces or finely ground, fatback is a key ingredient in the preparation of many sausages, charcuterie, and pâtè, to add flavor and juiciness. Strips of fatback can be inserted into leaner meats to make them moister and tastier. Fatback can be rendered and used as a cooking medium or an ingredient in pastry. And it can even be salt cured and thinly sliced, or seasoned and whipped with salt and roasted garlic to create a special appetizer on its own.