The Iberian secret is one of the most select cuts of this breed of pork. It is a type of cut that has a characteristic balance between fat and lean meat, which makes it very juicy. It is very easy to prepare and can be served with any type of accompaniment and dressing, such as BBQ sauce.
Characteristics of the Iberian secret
The Iberian pig is a breed of pig that grows in the pastures of Spain and Portugal. It is a breed that, due to its type of breeding, practices a lot of exercise throughout its life, which makes the animal develop muscles and has infiltrated fat; in addition, as it feeds on acorns towards the end of its life, the flavor of the meat is much more intense.
Consuming Iberian meat is a great choice if what you are looking for is to follow a rich, varied, healthy and nutritious diet. Because it has an ideal balance between fat and lean meat, the Iberian secret has a good input of proteins and low calories; on the other hand, it contains high levels of oleic acid, so it has the same benefits as olive oil and avocado. Finally, in a portion of secreto ibérico you will find B vitamins and minerals such as magnesium and potassium.
The Iberian secret is extracted from the head end of the animal's loin, near the bacon. This makes the secret have fat infiltration and the meat is very juicy. In order to access the secreto, it is necessary to make the cut transversely; it is said that this is where the name of this cut of meat derives from.
With a fan shape, a marbled appearance and a weight of around half a kilo, the Iberian secreto is one of the most select cuts that exist and also one of the most demanded.
How is the Iberian secret prepared?
One of the advantages of the Iberian secret is that it does not need a great elaboration to be delicious. It is very easy to prepare! It is said that less is more and in the case of the Iberian secret this is no exception.
It is a cut that is quick and easy to prepare on the grill, griddle or even in the oven. However, if you want to save time and electricity, it is best to prepare the secreto on the griddle, pan or grill.
How to do it? Heat the frying pan, griddle or grill over high heat. When the instrument is very hot, then it will be time to place the Iberian secreto. You will not need to add oil, since it is a cut that releases enough juice. After two or three minutes, it is time to turn the meat and, only then, add coarse salt flakes. You can add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, but only to flavor the meat.
Recipe of secret Iberian BBQ
Ingredients
- A kilo of Iberian secret.
- Coarse salt.
- Freshly ground black pepper.
- Homemade barbecue sauce.
Elaboration
- The first thing to do is to take the Iberian pork secret out of the refrigerator two hours before cooking. This will allow the meat to come to room temperature. Also remove the packaging to allow the meat to breathe.
- Spread the Iberian secret with the barbecue sauce on both sides. Some experts recommend doing this process the night before or at least a few hours before cooking; this will allow the meat to soak in the flavors of the sauce.
- Turn on the grill and, when the grill is hot, bring the meat to the fire.
- Place a tray underneath the grill, so that the cooking juices can drip off.
- After a couple of minutes, turn the meat over and season with salt and pepper.
Tips for preparing grilled Iberian pork secret
Although the Iberian secret does not need too much time to cook, barbecue experts advise that the meat be prepared at the same temperature, that is to say, that the temperature be constant. This is achieved by heating the grill to 180º C and allowing the flames to almost completely disappear. The charcoal should have a whitish color before you place the meat and the grate should be placed at a distance of 15 centimeters. This will prevent the meat from burning.
The Iberian secret, on a slow fire in a grill can be up to one hour on the fire. Depending on the thickness of the meat.
Serve the secret to the BBQ
The barbecue sauce is the star of this dish, so be sure to prepare a delicious homemade sauce, it will make a big difference! When you remove the secreto ibérico from the grill, it's time to serve it to your guests. The best garnish for the secreto ibérico and the BBQ sauce are french fries, the perfect companion!
Cut the secreto into slices to serve to the diners accompanied by their portion of fries. Bathe the meat with the juices that were released from the cooking and be sure to serve a bowl of homemade BBQ sauce.
