Pork Belly Kebabs Air Fryer with Veggies and Cheese

Here you will find the ingredients list and why I am using them:

500-gram Pork Belly: Pork belly is the king of pork. This gives us a crispy exterior and tender interior. Nothing beats this.

Salt and Black Pepper: Use these to season pork belly, bell pepper, and onion for flavoring. We rely only on salt and pepper to bring out our dish’s best. 

50-gram Shredded Cheese: I use Mozarella cheese for a cheesy twist. Any cheese works perfectly with the pork belly kebabs air fryer recipe. Cheese gives our kebabs an umami flavor, just like the Chinese use soy sauce in their version of kebabs. 

Garlic Powder: To give the meat a bit of an aromatic flavor.

3 Small Bell Peppers: Use green, yellow, and red bell peppers. It provides a visually appealing color to our crispy pork belly skewers. The sweetness of the bell peppers is a perfect match with the savory taste of the pork belly.

1 Small Onion: When the onion is charred, it gives us a complex sweetness when eaten with meat and bell peppers.

Equipment

Skewers

Wooden skewers: Using wooden skewers is a traditional way of preparing pork belly kebabs. They are disposable. However, before using them, you must soak them in water for 30 minutes. It helps prevent them from burning during cooking by keeping them moist.

Stainless Steel Skewers: Let’s go green. This is washable. Soaking is unnecessary. Simply my favorite. These stainless steel skewers are readily available at the online store. Go grab it.

Air Fryer

The air fryer you see in the images below in the cooking section might differ from yours. I use a front-loading air fryer with a bigger capacity to cook food. Most people are using a top-opening air fryer. As long as the direct heat fan comes from the top, it qualifies as an air fryer.

Preparing the Pork Belly and Vegetables Kebab Air Fryer Dish

• Cut the pork belly into approximately 2 cm. Remember that the pork belly’s thickness will affect the cooking time.

• Cut the bell peppers and onions into small, easy-to-eat pieces.
• Put the cheese into a small bowl.

• Seasoning pork belly and vegetables with salt and pepper. I put approximately 1 teaspoon for the meat and veggies. Please adjust accordingly.

• Sprinkle some garlic powder on the pork belly.
  
  

Assembling the Kebabs

• Here comes the most fun part. To assemble the skewers, alternate between pork belly, bell peppers, and onions.
   
• Just leave some space at the end of the skewer for easy handling.
  
  

Cooking the Pork Belly Kebabs with Air Fryer

1. To prepare your air fryer for cooking, preheat at a temperature of 400°F or 200°C for around 3 minutes.
   
   
2. Arrange the assembled pork belly kebabs in the air fryer basket or tray. Do not overcrowd the kebabs. Otherwise, they will not achieve the golden brown charred meat. Cook them in a few batches if needed. 
   
   
   
   
3. Put them into the air fryer for 8 minutes.
   
   
   
   
4. Flip the pork skewers using a tong and air fry them for another 5 minutes.
   
   
   
   
5. Now, carefully put the shredded cheese on top of the skewers. We will just put cheese on one meat side to save time and a more hassle-free method.
   
   
   
   
6. Air fry for another 3 minutes. The cheese will melt.
   
   

Tips and Variations 

Tips for Success:

Soak the Skewers: 

If you use wooden or bamboo skewers, you must soak them for 30 minutes to prevent them from burning. 

Adjust Cooking Times: 

The shorter the cooking times, the more tender and juicy texture, while longer cooking times can yield a crispier exterior. Every air fryer model cooks differently. You should get a crisp exterior and tender interior after my cooking time. 15 minutes, give or take, should be fine. 

Check for Doneness: 

The cooking time of 15 minutes should be cooked thru. If unsure, you can use a scissor to cut the pork and check inside. Or, you could use a meat thermometer to ensure the pork reaches a safe internal temperature of 145°F (63°C). This will help achieve optimal doneness while maintaining the desired level of juiciness.

Variations or Customization

Cheese Options: 

Feel free to skip the cheese or use other cheese variations, cheddar, feta, or even a spicy pepper jack for a kick of heat. If you do cheeseless, cook them for 14 minutes and flip them halfway. 

Spices and Seasonings: 

Feel free to use other seasoning, like cumin, curry powder, oregano, etc.

Marinating: 

To try the Chinese style, marinate it for 30 minutes with soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice vinegar, and Chinese five-spice powder. Check out these 2 recipes for inspiration, the honey bbq pork belly strips, and the cocoa pork belly air fryer recipe.

Recap of the 4 simple steps of cooking Pork Belly Kebabs with an Air Fryer

1. Cut the meat and veggie into smaller chunks.
   
   
2. Seasoning them with salt and pepper
   
   
3. Assemble them using skewers
   
   
4. Cook them in the air fryer.
   
   

I hope you enjoy reading this and find inspiration for your next meal. Let me know your version of the Pork Belly Kebabs Air Fryer recipe.