Definition

1. Noun:
   • Salt pork from the back of a hog carcass: "Fatback" refers to a specific cut of pork, consisting of the layer of hard fat (with or without some attached skin) from the back of a pig. It is typically cured with salt, making it a form of salt pork.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The recipe calls for a small piece of fatback to season the greens.
  • Traditionally, fatback was used as a cooking fat and flavoring agent in many Southern dishes.

Advanced Usage

• As a primary ingredient: In some traditional cuisines, especially in the American South, fatback is not just a seasoning but a central component for rendering fat (lard) or for making cracklings.
  • She rendered the fatback to make lard for her pie crust.

Variants and Related Words

• Salt pork (n): A more general term for pork cured with salt, which can come from other parts of the pig besides the back.
  • The salt pork added a rich, savory depth to the bean soup.

Synonyms

• Salt pork: Pork cured with salt.
• Lardo (n): An Italian cured pork product made from the fatback of a pig, though typically seasoned with herbs and spices, unlike basic fatback.

Related Phrases

• Fatback and greens: A classic culinary pairing, especially in Southern U.S. cooking.
  • For Sunday dinner, they often had fatback and collard greens.

Noun

1. salt pork from the back of a hog carcass