Welcome to Mythical Kitchen Picks, the series in which the culinary experts from Mythical Kitchen tell you all about their favorite foods and ingredients! We’re celebrating Uncle Sam(wich) week this week, so we asked the team of Kitcheneers for their favorite sandwich ingredients and sides.Today, Vianai Austin reveals her favorite side, which also doubles as a crunchy sandwich topper.
Vee’s Pick: Chicharróns
I don’t know if you guys knew this, but I am a sandwich connoisseur. If it ain’t the burrito, I live and die by the sandwich. It might be a problem at this point but also who the hell cares, right? The hunt for different sauces, proteins, TikTok recipes, and other toppings to make my sando skills top tier is very real. And let me tell you, there’s one addition that can take your experience from ordinary to extraordinary quickly. That’s right, chicharróns.
My crunchy companion growing up, this snack or side holds a special place in mi corazon. Whether it was enjoying them as an afterschool snack, munching on them before basketball practice, or savoring them during road trips, chicharróns were the “it” girls. Drenched in Tapatio making my hands look bloody, I ate ‘em constantly. It wasn’t until I started getting older that I started to explore the ways of the chicharróns—putting it in my burritos, my tacos, on hot dogs, and, most importantly, sandwiches.
They contribute a unique texture to sandwiches that sets them apart from other toppings. While lettuce and tomato provide freshness and crunch, and cheese adds creaminess, chicharróns offer a satisfying chewiness that adds depth and dimension to each bite. Crush them up in your hands, make ‘em greasy, and slap ‘em in. This textural contrast adds to the sandwich-eating experience, making it more enjoyable and memorable. If you’re feeling crazy, you could even replace your protein with some chicharróns. The next time you’re at your uncle Mike’s house building something that requires layers, just remember, “Oh yeah, I brought the chicharróns.”
