Total Time 7 daysdays10 hourshours15 minutesminutes
Ingredients
belly of one beavertry to leave on as much fat as possible when cleaning
1 cupbrown sugar
1/2cupkosher salt
2tbspblack peppercoarsely ground
2tspred pepper flakes(optional)
1/2tsppink curing salt(optional)
Instructions
Combine sugar, salt, black pepper. Add curing salt and/or rered pepper flakes (if using). Mix.
Pat dry belly and rub in sugar mix on all sides. Wrap belly in plastic wrap, packing the excess sugar mixture all over, gently wrap but don't seal fully (leave open ends to allow any fluid to drain)
Store in a cold place for 5 to 7 days, check on it and turn daily. Belly is fully cured when firm all over.
Rinse off mixture, pat dry. Place on a rack and allow to air dry for an hour or so, until tacky to the touch