Pork Oil

Pork oil, sometimes called fatback, is the solid white fat cut into cubes for rendering. Melt it slowly in a pan and it turns into lard, the base for fried shallots, rice, and a handful of hawker-style dishes. Rendered over low heat, it turns clear and keeps well refrigerated for weeks. The leftover cracklings, the crisp bits left after rendering, make a topping on their own for rice or noodles.