Rendered pig fat or lard, especially crispy bits left over after fat has been cooked down; also called 'cracklings' in some regions.
From Dutch or German 'gratten' or related Germanic words meaning rendered fat. This is a regional or dialectal term, particularly in cuisine influenced by Germanic and Dutch traditions.
Gratten represents the culinary principle of waste-reduction: every part of the pig gets used, and the by-products of making lard become a prized ingredient and seasoning in their own right.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.