Filipino Pork Barbeque

Filipino Pork Barbecue Skewers

Filipino pork BBQ skewers are a staple at any Filipino party. These tender pieces of flavorful pork are marinated overnight, glazed with a sweet and savory sauce and charcoal-grilled to perfection.

Cooking method

The pork skewers will be cooked in indirect heat first to make sure the pork is cooked all the way through. Then they will be briefly seared over direct heat to add a nice char to the meat. There are several ways to set up a charcoal grill for indirect and direct heat -

  • One way is to rake the coals to one side of the grill and leaving the other side empty. Add the pork to the side opposite the coals and close the lid.

  • Another way is by using the BBQ Vortex. The Vortex is a simple steel cone that that will be used with the small opening on top. It creates a super high heat zone directly above the Vortex. Place the pork around the Vortex away from the direct heat.

Ingredients

  • 4 lbs. pork shoulder, sliced into thin pieces

  • 3/4 cup brown sugar

  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder

  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

  • 1/4 cup pineapple juice

  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

  • 1 cup lemon juice

  • 1 cup banana ketchup

  • 1 cup soy sauce

  • 1 cup honey

  • 25 bamboo skewers

Directions

  1. Create the marinade by combining sugar, garlic powder, ground black pepper, pineapple juice, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, banana ketchup and soy sauce in a large bowl. Mix well.

  2. Set aside 1 cup of the marinade for the barbecue glaze.

  3. Pour the rest of the marinade over the pork and massage meat to fully incorporate. Marinate, turning meat once or twice, in the refrigerator overnight for best results.

  4. Soak the bamboo skewers in water

  5. Thread 4 to 5 meat slices onto each skewer.

  6. To make the glaze, combine the remaining 1 cup reserved marinade and 1 cup honey. Set aside.

  7. Grill meat skewers over indirect heat for 3-5 minutes. Then baste with glaze and turn skewers over. Grill for another 3-5 minutes

  8. Baste with glaze again and place the skewers in direct heat for about 30 seconds per side. 

  9. Remove from heat and serve as is or with spicy vinegar dip.

Gene Carangal