Pork Belly Skewers Food

PORK BELLY SKEWERS

Steps:

• Brine pork belly:
• Bring brine ingredients to a boil in a 6-quart pot, then simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes. 3Cool brine to room temperature, then chill until cold, about 3 hours, and up to 3 days.
• Cover pork belly with brine in a large heavy roasting pan, then chill 24 hours.
• Remove pork belly from brine, discarding brine, and rinse under cold water. Pat pork belly dry. Wash and dry roasting pan.
• Braise pork belly:
• Preheat oven to 225°F with rack in middle.
• Straddle roasting pan across 2 burners and heat oil over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then cook onion, garlic, and shallots, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 5 minutes. Add stock and bring to a boil, scraping up brown bits. Add pork belly and remove from heat.
• Cover roasting pan tightly with foil and braise in oven until pork belly is very tender, 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours.
• Remove pork belly (reserve braising liquid for another use) and cool to room temperature.
• Wrap tightly in several layers of plastic wrap and chill, pressed between 2 baking sheets with a weight (such as four 28-ounces cans) on top, 12 to 24 hours.
• Make chile sauce:
• Purée all sauce ingredients with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in a blender.
• Skewer pork belly:
• Bring pork belly to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Cut lengthwise into 1-inch strips, then cut each strip crosswise into 1/3-inch-wide pieces. Thread each piece onto a skewer and brush with some of chile sauce.
• Prepare grill:
• If using a charcoal grill, open vents on bottom and light a large chimney starter full of charcoal (preferably hardwood), then dump coals out across bottom rack, leaving a space free of coals on one side of grill equal to size of pork belly, where it can be moved in case of flare-ups. When charcoal turns grayish white, the grill will be at its hottest and will then begin to cool off. Grill is ready when you can hold your hand 5 inches above grill rack directly over coals for just 3 to 4 seconds (medium-hot). If using a gas grill, preheat all burners on high 10 minutes, then adjust heat to medium-high.
• Grill pork belly:
• Oil grill rack, then grill pork belly, turning occasionally and basting with chile sauce once more, until well browned on all sides, 3 to 4 minutes total. Brush with more chile sauce.

BARBECUED PORK SKEWERS

Steps:

• Slice the pork shoulder in half lengthwise. Cut each piece across into thin, 1/8-inch slices.
• Transfer pork to a mixing bowl and add garlic, onion, brown sugar, salt, pepper, paprika, cumin, and cayenne. Mix with your hands until thoroughly combined.
• Wrap in plastic wrap and transfer into a refrigerator for 4 hours, or up to overnight.
• Preheat an charcoal grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Weave pork slices on metal skewers, folding the longer pieces in half as you go. Slices should be pressed snugly together as you build the skewer.
• Grill skewers over the hot charcoal until browned and no longer pink, turning frequently, about 30 minutes. Brush on barbecue sauce and turn skewers several times so the sauce caramelizes, about 10 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (71 degrees C). Serve immediately.

SPANISH PORK SKEWERS

Steps:

• Thread the pork onto 12 bamboo skewers. Season lightly on both sides with salt and pepper.
• Sprinkle the skewers with the cumin, coriander, pimentón and oregano. Smash the garlic cloves to a paste with a little salt, mix in the olive oil and drizzle over the meat. Rub the seasoning in with your fingers. The skewers can be refrigerated until ready to cook, up to several hours.
• Place a large cast-iron skillet or griddle over medium-high heat until nearly smoking. Cook the skewers about 3 minutes on each side, until nicely browned. Serve hot, with lemon wedges.

BARBECUED PORK KEBABS

Steps:

• Whisk the sugar, soy sauce, onion, garlic and black pepper together in a large bowl. Add the pork and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours. Overnight is best if possible.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil the grate.
• Thread the pork onto the soaked skewers. Cook on the preheated grill until the pork is no longer pink in the center, 3 to 5 minutes per side.