Pork Belly Skewers Recipes

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.

TON NEGIMA (GRILLED PORK BELLY AND SCALLION SKEWERS)

Steps:

• Thread the skewers by alternating the pork belly and scallion (about 3 pieces of pork belly and 2 pieces of scallion per skewer) so the pieces cover about 4 inches of skewer. As you work, turn the skewers in a screwing motion to make it easier to pierce the pork and scallion. When the skewers are ready, gently press down on each one with the heel of your hand to compact the meat. Lightly season all sides with salt.
• Preheat a grill to medium-hot. Grill skewers for 5 to 6 minutes, turning every minute to brown evenly. Be careful not to burn the pork belly. Don't hesitate to spray flare-ups with water, or shift skewers as you grill, especially if you notice some skewers browning too fast over a hot spot; trade them with skewers grilling over a less hot part. Serve immediately. Accent with sansho.