Penang Pork Satay

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Description

I’m not exactly sure how much pork satay they eat in Penang, but I’m confident that your average pork-loving Malaysian would enjoy this explosive combination of flavors. Use a fairly large chunk of pork, because it doesn’t take long to develop that beautifully brown, crusty exterior on the grill. Or in a broiler turned to high. Or in the oven at 500 degrees! Serve over rice with peanut sauce and cucumber salad.

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ inch piece turmeric root, peeled and sliced thinly across the grain
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric, or to taste
  • 1 (2 inch) piece fresh ginger root, sliced
  • 1 large shallot, roughly chopped
  • 8 cloves garlic, peeled, or more to taste
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons ancho chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ¼ cup rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 1 teaspoon tamarind paste
  • ½ bunch lightly packed cilantro leaves and stems
  • 1 (2 1/2 pound) pork shoulder roast
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 5 large metal skewers

Instructions

  1. Place fresh turmeric in a food processor along with powdered turmeric. Add ginger
  2. shallot
  3. garlic
  4. brown sugar
  5. ancho chili powder
  6. coriander
  7. chipotle
  8. cayenne
  9. rice vinegar
  10. soy sauce
  11. fish sauce
  12. tamarind paste
  13. and cilantro. Blend into a fine paste.
  14. Cut pork into 1 1/2-inch cubes
  15. trimming off fat as needed. Place pork in a bowl; season with salt. Pour in the marinade. Mix and massage pork with your hands until completely coated. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 to 18 hours.
  16. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate. Thread pork through skewers so the pieces are touching but not squished together. Reserve leftover marinade.
  17. Grill skewers
  18. brushing on reserved marinade
  19. until pork just starts to firm up but is still slightly pink in the center
  20. about 10 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Serve immediately.

Prep Time: 30 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 4 hrs 50 mins

Servings: 10

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