Sweet And Salty Grilled Pork With Citrus And Herbs Recipes

SWEET AND SALTY GRILLED PORK WITH CITRUS AND HERBS

Steps:

• Using a sharp knife, slice pork shoulder crosswise into 1-inch-thick steaks. (Depending on the shape and cut of your shoulder, some pieces may not stay together in a steak shape; this is O.K.) Season pork with salt and pepper and place in a shallow baking dish (a 9-by-13 works best) or resealable plastic bag.
• Combine fish sauce, light brown sugar, sambal (if using), garlic and 1/2 cup lime juice in a medium bowl, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Pour half of the mixture over the pork and let it sit for about 15 to 20 minutes while you prepare the grill, using tongs to turn pork once or twice to make sure all of it is getting enough attention from the marinade. (There's no need to refrigerate, unless you are working ahead, in which case you should refrigerate until ready to grill.)
• If you're using a charcoal grill, build the fire so it's screaming hot. This pork is to be cooked hot and fast, so the hotter the better. If you're using a gas grill, heat it on high. Bring a clean baking dish out to the grill for the pork to rest in after cooking.
• Once the grill is sufficiently hot, grill the pork until deeply browned and lightly charred on both sides, 2 to 4 minutes per side (this will happen faster on a charcoal grill), moving the pork around as needed to prevent excessive flare-ups, which, depending on how fatty your pork is, will happen with varying severity. Grill the lime and orange, if using, cut-side down, until lightly charred, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Remove the pork and lime from the grill and let rest a minute or two in that same large baking dish to catch the juices. Drizzle the remaining lime dressing over the sliced pork and let it rest for a few minutes so the juices mix with the dressing.
• Slice the pork about 1/4 inch thick. Arrange rice noodles or rice, if using, on a large platter and top with lettuce, along with some of the mint, cilantro and shallots. Top with sliced pork and remaining herbs and shallots. Spoon the juices from the bottom of the baking dish over everything, and serve with the grilled citrus for squeezing.

SPICY GRILLED PORK WITH FENNEL, CUMIN AND RED ONION

Steps:

• Season pork lightly with kosher salt and put it in a bowl or resealable bag.
• Juice the lime into a blender or food processor and add cilantro, fish sauce, garlic, jalapeño and honey. Blend until the jalapeño and garlic are puréed, then add fennel, cumin, coriander seeds and pulse four or five times to bruise the spices and mix them in.
• Pour mixture over the pork, tossing to coat the pieces. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes while you heat the grill, or up to 24 hours.
• When ready to cook, heat the grill or broiler with a rack positioned 4 inches from the heat source.
• Thread the pork onto skewers, leaving a little space between cubes. Grill over the highest heat possible, or broil on high, for 2 to 5 minutes, then flip the skewers and continue cooking until the meat is browned all over and charred in spots. It should be just cooked through: A little pink is OK, but there shouldn't be any red spots.
• Serve the pork with cilantro sprigs and onion slices on top, and lime wedges on the side for squeezing.

GRILLED PORK LOIN WITH HERBS, CUMIN AND GARLIC

Steps:

• Butterfly the pork by slicing through it horizontally until you almost cut through, but leaving it attached on one side. Open the meat like a book. Depending upon the cut, it should be about 1 to 2 inches in thickness.
• In a blender, purée all of the remaining ingredients, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed to get a smooth paste. (Add a little water if needed to make the mixture move.) Spread herb paste all over the pork, making sure to cover it thoroughly and evenly. Place the meat in a large resealable plastic bag (folding it back together like a closed book if necessary to fit it in the bag) and let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours, or up to 48 hours.
• Light the grill or heat to medium. Lay the pork out on the grill so it lies flat (like an open book). Cover grill and let cook until char marks appear on one side, 7 to 12 minutes. Use tongs and a large spatula to flip the meat. Continue to cook on the other side until the center of the meat registers 135 degrees on an instant-read thermometer for medium doneness, about 5 to 8 minutes longer. (The pork will continue to cook as it rests.)
• Transfer meat to a cutting board, cover loosely with foil and let rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing.
• Serve the pork slices garnished with red pepper flakes, lemon wedges, and basil and thyme leaves.