Secrets to Making Delicious Grilled Pork Jowl and Dipping Sauce
To make delicious grilled pork jowl, also known as pork collar, you need a perfect marinade recipe and a well-balanced dipping sauce. Check out the detailed recipe shared by Cookbeo in the article below.
Ingredients
- 750g pork jowl
- 2 stalks lemongrass, 2 shallots, 1 garlic bulb, 1 small piece of ginger
- 2 spicy chilies
- Coarse salt
- Marinade ingredients: seasoning powder, MSG, oyster sauce, annatto oil, caramel sauce, fish sauce, soy sauce, chili sauce, ground pepper, five-spice powder, sesame oil, cooking wine (optional)
- Dipping sauce: sesame oil, chili sauce, ketchup, sugar, margarine
- Fresh herbs, lettuce, kimchi
Ingredient Notes
- Pork jowl, also known as pork collar, is considered one of the most delicious cuts of pork. The meat is tender, surrounded by a thin layer of fat, making it ideal for grilling or barbecue-style cooking.
- If you're short on time, you can buy pre-made marinade packets. However, if you prefer to customize the flavor to your liking, feel free to follow the marinade recipe provided in this article.
Instructions
Prepare the Ingredients
Rub the pork jowl with coarse salt and rinse it thoroughly, keeping it whole. If the surrounding fat layer is too thick, you can trim it down to avoid making the dish too greasy.
Chop the ingredients for the marinade, such as lemongrass, shallots, garlic, chilies, and ginger, then blend them into a fine paste or crush them with a mortar and pestle. Adding a bit of ginger also enhances the aroma and warmth of the grilled meat.
Marinate the Pork Jowl
Place the pork jowl in a bowl for marinating. For 750g of pork jowl, use the following seasoning:
- 1 teaspoon seasoning powder
- 1 teaspoon MSG
- 1/2 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon caramel sauce
- 1 tablespoon annatto oil
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil
- 1 tablespoon chili sauce
- 1 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon five-spice powder
- 1 teaspoon cooking wine, Shaoxing wine, or white wine
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil for added fragrance
Rub this seasoning mixture thoroughly over the meat. Then, add the finely chopped lemongrass, garlic, shallots, and chilies. Marinate the meat for at least an hour; if you have more time, marinate longer for deeper flavor.
Prepare the Dipping Sauce
You can either make a Korean-style dipping sauce for grilled meat or keep it simple with salt, pepper, lime, and chili. Here, Cookbeo shares a recipe for Korean-style dipping sauce.
The dipping sauce includes:
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 3 tablespoons chili sauce
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1/3 to 1/2 tablespoon sugar, depending on your preference for sweetness
- 1 teaspoon margarine
Stir the mixture and cook it over low heat until it simmers. If you have toasted sesame seeds, sprinkle a bit for added flavor and texture.
Grill the Pork Jowl in an Air Fryer
Before grilling, make sure to remove the excess marinade clinging to the surface of the meat to prevent burning during the grilling process.
Place the meat in the air fryer basket. Brush it with the prepared sauce to ensure a rich flavor and to keep the meat from drying out.
Since the pork jowl has a moderate thickness, it cooks quickly. Additionally, it has already been marinated, so set the air fryer to 160°C (320°F) for 20 minutes. This will cook the meat without burning it.
After 20 minutes, take out the basket, flip the meat over, and brush with more sauce. Continue grilling at 160°C (320°F) for just 15 more minutes until the meat is fully cooked.
After a total of 35 minutes of grilling both sides, the pork jowl will have a glossy, reddish-brown color and a delicious aroma. If you prefer it more charred, you can grill it for a bit longer.
Place the grilled meat on a plate, slice it into smaller pieces, and serve hot. Enjoy it with kimchi, fresh herbs, and lettuce, and dip it in the sauce. The pork jowl is perfectly marinated and grilled at the right temperature and time, ensuring the inside remains juicy, tender, and flavorful.
Happy cooking! Enjoy this delicious grilled pork jowl recipe as shared by Cookbeo!
