Grilled Lemongrass Pork Belly

 

600 grams pork belly (increase to 700 grams if using bone-in pork belly)

 

2 cloves garlic minced

1 shallot peeled and finely chopped

2 large stalks lemongrass minced (peel the outer layers and use only the lower portion of the stalks)

¼ tsp. ground black pepper

1 tsp. light brown sugar

1 T. honey

1 T. light soy sauce (we used Kikkoman)

1 T. fish sauce

1 T. coconut oil

 

2 T. soy sauce

2 T. lime or lemon juice

1 T. white sugar

2 bird’s eye chilies slit and cut up

 

1 to 2 cucumbers

 

Marinate the pork Rinse the pork belly and pat dry with a kitchen towel. Cut into two-inch cubes. Place in a bowl. Using a mortar and pestle ground all the solid ingredients for the marinade to a paste (or use a mini food processor). Stir in the liquid ingredients to make the marinade. Pour the marinade over the pork belly cubes. Mix well. Cover the bowl and keep refrigerated for 24 hours. Cook the pork. Preheat the oven the 475F. Place a rack over a baking tray. Arrange the pork belly cubes on the rack in a single layer. Grill at 475F for 20 minutes or until done and the edges are lightly charred. Prepare the garnish. While the pork cooks, rinse the cucumber and slice into rings. Stir together all the ingredients for the dipping sauce.

Serve the grilled lemongrass pork belly. Arrange the grilled pork on a platter with the cucumber rings and dipping sauce on the side.