Chinese Barbecued Pork

Chinese Barbecued Pork

From Mego's Kitchen, originally from Cook's Illustrated. 

SERVES 6

To facilitate cleanup, spray the rack and pan with vegetable oil spray. The pork will release liquid and fat during the cooking process, so be careful when removing the pan from the oven. If you don't have a wire rack that fits in a rimmed baking sheet, substitute a broiler pan, although the meat may not darken as much. Pay close attention to the meat when broiling-you are looking for it to darken and caramelize, not blacken. Do not use a drawer broiler--the heat source will be too close to the meat. Instead, increase the oven temperature in step 5 to 500 degrees and cook for 8 to 12 minutes before glazing and 6 to 8 minutes once the glaze has been applied; flip meat and repeat on second side. This recipe can be made with boneless country-style ribs, but the meat will be slightly drier and less flavorful. To use ribs, reduce the uncovered cooking time in step 4 to 20 minutes and increase the broiling and glazing times in step 5 by 2 to 3 minutes per side. This dish is best served with rice and a vegetable side dish. Leftover pork makes an excellent addition to fried rice or an Asian noodle soup.

INGREDIENTS

• 4pound boneless pork butt (Boston butt), cut into 8 strips and excess fat removed, see illustrations below (also see illustrations for removing the bone from a bone-in pork butt, if necessary)
• 1/2cup sugar
• 1/2cup soy sauce
• 6tablespoons hoisin sauce
• 1/4cup dry sherry (or 1/8 cup rice cooking wine)
• 1/4teaspoon ground white pepper
• 1teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
• 1tablespoon toasted sesame oil
• 2tablespoons grated fresh ginger (from 4- to 6-inch piece)
• 2medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)
• 1/4cup ketchup
• 1/3cup honey

INSTRUCTIONS

1. 1. Using fork, prick pork 10 to 12 times on each side. Place pork in large plastic zipper-lock bag. Combine sugar, soy, hoisin, sherry, pepper, five-spice powder, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic in medium bowl. Measure out 1/2 cup marinade and set aside. Pour remaining marinade into bag with pork. Press out as much air as possible; seal bag. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.
   2. While meat marinates, combine ketchup and honey with reserved marinade in small saucepan. Cook glaze over medium heat until syrupy and reduced to 1 cup, 4 to 6 minutes.
   3. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 300 degrees. Line rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and set wire rack on sheet.
   4. Remove pork from marinade, letting any excess drip off, and place on wire rack. Pour 1/4 cup water into bottom of pan. Cover pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil, crimping edges tightly to seal. Cook pork for 20 minutes. Remove foil and continue to cook until edges of pork begin to brown, 40 to 45 minutes.
   5. Turn on broiler. Broil pork until evenly caramelized, 7 to 9 minutes. Remove pan from oven and brush pork with half of glaze; broil until deep mahogany color, 3 to 5 minutes. Using tongs, flip meat and broil until other side caramelizes, 7 to 9 minutes. Brush meat with remaining glaze and continue to broil until second side is deep mahogany, 3 to 5 minutes. Cool for at least 10 minutes, then cut into thin strips and serve.

STEP-BY-STEP

BUTCHERING PORK BUTT

Pork butts are usually about 4 inches thick. If using a pork butt that is thinner than 4 inches, cut into six pieces instead of eight.

1. Cut roast in half lengthwise.

2. Turn each half on cut side and slice lengthwise into 4 equal pieces.

3. Trim excess hard, waxy fat, leaving some fat to render while cooking.