Skip to:
;Resize=(240,200))
Calling all the kids and kids-at-heart! BBQ Pork, or Filipino-style pork barbecue skewers, is a common dish served at large gatherings or celebrations and is surprisingly easy to make at home. With the right tools and ingredients, anyone can prepare this sweet-and-savory dish and be party-ready in a jiffy.
First things first, remember to soak your bamboo skewers in water before setting them on the grill. This way, there are less chances of your skewers catching fire. A charcoal grill is the best way to get that classic, familiar smoky flavor into your barbecue, so it’s time to set up the tables outdoors!
Key Ingredients to Make Party-Perfect BBQ Pork
Marinating your pork belly cubes is also key to making delicious BBQ Pork, so be adventurous and experiment with different ingredients. Different households have different “secret weapons” that they always use whenever grilling this steak-on-the-stick. Yet, these five ingredients are the must-haves at any Pinoy pork BBQ party.
1. Lemon-lime flavored soda
Soda helps tenderize tough meats because of its high acidity, so it’s the perfect marinade ingredient for pork belly cubes. Although you can use a more neutral-tasting club soda, what’s great about flavored sodas specifically for barbecue is the added sugar. Who doesn’t love a little sticky-sweet texture and flavor to their barbecue?
2. Calamansi
This Filipino citrus fruit does more than give a good, lightly sour kick to BBQ Pork: It also helps tenderize meat! Light calamansi also balances the strong flavors of salty soy sauce and sweet soda in the marinade.
3. Brown Sugar
The key to getting caramel-like, toasty bits along the edges of your skewers? Brown sugar! The deep, dark flavors of this ingredient will melt over the fire and add that light touch of sweetness that makes Filipino-style pork barbecue very distinct and very well-loved.
4. Soy Sauce and Hot Sauce
Time to kick up that savory flavor! Soy sauce is an essential ingredient in every Filipino kitchen and is what gives BBQ Pork its strong umami flavor. Be adventurous and add some hot sauce to your marinade, too!
5. Knorr Pork Cube
When your BBQ Pork is on the grill, it’s also important to baste them to lock in more flavor and keep them moist. Mix a Knorr Pork Cube with a bit of olive oil and use a brush to baste your pork barbecue skewers when they’re over high heat. Alternatively, you can also add a pork cube to your marinade mix to prepare for big parties: 1 cube is equivalent to 1 kg of real pork flavor, so if you’re feeding a crowd, this is an ingredient that can save you both time and money.
To cut down the meatiness, serve BBQ Pork with a vinegar-based sauce that brings the right amount of tanginess. If you want to switch it up, Memphis-style BBQ sauce made with ketchup can be more suitable for kids or people who prefer sweet condiments. On their own, these pork skewers will make you go for seconds and thirds. Looking to serve side dishes? Try our Pancit Bihon and Corned Beef Sisig Salad recipes.