Penang Pork Satay

Prep the perfect pork skewers with Chef John's tangy, spicy, super-savory satay marinade featuring turmeric, ginger, shallots, and tamarind.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 20 mins
• Total Time: 50 mins
• Calories: 153 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• 1 (2 1/2 pound) pork shoulder roast
• 1 teaspoon tamarind paste
• 1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric, or to taste
• 1 (2 inch) piece fresh ginger root, sliced
• 1 large shallot, roughly chopped
• 8 cloves garlic, peeled, or more to taste
• 3 tablespoons ancho chili powder
• 5 large metal skewers
• 0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 0.25 cup rice vinegar
• 0.25 cup light brown sugar
• 2.5 inch piece turmeric root, peeled and sliced thinly across the grain
• 0.5 bunch lightly packed cilantro leaves and stems

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Place fresh turmeric in a food processor along with powdered turmeric. Add ginger, shallot, garlic, brown sugar, ancho chili powder, coriander, chipotle, cayenne, rice vinegar, soy sauce, fish sauce, tamarind paste, and cilantro. Blend into a fine paste.

Step 2

Cut pork into 1 1/2-inch cubes, trimming off fat as needed. Place pork in a bowl; season with salt. Pour in the marinade. Mix and massage pork with your hands until completely coated. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 to 18 hours.

Step 3

Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate. Thread pork through skewers so the pieces are touching but not squished together. Reserve leftover marinade.

Step 4

Grill skewers, brushing on reserved marinade, until pork just starts to firm up but is still slightly pink in the center, about 10 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Serve immediately.