When Filipinos say barbecue, they usually mean charcoal-grilled skewered pork. A favorite party dish—children and adults would welcome a Pinoy pork barbecue anytime. This is one of my regular potluck dish—like today for family reunions and the like. I always make more than enough for lunch—and watch the kids come back for it again and again all throughout the rest of the afternoon. I like to eat it with rice, and a dipping sauce of garlic-vinegar.

During my eldest granddaughter’s first trip to the Philippines in 2004, she had just turned 4 and was quite a picky eater. She however loved rice (she could eat it plain), noodles (even the instant-ones-in-a-cup), mangoes (she could wolf down 2 whole fruits in 1 sitting), and eggs. She wasn’t much of a meat eater but she adored Granny’s barbecue—she ate it grilled (as it should be) or fried (when she couldn’t wait for the grill to be ready); either way, she took it with rice—and liked it best when dipped in vinegar. On the eve of her flight back home to the US, we bought her a cake and gave her a send-off party. She dressed up and asked me to put on the Christmas lights all night. Of all the food on the table, all she ate was barbecue—6 sticks of barbecue for dinner.

Pork Barbecue

When Filipinos say barbecue, they usually mean charcoal-grilled skewered pork. A favorite party dish—children and adults would welcome a barbecue anytime.

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Servings 40 sticks

Ingredients

Marinade

8 oz 7-Up
½ c brown sugar
½ c banana ketchup
¼ c soy sauce
1 big head garlic crushed
salt & pepper

For the barbecue

1 k kasim (picnic) or tenderloin cut into 1½” slices

For basting

½ c canola oil
¼ c banana ketchup

Instructions

In a bowl, combine marinade ingredients. Add pork; mix well to coat thoroughly. Marinate in fridge overnight or up to 3 days.
Separate pork from marinade. Add the canola oil and the ¼ cup of ketchup to marinade; set aside for basting.
Skewer 5 to 6 slices of pork in each stick, starting with a piece of fat. Broil over charcoal; baste with marinade-ketchup mixture.

Notes

* Soak barbecue sticks in water at least an hour before skewering the meat—this will prevent the sticks from scorching.

* This barbecue marinade is great for chicken as well—use a cut-up chicken or skewer your choice of chicken parts (no need to skewer wings).

* Serve with cold beer.

* This marinade makes a perfect and delectable gift for the grilling enthusiast. Place marinade in a glass jar. Tie on a tag (a basting brush is a good idea) and the recipe if you like, with twine. Include directions such as the one below.

(Your Name)’s Barbecue Marinade

Refrigerate and use within 1 week.

Cooking Directions: Marinate 1 kilo of pork in marinade; refrigerate overnight. Skewer and broil over charcoal. Add ½ cup canola oil and ¼ cup ketchup to marinade; baste meat as it broils.

Pinoy Pork Barbecue Recipe