Filipino-Style Grilled Pork Belly

Filipino-Style Grilled Pork Belly

Filipino-Style Grilled Pork Belly

Filipinos love their pork belly. You typically will see it either braised in some sort of way or fried, such as lechon kawali. But did you know that you can grill pork belly? Grilled pork belly is marinated in a calamansi juice base with lots of garlic and chilies, if you’re looking for spice. The marinade is saved and reduced down with oyster sauce to be used to baste the belly. The belly is then grilled for a couple minutes a side. Once there is a sear, you can start basting each side with the reduced marinade. It takes about 15 minutes in total to grill. If you don’t have a grill, you can prepare the pork belly under the broiler the exact same way. The pork belly is served with a vinegar based dipping sauce to help cut through all of the richness.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time14 minutes
Marinating Time4 hours
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: Filipino
Keyword: appetizer, Filipino, main course, Pork, Southeast Asian
Author: Alex Gorgos

Ingredients

  • 1 lb skin on pork belly sliced 1/2” thick
  • 1/4 cup calamansi juice
  • 3 tbsp fish sauce
  • 6 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 Thai chili finely minced
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp oyster sauce

Dipping Sauce

  • 1/2 cup vinegar
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 tbsp white onion finely minced
  • 1 Thai chili pepper finely minced
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • pinch black pepper

Instructions

  • Mix all of the dipping sauce ingredients together. Refrigerate until ready for use.
    Filipino, appetizer, main course, pork
  • Mix together the calamansi juice, fish sauce, garlic, chilies, brown sugar, salt, and black pepper.
    Filipino, appetizer, main course, pork
  • Marinate the pork belly for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight. Save the marinade once the pork belly is finished basking in its juices.
    Filipino, appetizer, main course, pork
  • Place the marinade in a pot over medium high heat. Simmer for 10 minutes until it is reduced.
    Filipino, appetizer, main course, pork
  • Mix in the oyster sauce and set aside.
    Filipino, appetizer, main course, pork
  • Turn on your oven’s broiler. Place the pork belly on a rack on a baking pan lined in foil.
    Filipino, appetizer, main course, pork
  • Broil or grill the pork belly for 3-4 minutes a side.
    Filipino, appetizer, main course, pork
  • Brush the top side of the pork belly with the reduced marinade. Broil or grill for 3 minutes. Flip over, baste, and broil or grill for 3 more minutes.
    Filipino, appetizer, main course, pork
  • Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
    Filipino, appetizer, main course, pork
Filipino, appetizer, main course, pork
Serve the pork belly with the dipping sauce and your favorite side dish.