Chinese Barbecued Pork

Char Siew
This succulent meat is traditionally cooked hanging on
hooks inside a smoking barbecue oven. This easier and
faster method cooks the pork on a charcoal grill.

Char siew can be sliced and used as a garnish
over rice or noodles, or stir-fried with vegetables.

1/2 cup sugar
1 star anise
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup Chinese rice wine (Shaoxing) or dry vermouth
One 6-ounce can pineapple juice
1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 pounds pork tenderloin, sliced lengthwise into
1 1/2-inch-wide strips
8 metal skewers
Vegetable oil spray

In a large zippered plastic bag, combine the sugar,
star anise, cinnamon, pepper, salt, wine, pineapple
juice, soy sauces, and sesame oil. Seal the bag and
shake to mix. Add the pork, seal and toss the bag
back and forth to coat the pork slices. Refrigerate
for at least 1 hour or, for best results, overnight.

Soak a handful of mesquite chips or cinnamon sticks
in a bowl of water. Heat the grill. While waiting
for the grill to get hot, remove the pork from
the refrigerator. Thread 4 to 5 pieces of pork
onto each skewer. Repeat with the remaining pork.
Transfer the remaining marinade to a bowl and set aside.

Rake the hot coals into a mound on one side of
the grill. Spray the pork generously with vegetable
oil and lay the skewers on the rack directly over the
hot coals. Sear the meat for a minute or two.

Baste with the marinade and turn the skewers over.
Repeat once or twice, or until the outside is
slightly charred. Baste with the marinade and
move the skewers to the empty side of the grill.

Sprinkle the soaked mesquite or cinnamon sticks
over the charcoal. Cover the grill and grill-smoke.
Be sure to open the air vents in the top of the
grill cover. Uncover the grill and baste the meat
every 3 minutes, until the pork is cooked through,
11 to 12 minutes in all. Cool for 5 minutes
before removing the pork from the skewers.
Slice into thin bite-sized pieces and serve.

Makes 8 skewers.