The summer season is the perfect time for casual parties in your garden. However, food prepared in the open air, such as grilled pork neck, can also be a great addition to your restaurant menu. Learn how to prepare pork neck marinade so that it comes out perfect every time!
The summer season is the perfect time for casual parties in your garden. However, food prepared in the open air, such as grilled pork neck, can also be a great addition to your restaurant menu. Learn how to prepare pork neck marinade so that it comes out perfect every time!
Curing pork for grilling
The first step to preparing the perfect grilled meat is curing. But what is curing? Curing refers to the technological process involving the addition of salt and nitrates to the meat for 12-24 hours before cooking it. Such preparation ensures that after cooking the meat is perfectly tender, just the way it should be. Another advantage of curing pork neck for grilling is the shorter time later necessary for marinating. Cured meat will absorb the seasoning mixtures better, so just rub them with the marinade and leave them in the fridge for approx. 30-60 minutes.
Marinating grilled pork neck
Some types of meat, such as grilled steak or grilled burgers, taste best when sprinkled with salt and pepper. However, the vast majority need to be well seasoned to keep their full flavour. The pork neck marinade mentioned earlier is nothing more than a mixture of various spices for enhancing the taste of meat – it is similar to that used with chicken or grilled skewers.
Pork neck marinades should be prepared as a liquid, often based on olive oil, soy sauce, ketchup, mustard or lemon juice. The options are endless, but the most popular recipes contain at least one of these ingredients. Apart from the above, you can also add your favorite spices – aromatic herbs in fresh or dried form, crushed garlic cloves, ground paprika, salt and pepper. There are many recipes for preparing grilled pork neck marinade, and there’s nothing to stop you from coming up with your own recipes.
Types of grilled pork neck marinade
If you are looking for delicious but original grilled pork neck marinade inspirations, take a look at the recipes below. They are slightly different from those most commonly used, but will provide an unique flavour and could become a popular addition to your summer menu at your restaurant or a good way to show off your culinary skills to your guests at home.
Pork neck in beer sauce
Nothing fits a barbecue better than a pint of cold beer. It turns out that beer is the perfect accompaniment to meat not only as a drink, but also as an ingredient. Pork neck in beer sauce is the ideal combination not only for beer lovers , but for everyone who appreciates a good pork neck dinner. How to prepare a beer-based seasoning mix
Prepare half-a-pint of beer and add two tablespoons of olive oil and apple cider vinegar, as well as a teaspoon of your favourite mustard – can be as hot as you like! In addition, squeeze two cloves of garlic into the marinade, add a pinch of pepper and two sprigs of fresh rosemary. Before soaking the meat in the marinade, cure it or rub it thoroughly with salt, and then put it in the refrigerator.
Coca-Cola pork neck
Grilled pork neck in Coca-Cola is another interesting recipe that could be a good idea if you like sweet, mild and expressive flavour combinations. This combination is also great for ribs, so you can prepare two dishes at once!
For this pork neck marinade recipe, you will need one glass of Coca-Cola mixed with 1/3 glass of olive oil or other oil. And make sure you add 2-3 tablespoons of mustard and ketchup – if you choose spicy versions it will mix well with the sweetness of the Coca-Cola. 2 cloves of garlic, a pinch of pepper and a teaspoon of sweet pepper will ideally complement the flavour – also remember to salt the meat beforehand, if it has not been cured.
Pork neck in honey sauce
Grilled pork neck in honey and mustard sauce is a popular but often forgotten option when preparing meat. The combination of sweet honey and spicy, distinctive mustard goes well with poultry, but also surprisingly well with pork neck.
Preparing such a marinade is very simple. Melt the honey into a liquid – e.g. by gently heating it in a microwave. 1-2 tablespoons will be enough, and will give a lot of sweetness to the whole dish. Add 3-4 tablespoons of mustard to the honey, which will balance the taste. Sweet pepper, onion, garlic and pepper will also work well here.
Practical tips for preparing grilled pork neck
What else should you keep in mind when preparing grilled pork neck?
- Should you break up the meat before grilling? Yes, you can gently break up the meat with a pestle before marinating – especially if it is very fatty. However, don’t overdo it – if you loosen the meat too much it will lose its structure and won’t taste its best.
- How long should you grill pork neck? You should not over-grill pork neck. It is best when cooked just the right amount of time – a few minutes on each side. This makes it tender and juicy. If cooked for too long, it can harden and lose its juiciness.
- How can you marinate pork neck for grilling and keep it soft? The best method to use brine. An alternative could be dipping the meat in lemon juice or wine vinegar. These methods will let you achieve perfectly tender meat.
Catering equipment for grilling pork neck
At home, pork neck is most commonly prepared on a gas or charcoal grill. However, in pubs or restaurants, you will need more specialised equipment – this is where catering grills come to the rescue! You will find electric and gas powered models, so you can go ahead and choose your favourite method of preparing grilled pork neck.
What else will you need? We recommend you have some basic grill accessories, such as a thermometer to check whether the meat is ready or tongs to turn pieces of pork neck over without pricking them. When preparing larger amounts of food, you will also need heating equipment to keep the meat warm after grilling, but before serving.
How to grill pork neck – summary
The key to perfect grilled pork neck is its proper preparation – it is worth doing this the day before grilling, so that the brine and pork neck marinade can work wonders, providing the meat not only with unique flavour, but also ideal texture. The grilling method is also important. Make sure that the pork neck does not stay on the grill for too long – it will certainly not only help to prepare the meat perfectly, but also please the hungry guests waiting for their portion of the pork neck from the grill.
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