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Filipino BBQ Pork

Filipino BBQ pork skewers are caramelized on the grill with a sticky sweet soy glaze and charred edges. Thin-sliced pork is marinated, threaded on soaked bamboo skewers, then grilled until cooked through and glossy with basting sauce.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
marinating 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 40 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Filipino
Calories: 740
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pork and marinade
  • 2 lb pork shoulder sliced thin (1/4 inch)
  • 0.5 cup soy sauce
  • 0.5 cup banana ketchup (or regular ketchup)
  • 0.25 cup lemon-lime soda (7-Up or Sprite)
  • 3 tbsp brown sugar
  • 3 tbsp white vinegar
  • 5 garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • bamboo skewers, soaked 30 minutes
Sawsawan dipping sauce
  • 0.25 cup white vinegar
  • 3 garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 bird's eye chili

Equipment

  • 1 grill

Method
 

Make the marinade
  1. In a bowl, mix soy sauce, banana ketchup, lemon-lime soda, brown sugar, white vinegar, minced garlic, and black pepper until the sugar dissolves.
Marinate the pork skewers
  1. Thread the thin-sliced pork onto soaked bamboo skewers and submerge in the marinade.
  2. Refrigerate 4–8 hours so the pork absorbs the sweet soy flavor.
Mix the sawsawan
  1. In a small bowl, mix white vinegar, minced garlic, sugar, and bird's eye chili; set aside.
Grill the pork Filipino BBQ
  1. Preheat the grill to medium-high and oil the grates to prevent sticking.
  2. Grill the skewers 3–4 minutes per side, basting with reserved marinade each time, until caramelized and cooked through.
Serve
  1. Serve hot with garlic fried rice and sawsawan for dipping.

Notes

For the stickiest glaze, keep basting each turn so the sugars caramelize without burning. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container for up to 3 days; reheat on a grill or skillet until warmed through. Freezing is not recommended for best texture. For a lighter option, use reduced-sugar banana ketchup and keep the pork slices thin to retain tenderness while reducing overall sugar.