3 Simple Ways to Cook Pork in the Kitchen Without Needing Smoke

In this article, PasGo shares easy methods to prepare Northwest-style smoked pork using an oven, microwave, and a pan in just 3 steps. Let's explore the details of making smoked pork at home below!

1. Origin of Smoked Pork in the Kitchen

When it comes to kitchen-smoked pork in the Northwest, most people immediately think of smoked buffalo meat. However, smoked pork is also a famous specialty of the Thai people in the Northwest.

To create high-quality smoked pork according to the authentic Thai method, you need to go through several steps, from selecting the meat to marinating with spices, smoking, etc. In the Northwest, smoked pork and smoked buffalo meat are used on important occasions such as Tet holidays, weddings, engagements, contributing to a distinctive culinary culture of the highlands.

2. How to Make Smoked Pork

To make Northwest-style smoked pork, you need to prepare the following ingredients:

Ingredients for Making Smoked Pork

+ Pork Meat (pork): 1 kg

+ Finely chopped Lemongrass: ½ small bowl

+ Salt: 2 teaspoons

+ Dried Chili: 2 teaspoons (can be replaced with finely chopped fresh chili)

+ Finely chopped Ginger: 2 teaspoons

+ Finely chopped Garlic: 2 teaspoons

+ Galangal: 2 teaspoons

Detailed steps to make smoked pork step by step

Step 1: Prepare the pork.

After purchasing the pork, wash it thoroughly, drain the water, and then slice it lengthwise into pieces about 20 cm long, 5 cm wide, and 3 cm thick. To ensure food safety, you should blanch the pork slices in boiling water to remove any dirt, then rinse the pork thoroughly.

Note: Do not overcook the pork, as it will make the meat tough and rubbery after grilling.

Cut the pork into appropriately sized pieces

Step 2: Marinate the pork

After prepping, mix the pork with mắc khén and finely chopped spices including chili, ginger, garlic, and lemongrass. Marinate the pork for about 5 hours or overnight in the refrigerator to allow the meat to absorb the spices evenly. Depending on your family's taste preferences, you can adjust the level of spiciness and saltiness accordingly.

Marinate the pork for about 5 hours to allow the spices to penetrate the meat evenly

How to make smoked pork in the oven

Step 3: Place the marinated meat in the oven.

- After marinating, place the meat in the oven.

- When grilling, first set the oven to high heat. This helps to make the meat firmer as it is taken directly from the refrigerator or room temperature to high heat.

- Keep the oven at high heat for about 2-3 minutes, then reduce the heat immediately; otherwise, the meat will burn on the outside while still being moist inside. Set the oven to dry mode for about 20-30 minutes at a temperature of around 70-80 degrees Celsius. You can check by tearing a piece; if the meat easily tears into fibers, it's ready.

Finished product of making dried pork using the oven

How to make smoked pork using a microwave

- The steps for making smoked pork using a microwave are similar to those for using an oven, except for the grilling step. Place the meat on a plate and microwave it evenly at 350 – 450w.

- Every 8-10 minutes, take out the meat and flip it evenly. Repeat this process continuously for about 2-3 hours.

Note: During baking, if the meat releases a lot of water, you can remove it to speed up the drying process. After microwaving, the meat must meet the requirements such as being evenly colored, not burnt, and having the aroma of spices.

How to make smoked pork using a pan

Making smoked pork using a pan is also simple and similar to the two methods above, but differs in the grilling method. Place the meat in a non-stick pan and turn on the stove to low heat for about 15-20 minutes until the bottom of the meat is cooked; then flip each piece of meat and continue grilling for another 15-20 minutes before turning off the stove.

Finished product of making smoked pork using a pan