Don't Just Use Sugar and Fish Sauce for Marinated Grilled Meat — Add This Liquid for Tender, Flavor-Packed Pork You’ll Never Forget

With the marinating method below, you'll create a dish as delicious and enticing as one served in a 5-star restaurant.

 

 

 

How to Choose Good Pork for Grilling

To make delicious grilled pork, the first step is selecting a quality cut of meat. When shopping, choose fresh pork with a light pink color—this indicates freshness and good flavor.

Avoid pork that appears unusually pale, dull, or overly dark in color, as it may have been slaughtered for too long. Shiny surfaces or a slimy texture when touched are also warning signs and should be avoided.

Additionally, smell the meat. If it has a clean, natural pork scent, it's a good choice. But if it smells sour, fishy, or like antibiotics, steer clear.

You can also gently press the meat with your finger—if it springs back and leaves no indentation, it's fresh and good for grilling. If the meat feels mushy or leaves a dent, it’s best not to buy it.

 

 

 

Traditional Grilled Pork Marinade

Ingredients for the Marinade:

• Pork shoulder: 500g

• Garlic: 1 bulb

• Green onion: 3 stalks

• Honey: 1 tablespoon

Seasonings:

• Seasoning powder

• Salt

• Sugar

• Fish sauce

• Oyster sauce

• Ground pepper

• Cooking oil

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Step-by-Step Instructions:

Step 1:
Peel the garlic and clean the green onions thoroughly. Rinse and let them dry. Crush the garlic and mince finely. Separate the white part of the green onion and chop finely, then chop the green leaves as well—keep both parts separate.

Step 2:
Wash the pork shoulder in diluted salt water, then rinse with clean water and drain well. Slice the meat into moderately thick pieces. Use a meat mallet to gently tenderize each piece.

Step 3:
In a bowl, combine the pork with the following:

• 1 tbsp seasoning powder

• 1 tbsp sugar

• 1 tbsp honey

• 1 tbsp quality fish sauce

• 1 tbsp oyster sauce

• 1 tbsp cooking oil

• 1 tbsp chopped green onion (white part)

• 1 tbsp minced garlic

• 1/2 tsp ground pepper

Mix well until all pieces are evenly coated, then marinate for about 2 hours to allow the flavors to penetrate the meat.

Step 4:
Once marinated, you can grill the pork over charcoal or in the oven. This traditional marinade is perfect for dishes like Vietnamese broken rice or grilled pork vermicelli —flavorful, authentic, and irresistible!