Porky Fig Skewered Recipes

GRILLED PORK TENDERLOIN WITH FRESH FIG SKEWERS

Steps:

• Prepare a hot fire in your grill. Brush the tenderloin with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
• Remove the skewers from the water. Pierce the figs through the middle with a metal skewer or ice pick to make a hole. Then thread 3 figs onto each rosemary or wooden skewer. Lightly brush the figs with olive oil.
• Place the pork tenderloin directly over the fire. Grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side (the center-cut pork loin filet for 5 to 7 minutes per side), turning a quarter turn at a time, until an instant-read meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part registers 140°F for medium and the meat is juicy and slightly pink in the center.
• At the same time, place the skewered figs over the fire, turning several times and cooking for about 5 to 6 minutes until they are heated through. When they're caramelized and soft, remove the skewers from the heat and keep warm.
• Let the pork rest for about 5 minutes, and then cut on the diagonal into 1- to 2-inch-thick slices.
• To serve, arrange 3 slices of pork with a skewer of figs on each plate, all topped with crumbled goat cheese, drizzled with 1/2 teaspoon honey, and a sprinkled with chopped rosemary.

PORKY POT PIE WITH CHEESY DROP BISCUITS

Steps:

• For the pot pie: Sprinkle the pork with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Working in batches, brown the pork on all sides. Remove to a plate and set aside.
• To the Dutch oven--with the brown bits still in the pot--add the onions, garlic and oregano; cook, stirring, until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the flour until completely combined into a roux. Pour in the cognac and simmer until reduced by half. Add the chicken broth and cream, and stir to combine. Add the browned pork. Bring to a simmer, partially cover the pot, and braise over medium heat until the pork is just fork tender, 1 1/2 hours. Stir in the kale, carrots and potatoes, cover, and cook over medium-low heat for another 15 minutes.
• For the biscuit topping: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, whisk to combine the flour, cornmeal, baking powder and sugar. Add the milk and the egg, stirring until just combined. Stir in the Monterey Jack and the melted butter; stir until a batter consistency is reached.
• Spoon tablespoon-size balls of the batter over the pot pie until the top is fully covered with biscuit balls. Brush the tops of the biscuits with milk.
• Bake until the biscuit topping is golden and cooked through, 15 minutes.

PORK SKEWERS

Steps:

• Slice the pork neck into 4cm strips, then toss with your chosen glaze. Leave to marinate for 2 hrs, then thread onto three large skewers. Light the barbecue. Once the flames have died down, cook the skewers for 5 mins on each side (or, cook in a griddle pan set over a high heat). Brush with the rest of the glaze, then cook for a further 2-3 mins on each side, or until cooked through.

BARBECUED PORK SKEWERS

Steps:

• Slice the pork shoulder in half lengthwise. Cut each piece across into thin, 1/8-inch slices.
• Transfer pork to a mixing bowl and add garlic, onion, brown sugar, salt, pepper, paprika, cumin, and cayenne. Mix with your hands until thoroughly combined.
• Wrap in plastic wrap and transfer into a refrigerator for 4 hours, or up to overnight.
• Preheat an charcoal grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Weave pork slices on metal skewers, folding the longer pieces in half as you go. Slices should be pressed snugly together as you build the skewer.
• Grill skewers over the hot charcoal until browned and no longer pink, turning frequently, about 30 minutes. Brush on barbecue sauce and turn skewers several times so the sauce caramelizes, about 10 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (71 degrees C). Serve immediately.

LAMB AND FIG SKEWERS WITH HONEY AND ROSEMARY

Steps:

• If you are using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes. (You don't need to soak metal skewers. If you are broiling the kebabs instead of grilling, skewers are optional.)
• In a large bowl, toss together garlic, rosemary, lemon juice, honey, salt, pepper and fish sauce, and stir well to dissolve the salt. Stir in oil.
• Thread the figs on skewers; if you are not using skewers, spread the figs on a baking sheet. Make sure the figs don't touch one another. Brush with some of the rosemary marinade and set the figs aside.
• Add lamb to the bowl with remaining marinade and toss well. If you have time, let lamb marinate in the fridge for several hours, or at least 30 minutes at room temperature.
• Light the grill or heat the broiler. Thread the lamb on skewers or spread on a baking sheet, leaving room between the pieces to get more of a char. Grill or broil kebabs for 3 to 5 minutes, turning them once. (If broiling, cook as close to the heating element as possible. You don't need to turn them.)
• Sprinkle lamb with fresh mint, then serve lamb and figs with lemon wedges.

GARLIC PEPPER PORK SKEWERS

Steps:

• Cut pork into 1/8-inch-thick strips; place in non reactive dish.
• Prepare marinade : Combine all remaining ingredients except green onions in a small bowl.
• Pour marinade over pork; cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Thread pork slices ribbon style onto metal skewers (or bamboo skewers that have been soaked in water for 30 minutes), alternating pork with green onions.
• At this point, skewers can be tightly covered and refrigerated until grilling time.
• Grill over medium-hot heat about 3 minutes per side until no longer pink in center. Do not overcook.