As our weather starts warming up, my thoughts are full of ways to utilize our gas grill. I love virtually anything grilled, from veggies, to pizza, to skewers, to ribs. I recognize that this is my second post in a row using my Ras el Hanout spice blend, but it’s so extremely versatile. Here I use it in both the marinade and the basting sauce. I can’t stand over-cooked pork, and this treatment is fool-proof using the combination of boneless country-style ribs that are marinated and basted with a blend of marinade and honey. They are served over roasted sweet peppers and red onions.
The relish, really compliments the grilled skewers, with bold flavors of grilled onions, olives, capers, balsamic vinegar and parsley. I could easily see this relish on grilled flank steak as well. I was recently gifted with a bottle of 18 year balsamic vinegar, which put it over the top!
MARINATED PORK SKEWERS WITH ONION, CAPER RELISH
INGREDIENTS:
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
5 garlic cloves, grated on micro planer
Zest of one lemon
1 1/2 teaspoons Ras El Hanout
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 1/2 pounds boneless country-style pork ribs, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
2 tablespoons local honey
2 onions, sliced into 1/2 inch thick rounds
1/2 cup kalamata olives, sliced in half
1/4 cup capers, rinsed
3 tablespoons good balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
2 sweet peppers, seeded and cut into 6ths
1 large red onion, cut into 6 wedges
1 cup red grape tomatoes
INSTRUCTIONS:
Whisk 1/4 cup olive oil, garlic, lemon zest, Ras el hanout, salt and pepper together in a medium bowl. Transfer 2 tablespoons of marinade to small bowl and set aside. Combine remaining marinade and cubed pork in 1-gallon zip lock bag and toss to coat. Press out as much air as possible and seal bag. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place peppers, red onions and grape cherry tomatoes on rimmed baking sheet and toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Salt and pepper to taste. Roast for 30-40 minutes or until soft and slightly charred. These will be served a room temperature.
Preheat gas grill on high for 15 minutes. Skewer onion slices on metal skewer and baste with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Clean grates, turn down to medium and grill onions until soft and slightly charred. Bring in and set aside.
Whisk reserved marinade with honey and microwave until fragrant, about 15-30 seconds. Remove pork from bag and thread tightly on 2-3 metal skewers.
Place pork skewers on grill (it’s already heated at medium), cover and grill, turning every 2 minutes and basting pork with honey mixture; until pork in browned and registers 140 degrees. Remove and let rest while you finish the relish.
Chop grilled onions, and combine with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, olives, capers, balsamic vinegar and parsley.
Place roasted peppers, onions and tomatoes on platter, top with pork skewers. Pass relish.
Serves 4-6
“Looks can be deceiving, it’s eating that’s believing!” –James Thurber
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