Jap Jap-Style Pork Souvlaki

Ingredients

• 1 kg pork or meat of your choice (Boneless pork, cut into medium-sized cubes)
• 1 cup olive oil (For the marinade)
• 2 tbsp dried oregano
• 2 tbsp dried thyme
• 2 tbsp garlic (Minced)
• 2 lemon (Use the juice)
• salt (To taste)
• black pepper (To taste)
• wooden skewers (As needed; soak them before use if appropriate)
• chimichurri or green sauce (For serving; the author recommends the chimichurri from @umimami.sauce or a similar green sauce)
• red onion (Optional, for finishing)
• fresh tomato (Optional, for finishing)
• sauces of your choice (Optional, for serving)

Steps

1. 1

   Cut the pork, or the meat of your choice, into medium-sized, relatively uniform cubes so they cook evenly.

2. 2

   In a large bowl, combine 1 cup of olive oil, the oregano, thyme, minced garlic, the juice of 2 lemons, salt, and pepper to taste. Mix until the marinade is well combined.

3. 3

   Add the meat cubes to the bowl and toss them to coat completely with the marinade.

4. 4

   Cover the bowl and marinate the meat for 25–30 minutes. Do not leave it at room temperature longer than necessary; if marinating it for longer, refrigerate it.

5. 5

   Thread the marinated cubes onto wooden skewers, leaving a small space between them and avoiding packing them too tightly. This allows the heat to circulate and helps them grill evenly.

6. 6

   Preheat the grill to medium-high heat, approximately 200–230 °C. Clean and lightly oil the grate to prevent the meat from sticking.

7. 7

   Place the skewers on the grill and cook them, turning occasionally, until well browned on the outside and juicy on the inside, approximately 10–12 minutes, depending on the size of the cubes and the type of meat. Pork should reach 63 °C in the center and rest for at least 3 minutes; if using another type of meat, adjust the cooking time to its safe internal temperature.

8. 8

   Remove the skewers from the grill and let them rest for a few minutes so they retain their juices.

9. 9

   Assemble and serve the souvlaki with chimichurri or green sauce. The author notes that Jap Jap uses its own green sauce, very similar to chimichurri, so it works especially well in this preparation.

10. 10

    Finish, if desired, with red onion, fresh tomato, and the sauces of your choice.

Notes

The original recipe does not specify the quantity of meat or garnishes, so 1 kg of meat was estimated for 6 servings. The amount of oil corresponds to the full marinade; some may remain in the bowl. If using wooden skewers, soak them beforehand according to the manufacturer's instructions to reduce the risk of burning.

Nutrition per serving

• main course
• skewers
• roasted
• grilled
• pork
• Mediterranean
• gluten-free
• high-protein