5 Pork Marinades

Beef steak may be the most commonly known type of steak, but pork steaks are a close second. Pork steaks are slightly lighter than beef steaks but are still juicy, tender, and full of flavour. If you are a fan of bacon, and many people are, pork steaks and pork chops are sure to please!

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Whether pan fried or grilled outdoors on a BBQ pork steaks make a fantastic easy midweek meal and an excellent addition to any BBQ offering. Although fantastic by themselves cooked simply with generous amounts of salt and pepper, one of the best and easiest ways of improving the flavour and texture of any type of steak be it beef steak, pork steak, or lamb steak is to marinate your meat before cooking.

Marinating your meat both adds a lot of flavour through the use of herbs and spices, but the added acids and enzymes also break down the proteins found within meat and make it more tender. If you want to find out more about marinades and how they work, our Guide to Marinades and How to Marinate will let you know everything you need to know.

The marinades below are perfect for pork steaks, and can also be used for pork chops and diced pork. One of the great things about marinating your meat is that it can be done a few hours to overnight before you actually have to cook it. This makes marinating great for doing a bit of meal preparation during the week to then grill your steaks as a part of a quick and easy midweek meal later on, but also means you can prepare your items in advance if you are having a BBQ and can then concentrate solely on grilling to perfection on the day.

Each of these marinades will cover at least two pork steaks, and can be scaled up or down to suit. To follow the recipes, simply tip all of your ingredients into a bowl and stir together until thoroughly combined. At this stage you can also prick your steaks slightly with a fork to allow the flavours to penetrate the meat further, but many people do not find this step necessary.

Once your marinade is fully combined, all you need to do is place your steaks or chops and the marinade into a sandwich or freezer bag, cover your steaks or chops in the marinade and massage slightly, then tightly seal your steaks or chops in the bag, then place in the fridge up to overnight. When you are ready, you can then simply take out your steaks or chops from the bag and then grill or fry as normal.

Below are some of our favourite recipes for a perfect pork steak or pork chop marinade.

 

BBQ Sticky Pork Marinade

This BBQ marinade is perfect for getting those slightly sticky, sweet, and salty pork steaks and pork chops that are incredibly popular for barbecues. As well as using this marinade to grill pork steaks and pork chops, you can also use this marinade for cooking pork belly slices and pork ribs, although the pork ribs will need to be cooked in the oven first before finishing off on the BBQ.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp tomato ketchup
• 0.5 tbsp dark brown sugar
• 0.5 tbsp English style mustard

 

Simple Pork Marinade

This simple pork marinade uses very few ingredients that can also be sourced easily, and has a well-rounded balance of flavours that ensures its popularity with a variety of different audiences and occasions. The vinegar and sugar together gives a slightly tangy and sweet flavour, and the hint of mustard is ideal with pork. Like many marinades, this one is also very easy to prepare.

Ingredients:

• 4 tbsp oil
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
• 2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper

 

Chinese Style Pork Marinade

This pork marinade is great for those that are fans of Chinese cuisine. It is based on the Moo Shu pork dish that originates in the northern regions of China, possibly Shandong. Since then it has gained popularity as a staple of Chinese takeaway cuisine across the world, particularly in The United Kingdom and The United States, and it is easy to see why. This marinade is very tasty and is just a little bit different enough to impress any guests while still remaining appealing to many different tastes.

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp hoisin sauce
• 1 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1.5 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper

 

Pineapple and Ginger Pork Marinade

This pineapple and pork ginger marinade is bursting with zesty citrus flavours and just a little bit of heat from the ginger. It is perfect for the BBQ on a summer day as the flavours are so fresh and zingy. Just a little bit unusual compared to most pork dishes, the pineapple and ginger work incredibly well with the pork to bring out the best of the meat.

Ingredients:

• 4 tbsp pineapple juice
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp Chinese five spice powder
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 0.5 tsp red chilli flakes (to taste)

 

Greek Style Pork Marinade

This Greek style pork marinade is simply wonderful with pork chops and pork steaks. You can easily make Greek style kebabs by marinating a few pork steaks using this recipe, then grill until cooked throughout, then serve sliced in a pitta bread topped with tzatziki and feta cheese. This marinade is very simple and adds flavour to the pork without overpowering it. The combination of lemon and herbs also gives the pork a light and fresh tasting citrus kick.

Ingredients:

• 4 tbsp oil
• 4 garlic cloves, crushed and chopped finely
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp rosemary
• Juice from two lemons