Barbecue Pork Kebabs With Blistered Chile Pumpkin Seed Salsa Recipes

Steps:

• Make the salsa:
• Cook onion and jalapeños over a gas burner, turning often, until charred and beginning to soften, about 4 minutes (alternatively, cook in a hot dry medium skillet, preferably cast iron). Let cool. Finely chop onion. Remove seeds from chiles and finely chop. Toss onion, chiles, cilantro, pumpkin seeds, oil, and lime juice in a small bowl. Season with salt.
• Make the pork kebabs:
• Freeze pork until very firm around the edges, 20-30 minutes. Slice 1/4" thick, then cut crosswise into 1 1/2"-2" strips if needed. Cover and chill until ready to grill.
• Mix brown sugar, mustard powder, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, and cayenne in a small bowl to combine.
• Prepare a grill for medium-high, indirect heat (for a charcoal grill, bank coals on one side of grill; for a gas grill, leave one or two burners off). Oil grates. Thread pork onto 6-8 skewers, folding and piling onto itself to form a compact shape. Season with salt, then sprinkle generously with brown sugar mixture in several passes, allowing a few minutes between each for rub to adhere. Grill over direct heat, turning every minute or so, until browned and beginning to char in spots, about 4 minutes. Move to cooler side of grill and continue to grill until cooked through, about 5 minutes longer. Serve pork topped with salsa.
• Do Ahead
• Salsa can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Dry rub can be made 1 month ahead; store airtight at room temperature.

Steps:

• Toss pork and salt together in large bowl and let sit for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk ketchup, sugar, chili powder, cornstarch, liquid smoke, and cayenne together in bowl. Set aside 1½ tablespoons ketchup mixture.
• Add remaining ketchup mixture to pork and toss to coat. Thread pork onto four 12-inch metal skewers, leaving ¼ inch between pieces. Spray both sides of meat generously with oil spray.
• FOR A CHARCOAL GRILL: Open bottom vent completely. Light large chimney starter filled with charcoal briquettes (6 quarts). When top coals are partially covered with ash, pour evenly over half of grill. Set cooking grate in place, cover, and open lid vent completely. Heat grill until hot, about 5 minutes.
• FOR A GAS GRILL: Turn all burners to high, cover, and heat grill until hot, about 15 minutes. Leave primary burner on high and turn off other burner(s).
• Clean and oil cooking grate. Place skewers on hotter side of grill and grill until well charred, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip skewers, brush with reserved ketchup mixture, and continue to grill until second side is well charred and meat registers 140 degrees, 3 to 4 minutes longer. Transfer to serving platter, tent loosely with aluminum foil, and let rest for 5 minutes.