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Pork Bites Recipe

Name: Gabby Goat American Pub & Grills Pork Bites Recipe
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 lb boneless pork loin; 1 tsp kosher salt; 0.5 tsp freshly ground black pepper; 1 tsp garlic powder; 1 tsp smoked paprika; 2 tbsp soy sauce (or tamari); 1.5 tbsp olive oil; 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar; 1 tsp brown sugar; 1 tsp fresh lemon juice; 1 tbsp neutral oil (canola or vegetable) for searing; 0.5 cup mayonnaise; 0.25 cup buttermilk; 2 tbsp sour cream; 2 tbsp BBQ sauce (your favorite); 1 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped; 1 tsp fresh parsley, finely chopped; 0.25 tsp dried dill (optional); 0.25 tsp garlic powder; 0.25 tsp onion powder; 0.25 tsp salt; 0.25 tsp black pepper; 0.5 tsp lemon juice (or apple cider vinegar); 1 tbsp green onions, thinly sliced; 0.5 tsp toasted sesame seeds (optional); 2 wedges lime or lemon wedges

Inspired by Gabby Goat American Pub & Grill

Time45m

Serves4

Boneless pork loin, marinated, then hard seared. Served with house-made BBQ Ranch

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Ingredients

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Pork Bites

1 lb boneless pork loin

1 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1 tsp Watkins garlic powder

1 tsp Smoked paprika

2 tbsp soy sauce (or tamari)

1 1/2 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp Apple cider vinegar

1 tsp Brown sugar

1 tsp fresh lemon juice

1 tbsp neutral oil (canola or vegetable) for searing

House-made BBQ Ranch

1/2 cup Mayonnaise

1/4 cup Buttermilk

2 tbsp Sour cream

2 tbsp BBQ sauce (your favorite)

1 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped

1 tsp fresh parsley, finely chopped

1/4 tsp dried dill (optional)

1/4 tsp Watkins garlic powder

1/4 tsp Onion powder

1/4 tsp Celtic sea salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp lemon juice (or apple cider vinegar)

Garnish & Serving

1 tbsp green onions, thinly sliced

1/2 tsp toasted sesame seeds (optional)

2 wedges lime or lemon wedges

Method

Pork Bites

Trim and cube

Trim excess fat and silver skin from the boneless pork loin. Cut into 1-inch bite-sized cubes for even cooking (about 1-inch). Pat the cubes dry with paper towels.

Make marinade

In a bowl, whisk together kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, soy sauce, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, and lemon juice until sugar dissolves and mixture is uniform.

Marinate

Place pork cubes in a resealable plastic bag or a shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the pork, massaging to coat evenly. Marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 2 hours. (30 minutes will impart some flavor; 2 hours is preferred but don't exceed 4 hours to avoid texture changes.)

Preheat and prepare pan

Remove the pork from the refrigerator 15 minutes before cooking to take the chill off. Heat a heavy skillet or cast-iron pan over medium-high to high heat until very hot (2–4 minutes). Add the neutral oil and swirl to coat; the oil should shimmer but not smoke heavily.

Sear pork

Working in a single layer (cook in batches if needed to avoid crowding), place pork cubes in the hot pan leaving space between pieces. Sear without moving for 1.5–2 minutes to develop a deep brown crust, then flip and sear the other sides, about another 1.5–2 minutes, turning to get all sides browned. Total cook time per batch should be about 4–6 minutes until exterior is well browned and internal temperature reads 145°F (63°C) for medium doneness. If cubes are larger or pan temperature drops, reduce heat to medium and continue cooking until temperature is reached.

Rest

Transfer seared pork bites to a warm plate and let rest for 3–5 minutes to allow juices to redistribute.

Finish

If you like, toss the rested pork bites with a light sprinkle of additional smoked paprika or a teaspoon of the reserved marinade reduced briefly in the pan (boil 1 minute) to glaze. Ensure any marinade that touched raw pork is cooked through before using as a glaze.

House-made BBQ Ranch

Combine base

In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, buttermilk, and sour cream until smooth and slightly loose. Adjust consistency with more buttermilk (1 tsp at a time) if you prefer a thinner dipping sauce.

Add seasonings

Stir in BBQ sauce, chopped chives, parsley, dried dill (if using), garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and lemon juice (or apple cider vinegar). Taste and adjust seasoning — add more BBQ sauce for sweetness/smokiness or more lemon juice for brightness.

Chill

Cover and refrigerate for at least 20–30 minutes to let flavors meld. Sauce can be made up to 24 hours ahead and kept refrigerated in an airtight container.

Garnish & Serve

Arrange pork bites on a serving platter. Spoon the BBQ Ranch into a small bowl for dipping. Sprinkle the pork with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds if using. Serve with lime or lemon wedges on the side for squeezing over the bites.