Sticky-Sweet Grilled Pork Shoulder with Hoisin and Molasses

A succulent Asian-fusion pork shoulder marinated in a rich blend of hoisin, fish sauce, and Asian condiments, then grilled to perfection with a sticky-sweet molasses glaze. Perfect for serving with pickles and bread for an elevated sandwich experience.

8 servings

10 hr 26 min

Published October 4, 2025

Ingredients

•2 heads garlic
•1 piece ginger
•1 cup hoisin sauce
•¾ cup fish sauce
•⅔ cup honey
•⅔ cup Shaoxing wine
•½ cup chili oil
•⅓ cup oyster sauce
•⅓ cup toasted sesame oil
•1 piece pork shoulder
•2 tablespoons Kosher salt
•¾ cup dark brown sugar
•1 tablespoon molasses
•1 cup bread-and-butter pickles
•8 slices white bread
•1 cup cilantro
•1 cup white onion

Cooking Instructions

1.
Purée garlic, ginger, hoisin sauce, fish sauce, honey, wine, chili oil, oyster sauce, and sesame oil in a blender until very smooth. Place 1 1/2 cups in a small bowl for glaze; cover and chill until ready to use. Pour remaining marinade into a 2-gal. resealable plastic bag.
10 min
2.
Place pork shoulder, fat side down, on a cutting board with a short end facing you. Holding a long sharp knife about 1"-1 1/2" above cutting board, make a shallow cut along the entire length of a long side of shoulder. Continue cutting deeper into meat, lifting and unfurling with your free hand, until it lies flat (it's better to end up with 2-3 even pieces than 1 uneven piece). Add to bag with marinade and seal, pressing out air. Work pork around inside bag to coat with marinade. Chill at least 8 hours and up to 1 day.
480 min
3.
Prepare a Big Green Egg for medium heat (with cover closed, thermometer should register 350°F). Remove pork from marinade, letting excess drip off. Lightly season all over with salt. Fit grill with convection plate and set pork on top. (If you don't have a convection plate, bank coals on one side and set pork over cooler area to avoid flare-ups.) Cover and roast pork until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 140°F-145°F. (You can also do initial cooking in a 350°F oven.) Transfer to a cutting board and let rest at least 20 minutes.
120 min
4.
Bring brown sugar, molasses, and reserved marinade to a simmer in a large saucepan; cook until reduced by one-third, 6-8 minutes (you should have about 1 1/3 cups). Keep warm.
8 min
5.
Prepare a Big Green Egg for medium-high heat (or use a conventional grill). Grill pork, basting and turning with 2 pairs of tongs every minute or so, until thickly coated with glaze, lightly charred in spots, and warmed through (an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part should register 130°F-145°F; be careful not to overcook), 6-8 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board; slice against the grain 1/4" thick. Serve with pickles, bread, cilantro, and onion.
8 min
6.
Pork can be roasted 2 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill.

Ingredients

•2 heads garlic

•1 piece ginger

•1 cup hoisin sauce

•¾ cup fish sauce

•⅔ cup honey

•⅔ cup Shaoxing wine

•½ cup chili oil

•⅓ cup oyster sauce

•⅓ cup toasted sesame oil

•1 piece pork shoulder

•2 tablespoons Kosher salt

•¾ cup dark brown sugar

•1 tablespoon molasses

•1 cup bread-and-butter pickles

•8 slices white bread

•1 cup cilantro

•1 cup white onion

Cooking Instructions

Purée garlic, ginger, hoisin sauce, fish sauce, honey, wine, chili oil, oyster sauce, and sesame oil in a blender until very smooth. Place 1 1/2 cups in a small bowl for glaze; cover and chill until ready to use. Pour remaining marinade into a 2-gal. resealable plastic bag.

10 min

Place pork shoulder, fat side down, on a cutting board with a short end facing you. Holding a long sharp knife about 1"-1 1/2" above cutting board, make a shallow cut along the entire length of a long side of shoulder. Continue cutting deeper into meat, lifting and unfurling with your free hand, until it lies flat (it's better to end up with 2-3 even pieces than 1 uneven piece). Add to bag with marinade and seal, pressing out air. Work pork around inside bag to coat with marinade. Chill at least 8 hours and up to 1 day.

480 min

Prepare a Big Green Egg for medium heat (with cover closed, thermometer should register 350°F). Remove pork from marinade, letting excess drip off. Lightly season all over with salt. Fit grill with convection plate and set pork on top. (If you don't have a convection plate, bank coals on one side and set pork over cooler area to avoid flare-ups.) Cover and roast pork until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 140°F-145°F. (You can also do initial cooking in a 350°F oven.) Transfer to a cutting board and let rest at least 20 minutes.

120 min

Bring brown sugar, molasses, and reserved marinade to a simmer in a large saucepan; cook until reduced by one-third, 6-8 minutes (you should have about 1 1/3 cups). Keep warm.

8 min

Prepare a Big Green Egg for medium-high heat (or use a conventional grill). Grill pork, basting and turning with 2 pairs of tongs every minute or so, until thickly coated with glaze, lightly charred in spots, and warmed through (an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part should register 130°F-145°F; be careful not to overcook), 6-8 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board; slice against the grain 1/4" thick. Serve with pickles, bread, cilantro, and onion.

8 min

Pork can be roasted 2 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill.