Thai Grilled Pork Jowl (Kor Moo Yang) – Air Fryer Recipe

Thai Grilled Pork Jowl (Kor Moo Yang) – Air Fryer Recipe

By Sho @ Hungry for Thai on Jun 4th 2025 Sho

Prep time

6 hours 30 minutes

Cook time

30 minutes

Serves

2

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Ingredients

  • For Thai Grilled Pork Jowl

  • For the Spicy Thai Jeaw Dipping Sauce

Steps

  • Cooking Thai Grilled Pork Jowl:

    1. Pound cilantro roots, garlic, and black pepper into a paste using a mortar and pestle.

      Pound cilantro roots, garlic, and black pepper
      Pound cilantro roots, garlic, and black pepper into a paste
    2. Mix the paste with all marinade ingredients.

      Mix the paste with pork jowl
      Add palm sugar-Thai Grilled Pork Jowl (Kor Moo Yang)
      Add milk -Thai Grilled Pork Jowl (Kor Moo Yang)
      Add sesame oil-Thai Grilled Pork Jowl (Kor Moo Yang)
      Add soy sauce -Thai Grilled Pork Jowl (Kor Moo Yang)
      Add dark soy sauce -Thai Grilled Pork Jowl (Kor Moo Yang)
    3. Coat the pork jowl slices evenly and refrigerate overnight (or at least 6 hours).

      Coat the pork jowl slices evenly
      Marinated pork jowl
      refrigerate overnight (or at least 6 hours)
    4. Air Fryer Method: Preheat to 175°C (350°F). Cook pork jowl for 15 minutes. Flip and cook for another 5-7 minutes. Grill over medium-high heat until nicely charred on both sides and cooked through.

      Prepare marinated pork jowl to cook
      Place pork jowl in the basket
       Cook pork jowl for 15 minutes.
      Flip the pork jowl
      cook for another 5-7 minutes.
       Grill over medium-high heat until nicely charred on both sides and cooked through.
    5. Let the pork rest before slicing thinly. This helps lock in those flavorful juices then serving with Jaew Dipping Sauce.

      Let the pork rest before slicing thinly.
Thai Grilled Pork Jowl (Kor Moo Yang) – Air Fryer Recipe

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Thai Grilled Pork Neck (Kor Moo Yang) in Air Fryer Juicy, tender Thai-style pork grilled in the air fryer—served with spicy jaew sauce.

A must-try dish that tastes just like home 🇹🇭 If you’re craving something smoky, savory, and mouth-wateringly good, Thai Grilled Pork Neck, or Kor Moo Yang, is for you.

This dish is a street food favorite in Thailand, known for its juicy, charred edges and melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Pair it with sticky rice and spicy nam jim jaew (Thai chili dipping sauce), and you’ve got an unbeatable combo.

The best part? You can make this at home using an air fryer—no grill or outdoor setup needed!

Ingredients for Kor Moo Yang

What You'll Need

🥩 For the Pork Jowl Marinade:

  • Pork Jowl or Pork Neck – Rich, marbled cuts that become tender and juicy when grilled or air fried
  • Cilantro Roots – Add an earthy, aromatic base flavor typical in Thai marinades
  • Garlic Cloves – Bring depth and savory aroma
  • Black Pepper – Adds mild heat and enhances flavor complexity
  • Soy Sauce – Salty, savory base for authentic Thai flavor
  • Palm Sugar or Brown Sugar – Balances out saltiness with a touch of sweetness
  • Sesame Oil – Adds a nutty aroma and helps lock in moisture
  • Milk – Tenderizes the meat and adds subtle creaminess
  • Dark Soy Sauce – Adds color and a deeper, slightly sweet flavor

🌶️ For the Jaew Dipping Sauce:

  • Palm Sugar – Brings natural sweetness and balances sour and salty notes
  • Tamarind Paste – Adds tangy depth and signature Thai sourness
  • Fish Sauce – Provides that classic salty umami punch
  • Chili Flakes – Gives the sauce its spicy kick
  • Toasted Rice Powder (Khao Khua) – Adds nutty crunch and a roasted aroma
  • Shallots – Offer mild sweetness and texture
  • Green Onions – Add freshness and a pop of color

Why You’ll Love This Thai Grilled Pork Jowl (Kor Moo Yang) Recipe🩷

  • Bold Thai flavor with a simple homemade marinade
  • Air fryer friendly—no grill required
  • Versatile cut—works with pork jowl, pork neck, or pork belly
  • Pairs perfectly with Thai dipping sauce and sticky rice
  • A must-try if you’re looking for Thai pork skewers recipes or grilled meat ideas

How to Cook Thai Grilled Pork Jowl

  1. Pound cilantro roots, garlic, and black pepper into a paste. Mix with the remaining marinade ingredients.
  2. Coat pork jowl and marinate in the fridge overnight (or at least 6 hours).
  3. Air Fryer: Preheat to 350°F (175°C). Cook for 15 minutes, flip, then cook 5-7 more minutes.
  4. Cook over medium-high heat until charred and cooked through.

🥣 How to Make Thai Jeaw Sauce

  1. Stir palm sugar, tamarind paste, and fish sauce until smooth.
  2. Add shallots, green onions, chili flakes, and toasted rice powder.
  3. Mix again just before serving.

Thai Grilled Pork Jowl (Kor Moo Yang) with dipping sauce

What to Serve With Thai Grilled Pork

Looking for the perfect sides to round out your meal? Here are some tasty ideas:

🥗 Starter: Thai cucumber salad or green papaya salad

🥩 Main Course: Grilled pork jowl + sticky rice + jaew sauce

🍛 Side Dish: Fresh herbs like mint, cilantro, Thai basil

🍰 Dessert: Thai coconut pudding or mango sticky rice

If you’ve ever walked down a street food alley in Thailand, chances are the irresistible aroma of grilled pork filled the air.

That’s Kor Moo Yang, or Thai grilled pork jowl, sizzling over coals.

It’s one of Thailand’s most beloved dishes—crispy on the outside, juicy inside, and bursting with flavor.


FAQs

Pork jowl is the cheek area of the pig. It’s similar to pork belly but has more marbling, making it ultra flavorful and tender when cooked.

Pork jowl is a cut that is greatly underappreciated in North America.

It is a flat, grill- friendly piece of pork that is incredibly flavourful because of the fat that runs through the meat.

In Thai cooking, pork jowl is often grilled or skewered and served with sticky rice.

If you’re wondering how to use pork jowl, this is one of the best ways to enjoy it.

Overnight is best, but a minimum of 6 hours will still give great flavor.

The classic Thai sauce served with grilled pork is called “Nam Jim Jeaw” (น้ำจิ้มแจ่ว) – a bold, spicy, and tangy dipping sauce that perfectly complements rich meats like Kor Moo Yang (Thai grilled pork jowl).

Nam Jim Jaew is a northeastern Thai (Isaan) dipping sauce.

It’s known for its complex flavor – spicy, sour, salty, and a hint of sweetness – made to cut through the fattiness of grilled meats.


This Thai grilled pork jowl recipe brings the taste of Thailand straight to your home.

Whether you’re using an air fryer, grill, or stovetop pan, the result is a juicy, smoky, and ultra-satisfying dish that’s sure to impress.


Tips

  • Slice the pork jowl thin after cooking for that classic Thai-style presentation.
  • Adjust the chili in the dipping sauce to your spice level.
  • Don’t skip the resting time—it keeps the pork juicy.
  • Toast sticky rice and grind it for authentic roasted rice powder (adds texture and nutty flavor).

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