Vietnamese Grilled Pork Skewers (Nem Nuong)

Soak 10 to 12 bamboo skewers in water for at least 30 minutes

Make the skewers: Combine the garlic, shallots and bacon in a food processor. Pulse a few times to mix the ingredients well, then pr ocess continuously until a coarse paste forms

Transfer the paste to a large bowl. Add the pork, five - spice powder, cornstarch, honey, 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of the oil, fish sauce, soy sauce and rice wine. Use your hands to mix the ingredients thoroughly, squeezing and pressing the mixture firmly as you go, for at least 10 minutes, until everything is uniformly combined and the pork becomes smooth and tacky

Preheat the grill to medium - high heat (400 to 450°F [204 to 232°C])

Measure out 1 to 2 tablespoo ns (15 to 30 g) of the pork mixture and form it into a tight ball. Then squeeze the ball into a sausage shape about 3 to 4 inches (7.5 to 10 cm) long, and push a skewer through the center of the meat. Repeat this process with the remaining pork mixture.

Use the remaining 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of oil to brush each of the sausages. Grill them for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, until they are brown and cooked through.

Make the dipping sauce: In a small bowl, dissolve the sugar in the warm water. Mix in the lime juice, fish sauce, chili and garlic. Store the sauce in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.