Filipino-Style Pork Menudo

As a child, Edwin's mom told him, "If you want to eat, you should cook it yourself." And that's exactly what he's been doing ever since.

Filipino-Style Pork Menudo

This dish is not to be confused withe Mexican menudo, which is a soup made with beef tripe. The Filipino-style menudo is a tomato-based stew that uses pork. What makes this a bit different from a typical stew is the addition of raisins and liver. It's one of my favorite Filipino dishes. I hope you like it, too.

Cook Time

Ingredients

• 2 pounds pork shoulder or butt, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 large potato, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 carrot, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 pound pork liver, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1/3 cup canned garbanzo beans
• 1 small red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch cubes
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Instructions

1. In a pot, boil the pork in water for about 30 minutes until tender. Drain the pork but save the broth.
2. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Saute the garlic, onions, pork, and liver for 5 minutes, until the meat is brown.
3. Transfer the meat mixture into the pot of reserved pork broth and add the tomato sauce, and soy sauce. Bring to a boil
4. Add the potatoes and carrots. Simmer for 8-10 minutes until tender. Add more water if needed.
5. Add the raisins, bell peppers, and garbanzo beans, and simmer for another 3 minutes.
6. Season with salt and pepper to suit your taste before serving.

Variations

• Instead of tomato sauce, try using real tomatoes cut into cubes.
• Add or substitute other vegetables such as canned peas and green bell peppers.
• You can substitute beef liver for pork liver.
• For a slightly sweet and savory dish, add sugar.
• Use fish sauce instead of soy sauce.
• You can add sliced hot dogs to the dish.
• Rather than bell peppers, you can use canned or bottled pimientos.
• Instead of water, use canned chicken broth. But reduce or omit the soy sauce unless you're using sodium-free chicken broth.