How to Cook Pork Humba (Braised Pork Belly)

This Filipino pork recipe is considered to be a favorite dish in every Filipino gatherings and occasions such as during fiestas when families and relatives gather together to celebrate the reunion over food and drinks. The humba recipe is one of the many comfort foods that Filipinos love. This dish is popular especially in the Visayas and Mindanao region in the Philippines. Here are the steps to cook it:

Things You'll Need

• 2 lbs pork belly, cut into 2 inch cubes
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 1/3 cup vinegar
• 2 cups water
• 5 cloves crushed garlic
• 1 medium-size onion, sliced
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 3 pieces bay leaf
• 1 tsp peppercorns

Instructions

1. In a big cooking pot with cover, put the slices of meat and cook over low heat. Cook slowly until the meat shrinks and excess oil is drained. This may take about 15 minutes.

2. When the meat has turned light brown and most of the fat is gone from the meat, remove it from the pot and drain them in paper towels.

3. In another cooking pot, sauté the garlic and onions and add the drained meat into the pot. Mix well.

4. Add the soy sauce, vinegar, and water and bring to a boil.

5. Once boiling, lower the heat and add the bay leaf, peppercorns, and brown sugar. Simmer for another 10 minutes to let the flavor seep into the meat and until the sauce thickens.

6. Serve the meat with hot rice and fruit.

Tips & Warnings

• Exercise caution in cooking and draining the excess fat from the meat. It is hot and may cause burns.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• How to Prepare Filipino Maja Blanca
• How to Cook Fish Paksiw
• How to Cook Filipino Chop Suey
• Filipino Cuisine: Recipes from the Islands
• Banana Leaves: Filipino Cooking and Much More