Pork Menudo

This Filipino-style Pork Menudo is a hearty and flavorful Pinoy dish that is presented on special occasions and events. It is a combination of menudo cut pork, liver, tomato sauce, potatoes, carrots, bell peppers, raisins, and peas, seasoned with soy sauce, and aromatics to have its perfect savory and slightly sweet taste. It is the ultimate comfort food that is satisfying and delicious to cook and enjoy.

Wherever you go, Filipino menudos are often served everywhere. You can find it in Karendiria menus, special gatherings, and town fiestas. This dish definitely one of the dishes that has been passed around so much from one generation to the next. 

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Menudo Variations
• Helpful Tips
• Storage and reheating tips
• Filipino Pork Menudo
• WHY YOU WILL LOVE THIS RECIPE
• Frequently Asked Questions
• More recipes you might like
• Latest Recipes
• Pork Menudo
• Recipe Notes:

Ingredients

Menudo ingredients and procedures are simple and easy to follow. With just a few ingredients, instructions, and minimal effort in your kitchen, you will be rewarded with a special menudo stew. For the full printable recipe with ingredients and instructions, check the recipe card below.

• Pork - You can use different pork cuts for this dish. I prefer a cut with more fat content such as liempo (pork belly) because fat adds more flavor. The most common are kasim (pork shoulder), and pigue (ham/leg cut). Slice the meat into small dice.
• Pork Liver - An authentic menudo Filipino style uses pork liver slices. Be sure to add this at the end of cooking. You can use liver spread to add thickness and it is a convinient alternative for pork liver slices if not available.
• Aromatics - This dish usually cooks with garlic and onion as it's aromatic and add flavors.
• Sauce - This tomato-based stew uses fresh tomato or tomato sauce in a can or a combination of fresh and can tomatoes. To add thickness and vibrant red color, adding a tablespoon or two of tomato paste will thicken the sauce.
• Seasonings - Soy sauce, salt and pepper are common menudo seasonings. You can use fish sauce as an option instead of salt and soy sauce if you prefer this.
• Vegetables - Potatoes, carrots, and bell pepper are a trio in many Filipino Stew recipes.
• Extra special - Make your menudo special by adding raisins, peas, and hot dogs to give more flavor, red color, and nice texture to this Filipino pork menudo.

Instructions

For an easy and smooth process of cooking, prepare all the necessary ingredients before starting to cook.

Step 1: In a skillet, heat two tablespoons of cooking oil and cook chopped onion and minced garlic until translucent. Be sure to stir occasionally so the garlic won't burn.

Step 2: Add the fresh tomato slices (if using). Cook until tomatoes have soften.

Step 3: Add the menudo cut pork, a pinch of salt, and pepper.

Step 4: Stir to combine everything. Cook on medium heat until the pork is browned Stir, cover with a lid, and check from time to time to stir.

Step 5: Add tomato sauce and soy sauce and bring it to a boil on high to medium heat. Add a half cup of water if you like more sauce. Then turn the heat down and simmer for 20-30 minutes or until the meat is tender.

Step 6. Add the potatoes, carrots, and liver. Cook for 10 minutes.

Step 7: Add the bell pepper, hotdogs, green peas, and raisins (if using). Stir everything and cook for another 3-5 minutes.

Step 8: Taste and adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper accordingly. Serve with a cooked warm bowl of rice.

Menudo Variations

This recipe is quick, easy, and simple way to cook Filipino Pork Menudo. However, there are some variations on how to cook menudo, what ingredients can be added, and the method of cooking.

1. Marinate: Some Pinoy likes to marinate the meat with soy sauce, kalamansi, or lemon, and some smashed garlic before cooking. Marinate the dish for 30 minutes up to overnight. This will ensure that the pork is seasoned well with the marinade and it will turn out tender since the kalamansi is a tenderizer with a hint of tang. Marinate the pork and pork liver separately since the pork requires a longer period of time cooking while the pork liver will only need a few minutes to cook it perfectly without becoming tough and chewy.
2. Sauce: When tomatoes are abundant in the Summer, adding alot of fresh tomatoes and no canned is my preferred ingredient for the sauce. While the sauce is thin, the taste of umami from the fresh tomatoes is so good. If you prefer a thicker sauce, simply add a tablespoon of tomato paste to thicken this dish.
3. Ingredients: Make this dish with different types of pork. The fattier, the more flavor it will release. If you don't eat liver, then make a no-liver menudo and skip it! Some use beef instead of pork. If you use beef, it requires a longer period of cooking. You can also add some mushrooms and garbanzo beans. If you want to make it a spicy menudo, add some serrano pepper or jalapeno pepper.
4. Seasoning: This dish is usually seasoned with soy sauce, fish sauce, salt, and pepper. You can add paprika, cumin, and chili powder if you are familiar with these spices and you love them. Spices are so good for our overall health.

Helpful Tips

• Use pork shoulder or pork belly for a richer and more flavorful stew. Cut the pork into small dice, bite-sized pieces for even cooking.
• Brown the pork on high heat before adding the liquid ingredients. This will add more depth of flavor to the menudo stew.
• Let the pork simmer for a longer time to allow the flavors to meld together and for the pork to become tender. If you have time, simmer it for an hour on very low heat.
• Use liver spread to thicken the dish and add a rich, savory flavor. You can also use tomato paste or mashed liver as a substitute.
• Pork liver slices should be cooked separately from pork shoulder and should be added at the end of cooking because it will turn chewy when overcooked. It only requires a short time to cook them.
• Cut the vegetables into small, uniform pieces to ensure even cooking. Add them towards the end of cooking time to prevent them from becoming mushy and overcooked.
• Use a combination of red and green bell pepper for a colorful and flavorful dish.
• Adjust the seasoning according to your preference. If you prefer a sweeter dish, adding raising can add a touch of sweetness and complexity to the dish.

Storage and reheating tips

• Storage: Allow the dish to cool to room temperature and then transfer them to a glass container in the refrigerator. It is good in the fridge for 5 days. It actually tastes better the next day because all the flavors are well-blended overnight.
  • Freezer: You can freeze menudo in an air-tight container or a freezer-friendly bag. Let it cool before transferring it into a container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
• Reheating: Transfer the dish to a saucepan with a few tablespoons of water if it requires liquid. Reheat until warm through.

Filipino Pork Menudo

Filipino pork menudo is derived from Spanish dish of the same name which is a stew made with beef tripe. However, the Filipino version uses pork and pork liver as the main ingredients with various vegetables, seasonings, and aromatics. Pork liver is a unique ingredient, it gives the dish a rich, meaty flavor and adds to its overall nutritional value.

Some Pinoy menudo added raisins to add tangy and sweetness to the dish which is my favorite. Special menudo also includes a red hotdog or chorizo and green peas to add more flavor and texture to the dish.

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THIS RECIPE

• It's delicious, satisfying, and comforting: This dish is a flavorful and hearty stew that can be enjoyed as a main course. The combination of meat, vegetables, and tomato sauce creates a rich and savory taste that many people enjoy.
• It's easy to make: While the dish may have several ingredients the preparation process is relatively simple. Most of the work requires chopping and cooking the ingredients in a pot until they are tender and the flavors have blended together.
• To enjoy Filipino flavor: This menudo is a tradional Filipino dish that is enjoyed by many people. If you're interested in exploring different cuisines and experiencing new flavors, making Filipino menudo can be rewarding.
• You can customize it: The good thing about cooking your own dish is you can make it in your own way. While this dish includes pork, pork liver, potatoes, carrots, and bell pepper, you can modify the recipe to suit your taste. You can use a different cut of meat or veggies and adjust the seasonings with soy sauce or fish sauce instead of salt.

Frequently Asked Questions

More recipes you might like

Beef Giniling - This dish is rich in tomato sauce and have similarity with menudo. It has the similar way of cooking and ingredients such as carrots, potatoes and bell pepper.

Beef Mechado - Beef Machado uses beef instead of pork cut but they are similar in terms of cooking procedures and ingredients.

Mushroom Shakshuka - Another tomato base recipe that rich with umami flavors from mushrooms instead of meat.

Latest Recipes