Pork menudo is a classic Filipino stew made with tender pork simmered in a rich tomato-based sauce with hearty vegetables and hot dogs. It’s hearty, comforting, and perfect with rice.
The sauce is savory with a subtle sweetness. The carrots, potatoes, peppers, and peas add flavor, bite, and a festive pop of color.
And yes, don’t be surprised about the hot dogs. Us Pinoys add cut-up hot dogs to saucy dishes all the time, like spaghetti and picadillo. Don’t knock it until you try it.
It’s rich, saucy, and incredibly satisfying. Better have extra rice ready.
What Is Pork Menudo?
Pork menudo is a Filipino stew made with pork simmered in a rich tomato-based sauce. It includes potatoes, carrots, bell peppers, green peas, and sliced hot dogs.
Some classic versions also include pork liver and raisins, but for this recipe, I’m leaving those out.
Why You’ll Love Pork Menudo
This pork menudo has everything you want in a hearty home-cooked meal.
- Simple ingredients. Most of the ingredients are pantry staples and everyday vegetables.
- Full of flavor. The combination of pork, soy sauce, tomato sauce, and aromatics creates a rich dish with a savory, slightly sweet flavor.
- Hearty and filling. With pork, potatoes, carrots, and hot dogs, it’s a satisfying meal all on its own.
Key Ingredients:
Here’s everything you’ll need to make this classic pork menudo at home.
- Pork belly: The best choice for menudo because it becomes tender as it simmers and adds rich flavor to the sauce.
- Soy sauce and lemon juice: This simple marinade seasons the pork and adds a savory, tangy base right from the start.
- Bay leaves give the sauce a deeper, more developed flavor.
- Tomato sauce gives menudo its signature rich, savory-sweet base.
- Carrot and potato: Cut them into uniform pieces so they cook evenly.
- Fish sauce (or salt), sugar, black pepper: Add these at the end and adjust to taste for a savory, salty, and slightly sweet sauce.
- Bell peppers and green peas: These add a pop of color, flavor, and texture to the dish.
- Hot dogs: In Filipino cooking, hot dogs are often added to dishes to stretch the meat and make the dish heartier.
Best Pork to Use for Pork Menudo
Pork belly is the best choice for pork menudo because it turns rich and tender as it simmers. Here are a few other cuts you can use:
- Pork shoulder. A great choice for a meatier menudo with less fat, while still staying tender after simmering.
- Pork butt. Similar to pork shoulder, this cut has enough fat to stay juicy and flavorful without being too rich.
- Pork loin. This is a leaner option, but it can work if you prefer less fat. Just be careful not to overcook it so it stays tender.
How to Make Pork Menudo
Here’s how to make a hearty pot of pork menudo.
1. Marinate the pork. Combine the pork belly, soy sauce, and lemon juice in a bowl. Let it marinate for 15 minutes while you prep the vegetables.
2. Sauté the aromatics. Heat oil in a pan or pot over medium heat. Sauté the onion and garlic until fragrant.
3. Brown the pork. Add the bay leaves and pork, then cook until lightly browned.
4. Simmer the sauce. Pour in the tomato sauce and water. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the pork is tender.
5. Cook the vegetables. Add the potatoes and carrots, then simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Add a little more water if the sauce thickens too much.
6. Season to taste. Taste the sauce, then season with fish sauce or salt, sugar, and black pepper.
7. Add the remaining ingredients. Stir in the bell peppers, peas, and hot dogs. Cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, until the peppers are tender.
8. Serve with rice and enjoy!
Tips for the Best Pork Menudo
These helpful tips will set you up for a rich, saucy, and flavorful pork menudo.
- Marinate the pork. Even a short marinade helps season the pork and gives the dish a deeper, richer flavor.
- Cut everything into similar sizes. Keep the pork and vegetables close in size so it’s easier to get a little of everything in each bite.
- Stir occasionally while simmering. This helps prevent the sauce from sticking and keeps the pork and vegetables cooking evenly.
- Season at the end. Since the pork is already marinated in soy sauce, wait until the sauce has simmered before adjusting with fish sauce or salt and sugar.
- Add classic mix-ins. Pork liver and raisins are also classic additions to menudo. Feel free to add them if you like.
What to Serve with Pork Menudo
Pork menudo is best served with steamed white rice to soak up all that rich, savory tomato sauce. The next day, have it with fried rice and a fried egg for a hearty Filipino breakfast.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Store leftover pork menudo in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To reheat, warm it in a pan over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water if the sauce has thickened too much. Or, microwave it in short intervals, stirring in between.
More Filipino Recipes to Try
Pork Menudo Recipe
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds pork belly cut into small cubes
- 1 ½ cups soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- Oil for sautéing
- 1 small onion minced
- 10 cloves garlic minced
- 2-3 bay leaves
- 1 ½ cups tomato sauce
- 1 ½ cups water
- 1 medium carrot peeled and cubed
- 1 medium potato cubed
- Fish sauce or salt to taste
- Sugar to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 1 red bell pepper cubed
- ½ cup green peas
- 2 hot dogs sliced
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine pork belly, soy sauce, and lemon juice. Marinate for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, prep the vegetables – mince onion and garlic, peel and cube carrot and potato, and slice bell pepper and hot dogs.
- Heat oil in a pan or pot over medium heat. Sauté the onion and garlic until fragrant.
- Add pork and bay leaves. Cook until the pork is lightly browned.
- Pour in the tomato sauce and water. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the pork is tender.
- Add the potatoes and carrots. Simmer for about 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Add a little more water if the sauce thickens too much.
- Taste and season with fish sauce or salt, sugar, and pepper.
- Add bell peppers, peas, and hot dogs. Cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, until the peppers are tender.
- Serve over rice and enjoy!
