Humba is a Filipino dish that features braised pork belly with a sweet and savory sauce. It's a flavorful and comforting dish that is often enjoyed with rice. Here's a simple Humba recipe for you to try:
Ingredients:
1 kg pork belly, cut into chunks
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup vinegar
1 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 medium-sized onion, chopped
1 head garlic, minced
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon peppercorns
1 tablespoon oil
Hard-boiled eggs (optional, for garnish)
Green onions or spring onions, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions:
In a bowl, combine soy sauce, vinegar, pineapple juice, brown sugar, chopped onion, minced garlic, bay leaves, and peppercorns. Mix well to create the marinade.
Place the pork belly chunks in a large bowl or a zip-lock bag, and pour the marinade over the meat. Make sure each piece is well-coated. Marinate the pork for at least 1-2 hours or, preferably, overnight in the refrigerator.
Heat oil in a wide, heavy-bottomed pan or a Dutch oven over medium heat.
Remove the pork from the marinade and set aside. Reserve the marinade for later.
Sear the pork belly chunks in the hot oil until browned on all sides. This helps lock in the flavor.
Pour in the reserved marinade and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and simmer for about 1.5 to 2 hours or until the pork is tender. Make sure to stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
Optional: If you want a thicker sauce, you can remove some of the sauce, mix it with a bit of cornstarch, and then add it back to the pot. Stir well and let it simmer until the sauce thickens.
Once the pork is tender and the sauce has thickened to your liking, you can garnish the Humba with hard-boiled eggs and chopped green onions.
Serve the Humba with steamed rice. Enjoy the sweet and savory flavors of this delicious Filipino dish!
Feel free to adjust the sweetness and saltiness according to your taste preference.