Humba
A tender and flavorful dish of braised pork belly with savory-sweet soy-vinegar sauce and tausi
Ingredients
- 2 tablspoons oil
- 1.5 pounds pork belly (cut into 1x2-inch sizes
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 medium red onion chopped
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup vinegar
- 2 cups water add more if needed
- 1 tablespoon peppercorn
- 2 pieces bay leaves
- ¼ cup dried banana blossoms optional
- ¼ cup fermented black beans tausi
- ½ cup pineapple tidbits - liquids included optional
- 3 tablespoon brown sugar
Instructions
- First, heat up some oil in a large pot over medium heat. Once it's hot, add in the pork belly and let it sizzle away until it's lightly browned and the fats are rendered. Once it's cooked to perfection, set it aside on a plate.
- Next, remove any excess oil from the pot and leave about 2 tablespoons behind. Saute some garlic until it's golden and aromatic, then add the pork belly back in and give it a good stir.
- Now it's time to add the rest of the ingredients and let all those flavors meld together. Cover the pot and let it simmer away for 40-50 minutes until the pork is tender. If needed, add more water until the meat is fork-tender.
- Once the pork is cooked to perfection, it's time to reduce the liquid to a thick, delicious sauce. Remove the cover and let it simmer away until the sauce has reached the perfect consistency.
- Now, it's time to plate up and enjoy! Transfer the pork belly and sauce to a serving dish and pair it with some plain rice.
Notes
Note 1: If your pork belly has a lot of fat, it's best to separate the fatty part from the leaner part before cooking. Start by searing the fatty part first to render the fats and achieve that mouth-watering flavor. Then, sear the leaner meat for a shorter time to prevent it from drying up and becoming chewy. This will ensure that every bite is perfectly cooked and bursting with flavor.
Note 2: If you're using dried fermented black beans, it's a good idea to soak them for a bit and rinse them before adding them to the dish. This will help to reduce the saltiness and ensure that they blend perfectly with the other ingredients. On the other hand, if you're using canned black beans with liquid, make sure to drain the liquid before adding them in. These simple steps will help you to achieve the perfect balance of flavors in your dish and make every bite unforgettable.