Often likened to the classic Filipino dish, the Adobo, Pork Pata Humba is another classic but has a different flavor profile from Adobo. While Adobo is known for its trademark tanginess which is caused by vinegar, Pork Pata Humba is leaning more on the sweet side, courtesy of the pineapple juice and brown sugar that caramelizes in the cooking process and then coats each pork hock present. No doubt, Pork Pata Humba can satisfy both sweet and savory cravings in one mouthful.
If it isn’t obvious to you yet, Pork Pata Humba is what we have for you today. This classic Filipino stew originated from the Visayas region and it sure is a delightful and comforting dish that you can enjoy over lunch or dinner with your friends and family. With its main ingredient being pork hock though, you might want to take note that this pork part takes longer cooking time to be tender but of course, we are here to guide you all throughout the process and also give you tips to make your kitchen time more efficient.
One technique that you can do to make sure you end up with tender pork hocks is by braising it. This method involves two major processes, one is by sauteing it and the other is by boiling it over low heat. By braising it, you are not only making the pork hocks tender, but also actually making it tastier as flavors are being extracted from it throughout the process. If you are really short on time though, may we suggest reaching for our good old reliable kitchen friend, the pressure cooker. By cooking the pork hocks there, you will be able to cut maybe even half the kitchen time you need to put in.
Since we have extra time in our hands, we went for the first technique and that is by braising it. We first seared our pork hocks and then boiled it alongside some of the other ingredients at some point in order to achieve that lovely burst of well-balanced sweet and savory flavors a Pork Pata Humba is all about. Also, by going with the first method, we feel like we were able to share more of our love with our friends and family since we were not in a rush to be anywhere else but with them, on the table, enjoying the dish we made and catching up with each others’ lives.
Don’t feel bad though if you want to go for the second method because reaching for the pressure cooker doesn’t make your love for the people dear to you any less. In fact, doing this gives you more time to spend with them. Really, it’s all just a matter of preference and perspective, if you think about it.
If you are ready to make your loved ones Pork Pata Humba as your meal today but still don’t know where to start, then don’t worry, because we got everything you need to know below. From the ingredients to the directions, we got that all covered for you. All you have to do is follow it. You can also check out our recipe video on it if you feel like it.
