If you’re a fan of pork, you might like estofado, a pork stew native to the Philippines. This recipe involves a lot of simmering, and typically takes an hour or so to make. Aside from the pork stew, you’ll also be frying up some sliced plantains as a topping for your finished estofado.
IngredientsFried Plantains4 plantains, sliced diagonally3⁄4 c (180 mL) of oilPork Stew3 lb (1.4 kg) of pork, cut in 1 in (2.5 cm) cubes3 dried bay leaves1 US tbsp (7 g) of whole peppercorn1½ cup (192 g) of carrots, sliced1⁄2 c (120 mL) of white vinegar3⁄4 c (180 mL) of soy sauce3 tbsp (41.3 g) of brown sugar1 c (240 mL) of water5 US tbsp (42 g) of minced garlic1⁄4 c (59 mL) of oil
Makes 6 servings
StepsPart 1Part 1 of 2:Plantains
1Slice 4 plantains into 1 in (2.5 cm) pieces. Peel the plantains, so they’ll be easier to slice and enjoy. Cut them diagonally so each chunk is around 1 in (2.5 cm) thick.XCutting the plantain at an angle helps all pieces be even.
2Heat up a frying pan with 3⁄4 c (180 mL) of cooking oil. Pour the oil along the bottom of the pan, which will help get the plantain slices nice and crispy. Turn up the heat on your stovetop until the oil is hot and sizzling.XAny kind of cooking oil will work for this.
3Cook the plantain slices in the oil until they look brown. Move the plantains into the oil with a set of tongs, which will prevent oil splashing back onto you. Keep an eye on the plantains—once they start looking brown, flip them over so they can finish cooking.XThe chips should look golden-brown when they’re finished cooking.
4Transfer the fried plantains to a separate plate. Lift each plantain slice out of the oil with a slotted spoon, transferring it to a paper towel-lined plate. Let the plantains cool and drain on the dish while you get the rest of the stew ready.XPart 2Part 2 of 2:Pork Stew
1Heat up 1⁄4 c (59 mL) of oil in a large pot. Set a pot on your stovetop that’s big enough to hold 3 lb (1.4 kg) of uncooked pork. Pour a little bit of cooking oil along the bottom of the pot, setting your stovetop to a high temperature so the oil can heat up.X2Brown 5 US tbsp (42 g) of minced garlic in the oil. Stir the garlic in the hot oil, letting it sauté for a couple of minutes. Wait for the garlic to turn from gold-yellow to brown as it cooks in the pot.X
3Cook 3 lb (1.4 kg) of cubed pork for 8-10 minutes. Mix the small chunks of pork with the sautéed garlic, letting the pork cook for at least 8 minutes. Don’t worry if your pork isn’t completely cooked at this point. It’ll have time to cook later!XFatty cuts of pork are great for this type of recipe, like pork hocks, shoulder, or belly.X4Add extra seasonings and wait for everything to boil. Pour 3⁄4 c (180 mL) of soy sauce into the pot, along with 1 c (240 mL), 1 US tbsp (7 g) of peppercorn, and 3 dried bay leaves. Turn up the heat until your ingredients are boiling.XThese ingredients act as the base for the stew.
5Let everything cook until the pork is tender. Keep a close eye on the pork, testing it occasionally with a knife or fork to see how tough or tender it is. Once your pork feels nice and tender, you’ll be ready to add the next ingredient.XIt may take up to 40 minutes for the pork to be tender.X
6Mix in 1⁄2 c (120 mL) of vinegar and let it simmer for 5 minutes. Pour some vinegar into the pot, adding to the broth. Let the vinegar cook with the rest of the ingredients for a few minutes.X7Stir in carrots and brown sugar for 10 minutes. Mix in 1½ cup (192 g) and 3 US tbsp (41.3 g) of brown sugar into the stew. Let the ingredients cook for about 10 minutes, so the carrots are tasty and tender. At this point, your estofado will be ready to enjoy!X
8Pour the estofado onto a plate and top it off with fried plantains. Turn off the heat and scoop a big helping of stew onto your plate. As a finishing touch, sprinkle a handful of fried plantains on top of your stewed pork.Some people also enjoy estofado with steamed rice.XPour your estofado into smaller bowls or containers so it can cool down to 40 °F (4 °C). Transfer the estofado to airtight containers, and keep it in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.X
