My Pork Piña Hamonado Recipe

As you all know, I have attended the launching of the Del Monte Kitchenomics show by Carla Abellana and Chef Jackie Ang-Po a few weeks ago. I was introduced to the Life Gets Better website wherein I was able to find interesting and new dishes. Since today is my husband and I wedding Anniversary, I decided to try one of the recipes.

I chanced upon this Pork Piña Hamonado recipe. It’s not only perfect for today, but I think if I will nail it now I could also add it up to our Noche Buena this coming Christmas day.

I have chosen this dish because I wanted to be challenged (naks!). I have watched the procedure of cooking this dish at Del Monte Kitchenomics YouTube channel too, since I am a visual learner it helped me create this dish with ease.

Ingredients

1/2 cup sugar, white
2/3 tsp salt
500 g pork pigue, sliced thinly (tapa style) into 1 pile
50 g bacon, sliced into 4 strips
1 pc carrot, sliced into 6 strips
1 pc whole pickle, cut into 6 strips (there’s no whole pickles available, so I used pickle relish instead) 
1 can DEL MONTE Pineapple Chunks (227g), drained, reserve syrup
1 can DEL MONTE 100% Pineapple Juice with Vitamins A, C & E (240ml)
1/2 cup oil, for frying
1 Tbsp cornstarch, dissolved in 1 tsp water
1 small Green Bell Paper (optional)

Preparation

1. Combine sugar and salt. Rub mixture into pork. Spread pork and alternately arrange slices of bacon, carrot, pickles and DEL MONTE Pineapple Chunks. Roll and tie firmly with butcher’s twine or crocheting thread.

Rubbing the pork with salt and sugar helps to cure the meat like ham.

2. Marinate pork in DEL MONTE Pineapple Juice and pineapple syrup overnight in the refrigerator. Drain and reserve marinade.

With the overnight marination with pineapple juice and syrup, the pork sits in a brine which helps add flavor and at the same time preserves the meat.

3. Heat oil. Fry the pork rolls and brown all sides.

4. Combine meat with marinade in pan. Cover and simmer meat for 30 minutes or until meat is tender. Turn meat occasionally. Remove rolls. For sauce, add cornstarch and simmer broth with continuous stirring until desired thickness.

5. Remove thread from meat then slice. Set aside. Pour sauce over meat.

FINISHED PRODUCT

This Pork Piña Hamonado dish is rich in vitamin A that helps maintain healthy vision and skin. It is also a source of vitamin B1 that plays a role in muscle contraction.

My husband and son enjoyed eating it…… it’s a huge success!  I’m so happy and touched when my son after finishing his first plate said “mom I want more, this is sooo delicious, you’re the best!”.

Since as I have mentioned it’s our wedding Anniversary today, I also ordered a pineapple carrot cake from a baker friend.

Celebrating a special day shouldn’t need to cost much, but with the right dish and just exert a little effort it can be a day worth remembering.

Check out the Life Gets Better website to also see other recipes. Next time, I will try this Fruit Salad with Pina Colada dressing. Wish me luck 🙂