Humba with pineapple, tausi, and dried banana blossoms is a delicious medley of sweet and savory flavors you’ll love with steamed rice! This Visayan version of adobo is easy to make and sure to be a family favorite.
When I told my mom in 2016 that I quit my job to blog full time, the first thing she said after a long silence was, “Paano pag nawalan ka na nang iluluto?” What if you run out of things to cook?
She sounded so worried about my decision that I couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Her question was just funny and endearing and preposterous at the same time.
Filipino cuisine is so rich and steeped in history and various regional flavors I don’t think running out of food to blog about would be a problem. Case in point this humba. The preparation and cooking procedure is similar to our pineapple pork adobo recipe, yet throw in a few additional ingredients, such as fermented black beans and banana blossoms, and you have a brand new dish to explore!
What is Humba
Humba (homba), which literally translates to tender (hum) pork (ba), is a Visayan braised pork dish similar to the classic adobo. It’s said to have originated from the Chinese hong-bah/hong-mah, a red braised pork belly dish brought to the Visayas islands by Hokkien traders.
In this regional version, pork belly is slow-cooked in a mixture of soy sauce, vinegar, or pineapple juice, and aromatics such as garlic, onions, peppercorns, and bay leaves. When the meat is fall-apart tender, palm sugar, pineapple, fermented black beans, and dried banana blossoms are added for extra depth of flavor and texture.
Ingredient notes
- Pork belly is the most commonly used, but other cuts, such as shoulder, leg, or hocks, will work, too.
- Although vinegar is the traditional braising liquid for humba, I like to add pineapple juice for a sweet, fruity taste. As we’ll use the liquid in the pineapple can to braise the meat, make sure the fruit is packed in juice and not heavy syrup.
- Use brown sugar and not white to sweeten the dish. It has a slightly less concentrated sweetness and contains molasses, enhancing the sauce’s rich flavor. You can also use palm or muscovado sugar, if available.
- Dried banana blossoms and tausi or fermented black beans are added for texture and flavor.
Cooking tips
- While you can combine everything together in one step, take the extra effort of browning the pork belly. Searing over high heat caramelizes the surface of the meat. which enriches the dish with more complex flavors.
- Do not marinate the meat for an extended period, as the acidity of the vinegar and pineapple juice will break down the meat’s protein fibers, altering the texture.
- Rinse the tausi and drain well; they’re usually packed in salty brine.
- Cook low and slow to allow the fat to render and the tough, connective tissues to soften to melt-in-your-mouth tenderness.
How to serve
Humba bisaya is usually served as the main entree for lunch and dinner, with piping-hot steamed rice as the perfect canvas for its sweet and savory meat and sauce.
Storing leftovers
- It’s a great make-ahead dish you can prep in advance. Store in a covered container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
- Reheat in a saucepan over medium heat for about 7 to 10 minutes to an internal temperature of 165 F or in the microwave at 2 to 3-minute intervals until completely warmed.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds pork belly, cut into 1-1/2 inch cubes
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 small onion, peeled and sliced thinly
- 6 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 1 teaspoon peppercorns
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 can (6 ounces) tausi (salted black beans), drained and rinsed
- 1 cup pineapple chunks
- 1 package (1 ounce) dried banana blossoms
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- salt to taste
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine pork, vinegar, soy sauce, and pineapple juice. Marinate in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. Drain meat from marinade, reserving liquid.
- In a wide pot over medium heat, heat oil. Add onions and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until limp.
- Add pork belly and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned.
- Add reserved marinade and bring to a boil without stirring for about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add peppercorns and bay leaf,
- Add tausi, pineapple chunks, and banana blossoms. Stir to combine.
- Lower heat, cover, and simmer until pork is tender.
- Add brown sugar and stir until dissolved. Season with salt to taste.
- Continue to cook until liquid is reduced and begins to render fat. Serve hot.
Notes
- You’ll use the liquid in the pineapple can to braise the meat, so make sure the fruit is packed in juice and not heavy syrup.
- Do not marinate the meat for an extended period, as the acidity of the vinegar and pineapple juice will break down the meat’s protein fibers, altering the texture.
- Rinse the tausi and drain well; they’re usually packed in salty brine.
Video
Nutrition Information
“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”
Jen says
Can I use buto buto for this recipe?
Althea Jade Canabuan says
Woah, thank you for you recipe it helps me a lot.
Teresita says
I tried some of your recipe they are delicious. I’ll prepare for family occasion.
Lalaine Manalo says
Thank you so much! Glad you find the recipes helpful.
Marilyn Mirasol says
Ang sarap2ng mga recipes nyu po sana more recipes pa Good work thanks!!!!
Lalaine Manalo says
Welcome po 🙂
Nene Balambao says
I made it good and thanks for your recipe 😍 it turned out good and delish ❤️
Lalaine Manalo says
Thanks for the 5 stars! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Renato Banas says
Thank you for the recipe. I will try this and hopefully get the taste that you recommend
Lalaine Manalo says
Happy cooking!