Pork Hamonado with pork belly braised in pineapple juice and soy sauce for the ultimate pork dish. Melt-in-your-mouth tender with a sweet and savory sauce, it’s pure heaven on steamed rice!
I cooked so many pork dishes these past weeks for our holiday series that I was literally knee-deep in all kinds of pig parts for days! My kitchen was quite a sight with a pig head roasting in the oven, pork ears and snout charring beautifully on an indoor grill, and pork belly simmering on the stovetop.
Although I enjoyed these dishes immensely, with an extra 5 pounds of weight to prove it, I have to say this pork hamonado was the clear winner of the lot. The combination of melt-in-your-mouth tender pork and a sweet and savory sauce over piping-hot steamed rice was just pure heaven; I ate way more than I should.
What are the Ingredients of Hamonado
You can use basically any cut of pork in hamonado, but for a richer flavor and velvety soft texture, I suggest parts with a thick cap of skin and fat such as hocks, belly or shoulder.
The pork is braised in a mixture of pineapple juice and soy sauce along with aromatics, garlic, onion, peppercorns, and bay leaves. When the meat is tender, brown sugar is stirred in to add a touch of sweetness and pineapple chunks are added to round off the dish.
Tips on How to Make Simple Pork Hamonado
- Make sure to brown the pork. It may entail extra work but I promise it’s worth the effort. Searing over high heat caramelizes the surface of the meat. which enriches the dish with more complex flavors.
- Don’t rush! Cooking low and slow allows the fat to melt and the tough, connective tissues to soften to melt-in-your-mouth tenderness.
- Choose the right pineapple chunks. The liquid in the can is what you’ll use to braise the meat so make sure the pineapples are packed in juice and not heavy syrup which is usually lacking in the sour notes that will help balance the salty soy sauce.
- I like to add about 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar to boost the tanginess of the pineapple juice. Once added in, allow it to boil uncovered and without stirring to mellow out the acid taste.
- Use brown sugar and not white. It has a slightly less concentrated sweetness and contains molasses which enhance the rich flavor of the hamonado sauce.
Love the taste of pineapples in savory dishes? I have more recipes for you to try!
Meat Dishes with Pineapple
As our recipe series comes to a close, I want to thank you for making Kawaling Pinoy your hub for everything delicious this holiday season. I wish you the merriest Christmas and the happiest New Year. May your home be filled with joy and love.
Pork Hamonado
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 2 pounds pork belly (boneless or bone-in), cut into 2-inch cubes
- 1 onion, peeled and chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 1 cup pineapple juice (reserved from can of pineapples)
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon peppercorns
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup pineapple chunks
Instructions
- In a wide, heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat, heat oil until very hot but not smoking.
- Add pork belly in a single layer and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes or until lightly browned. Turn and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes or until all sides are lightly browned. Do NOT overcrowd the pan, cook in batches as needed.
- Remove meat from the pan and drain on paper towels. Keep warm.
- In the pan, add onions and garlic and cook, stirring regularly, until softened.
- Add pork back to the pan and stir to combine.
- Add pineapple juice and vinegar. Bring to a boil, uncovered and without stirring, for about 2 to 4 minutes.
- Add soy sauce, water, peppercorns, and bay leaves. Stir to distribute and bring to a boil, skimming scum that floats on top.
- Lower heat, cover, and simmer for about 50 to 60 minutes or until very tender and liquid is reduced.
- Add brown sugar and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Continue to simmer until sauce is thickened.
- Add pineapple chunks and cook for about 1 to 2 minutes or until heated through. Serve hot.
Video
Notes
- As the liquid in the can is used to braise the meat, choose pineapple chunks packed in juice and not heavy syrup which will make the sauce overly sweet.
- When the apple cider vinegar is added in, allow it to boil uncovered and without stirring to mellow out the acid taste.
Nutrition
There are so many types of soy sauce out there. Please tell me which brand you used in your recipe. I like my food to ne 100% authentic!
Thanks
I am sorry about. I agree; I should really specify the type I use of soy sauce or vinegar I use for the recipe because each type of soy sauce has a distinct taste that can affect the flavor of the dish. I use Filipino soy sauce. I buy Datu Puti, Silver Swan or Marca Pina depending on what’s on sale.
I have not tried it yet but I’m going to try it as soon as possible
Don’t forget to let us know how it turns out, Alberto!
Paano po Kong ang soy sauce namin dito ay thick soy sauce at light soy sauce. Alin po sa dalawa ang gagamitin?
Yung Filipino soy sauce ang ginagamit ko. I am not sure kung masasabing thick ang consistency niya but better option for me yung medyo “thick” na meron kayu kesa sa light soy sauce.
Hello, I am a Filipino/American (My Father was born in Manila) now retired and living in DFW, Texas having been born in NYC and lived in Long Island, NY for 66 years. I play a lot of golf. and stay healthy because I enjoy cooking and while it is only me now, I still cook most of my meals. I didn’t cook when my Father was still alive so while I am very good with a WOK, I don’t know how to make ADOBO which I LOVE but NOBODY will give me a Recipe. It appears that Adobo Recipes that are really good are Family Recipes that Nobody wants to divulge! (LOL) Can I find a good recipe for Chicken and/or Pork and/or/both Adobo here?
Thank you, Ron Yujuico – Euless, Texas
Hello Ron! You came to the right place. Here’s a link to check our different Adobo recipes! And yes, we have both.
I wantto know recipes at kulang po kc ako sa kaalaman sa tama pag luto at gsto ko pa po matutu mag luto ng ibat ibat putahe para sa pamilya khit po simple lang
Marami po ideas kayo makikita sa blog. Enjoy! 🙂
Kasali po ba ilulunod yung juice sa pineapple chunks?
Yung pineapple juice add siya with the vinegar at ang chunks pag naluto na ang baboy para hindi masyado madurog. 🙂
I’m cooking this recipe right now. Pork hamonado. My family really like it
This is our new favorite recipe
I am glad they enjoyed it!
When do you add the peppercorns? I just made a guess and added them before simmering for 50 minutes.
Thank you.
The peppercorns are added with the soy sauce and bay leaves 🙂
You’re making me hungry… I think I just heard my tummy growl. lol!
Hi Maggie! Lol. That’s me all the time. Even after finish my dinner, I can still hear my stomach growling for dessert 🙂
Would pork chop work in this dish?
Yes, pork chop would work in this recipe. The texture and taste will be a bit different, though, as the belly is fattier.
Can I use regular Filipino vinegar?
Yes, you can. 🙂
Easy to follow but the first time i did it, 1/2 C soy sauce proved too salty for me so on my second try i just used 3/4 C instead.
Still yummy! The fat just melts in your mouth. Pure heaven!
“1/4 C “
Hello Zed,
Thank you for the feedback. I am glad you were able to adjust the recipe to suit your tastes. Yes, pork hamonado is pure heaven indeed 🙂
When do you put the bay leves? I can’t find it the procedure given.
Thank you.
Hello!
I corrected the recipe to add the bay leaves in the instructions. Thank you for letting me know. 🙂
Ms. Lalaine,
Our dinner tonight. Hubby and son loved it. And with steaming hot rice, ay juice ko, buti na lang
walang diet diet sa house namin lol!
Thank you again.
May
Thanks, neighbor, for the feedback. I am glad the family enjoyed it 🙂
i accidentaly put in sugar before simmerig for 50mins..what will happen to this?? 🙁
It should be ok. I just like to add the sugar at the end so it doesn’t caramelize too much while the pork cooks but it should be fine 🙂
I will try the pork hamonado…
Hi Marie! Be sure to let us know how it goes.
Thanks so much for the recipe for Lunch on Kawlai I made it and it was a hit my husband and daughter a 2 of my boys loved it.my house smelled amazing. My corck pot got a good work out.
Hi Gail! Glad your family liked it. It does smell amazing, doesn’t it? 🙂
Happy holidays.. Thank you so muchfor the recipes…
Thank you so much, Josefina. Happy Holidays to you and your family 🙂
I hope to try adding the cider vinegar next time. Thanks for the suggestion. Happy Christmas! ⛄❄
Happy Holidays!