Basic way to cook Pork Afritada – Authentic Filipino Recipe

Pork afritada, another Filipino recipe, is a tomato-based dish.

Afritada Recipe
Basic way to cook Pork Afritada – Authentic Filipino Recipe

It’s cooked with carrots, potatoes and bell peppers, like many of our tomato-based foods. With that, pork afritada has a lot of similarities with the menudo, mechado, and even the kaldereta. There are bits of differences in flavor and ingredients; but the manner of cooking, the same.

Afritada may also be cooked with chicken (chicken afritada). The ingredients are exactly the same. With chicken though, cooking time is a bit faster. If you have chicken instead of pork at home. You can follow the same recipe. Only, cut the frying of the meat by about 10 minutes.

Now, here’s how I cook my pork afritada recipe.

Pork Afritada

Jaime Inez
This Mexican dish is a colorful and tasty meal. It is prepared using a tomato sauce, sumptuous pork, chicken, and vegetables. In this standardized recipe, the ingredients are listed by weight and volume. Generally, the quantities are the same. To prepare the pork afritada, start by thawing the meat in the refrigerator. Cook the meat at a temperature of 41degF. Once the meat is thawed, mix in the remaining ingredients.
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 45 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Filipino, Mexican
Servings 4 servings
Calories 436 kcal

Instructions
 

  • Put oil in a heated pan.
  • Saute the garlic under medium heat.
  • When the garlic turns golden, put in the onions.
  • When the onions sweat and wilt, put in the pork.
  • Cook the pork for 20-30 minutes. Season the pork with 1 tbsp fish sauce.
  • Put in the tomatoes. Stir well.
  • Add in the pork liver. Stir for 2-3 minutes.
  • Just when the liver changes color, put in the water and the tomato sauce.
  • Add in the carrots and potatoes.
  • Lower the heat.
  • Cover the pan. Let it simmer for 20 minutes to allow the meat to tenderize.
  • Stir occasionally (every 10 minutes, or so) to prevent burning the bottom of the pan.
  • When the meat is tender enough, season with additional fish sauce, salt and pepper.
  • Add in the bell peppers.
  • Turn off after 3-5 minutes.
  • Serve with hot rice.

Video

Notes

 I always have carrots, potatoes and bell peppers stacked in the fridge. There are just so many Filo dishes you can cook with them. 
I used Colway tomato sauce. I find it very strong and tangy so I cut used 1/3 cup. If you have Hunt's or Del Monte brand, you may adjust it to 1/2 cup or even to a cup. Remember to always trust your taste buds!
This step takes the longest time. When done properly, you’d get a very tasty dish at the end. You want the meat a bit charred; but not to the point of being burnt. Stir after every 10 minutes. Make sure that the pork is fried well under the heat. Just take your time and do not burn your pork.
I don’t want my pork liver to be overcooked and tough. To do this, I make sure that it has cooked first; then, I immediately add water so it remains soft when eaten.
Keyword pork

Other ways to make Pork Afritada

Pork Afritada

The next step is to brown the pork pieces. After this, add the vegetable pieces and cook for ten minutes. Once the pork has browned, add the water and tomato sauce. The Knorr Pork Cube will help bring out the flavor of the meat. Then, add the dried bay leaves. Cook the afritada for 40 minutes until the meat is tender. Once the afritada is cooked, remove the pan from the heat.

When making Pork Afritada, you should brown the meat thoroughly. If you don’t want to spend a lot of time making it from scratch, you can buy a premade afritada mix. Simply mix it with 1/4 cup water and simmer for about 20 minutes. After that, you can add the cooked pork and vegetables to the pot. This is a delicious and filling dish that will make any meal taste and look fantastic!

When preparing the pork afritada, you should first brown the pork. You should then add the tomato sauce and water. Alternatively, you can use a slow cooker, which can cook the pork in six hours. The afritada can also be frozen, but reheating it after freezing is recommended. Once you have frozen the afritada, you can eat it the next day.

Pork Afritada - Lutong Pinoy Recipe

The basic recipe for Pork Afritada can be prepared using a premade afritada mix. Then, you need to cook the pork. It must be lightly brown so that it does not burn. Then, you should add the tomato sauce and water. Then, add the pork. Then, cover the pot and simmer over low heat for approximately forty minutes. The dish should be tender and delicious!

The dish is best served the next day, but it can be stored for up to three to four days. It is an excellent meal for any occasion. It is a staple of Filipino cuisine. It is similar to menudo but is made with pork and carrots. Afritada is also popular in Mexico. It is often served during holidays. It is similar to menudo, but has more flavor.

The traditional recipe for Pork Afritada is a stew that is prepared by frying or simmering the meat in a tomato sauce. The main ingredients are pork and vegetables. Green peas and common vegetables are commonly added. For additional flavor, a hotdog may be added. For a more authentic flavor, use a hotdog. To save time, you can purchase a pre-made afritada mix. It will need a half cup of water.

You can buy pre-made afritada mix in any Asian supermarket. You can also make the afritada by making the sauce yourself. To prepare the pork afritada, boil it until it reaches an acceptable tenderness. Afritada is also very popular in the Philippines. Once prepared, it will be ready in no time. Unlike menudo, this dish is best served the next day.

To prepare Pork Afritada, brown the pork and boil until it is light brown. If you don’t have time to make it from scratch, you can purchase a premade afritada mix in a convenient Asian store. Then, pour the mixture into a large pot of oil and simmer it over a medium heat for 25 minutes. Then, add the meat and vegetables.

Another option is to make a version without potatoes. This way, you can omit the potato altogether and use it instead of rice. Once the pork is cooked, the rice can be added. If you don’t like rice, you can substitute camote or sweet potato. When you have finished cooking the pork, you can serve it with warm rice. You can also add raisins, if you want. Afritada is best enjoyed with warm rice.

Pork Afritada