Pro Tips
**Chef's Tips & Troubleshooting:**
- Make sure the pan and oil are hot before adding ingredients for the best sear.
- Fry in batches to avoid overcrowding — lowering the temperature makes food greasy.
- Let the stew rest for 10 minutes after cooking — the flavors deepen noticeably as it sits.
- Let the pork rest for 5 minutes after cooking so the juices redistribute evenly.
Cooking Tips
Pat the meat completely dry with paper towels before frying — moisture is the enemy of crispiness. Use a thermometer to maintain oil temperature at 350–375°F (175–190°C). If the oil is too cool, the food absorbs grease; too hot and it burns on the outside before cooking through.
Ingredient Substitutions
Out of cane vinegar? White vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or rice vinegar all work — each brings its own subtle character. Avoid balsamic (too sweet) or distilled white (too harsh). Lemon or calamansi juice can replace vinegar in most marinades and braises. Add a pinch of sugar to balance the acidity. Pork alternatives: Chicken thighs work well in most pork recipes (they stay moist like pork does). For a leaner option, use turkey breast or firm tofu. Short on time? A pressure cooker (Instant Pot) can reduce cooking time by roughly half for most braised and stewed Filipino dishes. Reduce liquid slightly since less evaporates.
Storage & Reheating
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. The flavors often deepen overnight, making leftovers even more delicious. Crispy dishes are best enjoyed fresh — they lose their crunch when stored. If you must store leftovers, reheat in an air fryer or oven at 375°F (190°C) for 5–7 minutes to restore crispiness. Avoid microwaving crispy dishes — the steam makes the coating soggy. Use a toaster oven or stovetop skillet instead. Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water or broth if the sauce has thickened during storage. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each.
Crispy Dinuguan
Crispy dinuguan deep-fried until golden and crunchy — a Filipino favorite with a satisfying crackle.
Instructions
- Prepare the pork by boiling until tender. Start by boiling water in a cooking pot. Add bay leaves, whole peppercorn, salt, and pork belly (liempo).Boil for 45 to 60 to 60 minutes or until pork gets tender.
- Remove boiled pork from the pot. Place it in a clean plate. Let it cool down for 5 minutes. Save the pork stock for later.
- Rub 2 teaspoons salt all over the boiled pork. Let it stay for 10 minutes.
- Warm up oil in a deep-fryer or cooking pot. Deep-fry the boiled pork for 8 minutes. Remove from the fryer and let it rest for 5 minutes.Put the pork back into the fryer and continue to fry for 3 minutes more, or until crispy. Slice the crispy pork into bite-size pieces. Set aside.
- Make the dinuguan sauce by heating 3 tablespoons of cooking oil in a cooking pot. Saute onion, ginger, and garlic.
- Once onion softens, pour the pork stock. Note: this is the water used to boil the liempo earlier.
- Add lemongrass. Cover and boil in medium heat for 8 minutes. Remove lemongrass and ginger from the pot.
- Pour-in pork blood. Stir thoroughly while waiting for it to boil.
- Add Knorr Pork Cube. Stir.
- Add vinegar. Let the mixture boil. Stir and add sugar. Continue to cook uncovered until the mixture reduces to half.
- Add peppers and cook for 2 minutes. Transfer to a serving plate. Serve.
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Pro Tips & Troubleshooting
- Make sure the pan and oil are hot before adding ingredients for the best sear.
- Fry in batches to avoid overcrowding — lowering the temperature makes food greasy.
- Let the stew rest for 10 minutes after cooking — the flavors deepen noticeably as it sits.
- Let the pork rest for 5 minutes after cooking so the juices redistribute evenly.
Cooking Tips
Use a thermometer to maintain oil temperature at 350–375°F (175–190°C). If the oil is too cool, the food absorbs grease; too hot and it burns on the outside before cooking through.
Substitutions
Lemon or calamansi juice can replace vinegar in most marinades and braises. Add a pinch of sugar to balance the acidity.
Pork alternatives: Chicken thighs work well in most pork recipes (they stay moist like pork does). For a leaner option, use turkey breast or firm tofu.
Short on time? A pressure cooker (Instant Pot) can reduce cooking time by roughly half for most braised and stewed Filipino dishes. Reduce liquid slightly since less evaporates.
Storage & Reheating
Crispy dishes are best enjoyed fresh — they lose their crunch when stored. If you must store leftovers, reheat in an air fryer or oven at 375°F (190°C) for 5–7 minutes to restore crispiness.
Avoid microwaving crispy dishes — the steam makes the coating soggy. Use a toaster oven or stovetop skillet instead.
Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water or broth if the sauce has thickened during storage. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each.
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