Pro Tips
**Chef's Tips & Troubleshooting:**
- Toast the ground rice or peanuts before adding them to the stew for deeper flavor.
- Grind peanuts or peanut butter with a little warm broth first to prevent lumps in the sauce.
- Use bone-in pork cuts for richer broth in soup-based preparations.
- Brown the pork in batches so each piece gets direct contact with the hot pan surface.
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. Check liquid levels halfway through cooking and add hot water or broth if needed. Long-cooked dishes can dry out or burn if left unattended. In true Kapampangan style — the food capital of the Philippines — don't be shy with the seasoning. Pampanga cooking is known for its bold, confident flavors.
Ingredient Substitutions
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 Pata Kare Kare
Crispy pata kare kare deep-fried until golden and crunchy — a Filipino favorite with a satisfying crackle.
Instructions
- Mix together all the boiling ingredients in a large cooking pot. Add pork hock. Boil for 1 hour. Remove the pork hock from the cooking pot. Let it cool down and then rub salt all over. Air dry for 30 minutes.
- Heat over oil in a pan. Sauté garlic and onion. Once the onion softens, add the peanut paste. Stir and cook for 1 minute. Pour water and then stir until the mixture becomes smooth. Let the liquid boil. Add Knorr Pork Cube and annatto powder. Cover the pot. Reduce the heat to a simmer. Continue cooking until your desired consistency is achieved. Season with salt and ground black pepper. Set aside.
- Warm up oil in a wide and deep pot. Fry the pork hock until the bottom side turns golden brown and crispy. Turn it over and do the same thing on the opposite side. Remove from the pot. Let it cool down. Debone the pork hock. Set aside.
- Arrange the vegetable ingredients on a steamer. Steam for 3 to 5 minutes. Set aside.
- Assemble your crispy pata kare-kare by pouring half of the sauce on a serving bowl. Arrange the steamed vegetables all around. Top with crispy pata. Distribute the remaining sauce by pouring onto the bowl. Serve with shrimp paste (bagoong alamang) as a condiment.
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Pro Tips & Troubleshooting
- Toast the ground rice or peanuts before adding them to the stew for deeper flavor.
- Grind peanuts or peanut butter with a little warm broth first to prevent lumps in the sauce.
- Use bone-in pork cuts for richer broth in soup-based preparations.
- Brown the pork in batches so each piece gets direct contact with the hot pan surface.
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.
Check liquid levels halfway through cooking and add hot water or broth if needed. Long-cooked dishes can dry out or burn if left unattended.
In true Kapampangan style — the food capital of the Philippines — don't be shy with the seasoning. Pampanga cooking is known for its bold, confident flavors.
Substitutions
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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