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.
- Score the pork skin in a crosshatch pattern for maximum crispiness without cutting into the meat.
- Let the pork rest for 5 minutes after cooking so the juices redistribute evenly.
Cooking Tips
Score the fat cap in a crosshatch pattern before cooking — this helps render the fat evenly and creates a crisper texture. Let pork rest for 5–10 minutes after cooking before slicing. This redistributes juices so every bite stays moist.
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. 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.
Kikiam
Kikiam — deep-fried fish and pork rolls with a crisp wrapper. Street food classic, best with sweet chili sauce.
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine pork, shrimp, carrot, onion, five spice powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
- Lay a piece of bean curd sheet flat on a table. Scoop a decent amount of pork mixture and arrange it at one end of the bean curd sheet.
- Fold the top and bottom ends of the bean curd sheets and then roll the sides until a sausage-like figure is formed. Dip your fingers in the cornstarch mixture and run it on the end of the bean curd sheet. This will help secure the kikiam.
- Prepare the steamer. Pour-in 4 cups of water and let boil. Arrange the kikiam in the steamer and then steam for 20 to 25 minutes.
- Remove from the steamer and then set aside. Note: You can place some in the freezer for later use once the temperature goes down or you can fry everything at once.
- Bring to a simmer the cooking oil in a pan.
- Pan-fry the kikiam until the wrapper turns golden brown.
- Remove from the pan and then slice into serving pieces.
- Serve.
Kitchen Tools We Recommend
Cook Kikiam the easy way with the right tools. Shop our favorite kitchen essentials on Amazon — from reliable pots and pans to measuring tools that make Filipino cooking simpler.
🔥 Trending on Amazon right now — these products are selling fast. Check out what's climbing the charts.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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.
- Score the pork skin in a crosshatch pattern for maximum crispiness without cutting into the meat.
- Let the pork rest for 5 minutes after cooking so the juices redistribute evenly.
Cooking Tips
Let pork rest for 5–10 minutes after cooking before slicing. This redistributes juices so every bite stays moist.
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
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.
Comments (0)
Leave a comment