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Pork Filipino Adobo with Pineapple

Filipino Pork Adobo is a very well known dish in the Philippines. Somewhat of an effortless dish where pork shoulder is slow simmered in a combination of pineapple, vinegar, soy sauce and oyster sauce. End result is tender bites of pork with a stunning sweet savory flavor. Let's take a look.
Cuisine Philippines
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Servings 8
Calories 257kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 medium pineapple ripe
  • 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil Plus 2 teaspoons
  • 2 pounds boneless pork shoulder cut into 1½" cubes
  • Kosher salt to taste and fresh ground pepper
  • 1/2 sweet onion thinly sliced
  • 6 cloves garlic thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup Seasoned rice vinegar
  • 1/3 cup Soy sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons oyster sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon black peppercorns
  • 5 dried bay leaves
  • Steamed white rice and thinly sliced scallions for serving

Instructions

  • Peel and core pineapple. Cut half of pineapple into bite-size pieces (about 1"); set aside. Chop remaining pineapple into small pieces and transfer to a small saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until very soft and broken down and nearly all juice is evaporated, 15–18 minutes. Transfer to a blender and add ¼ cup water; purée until smooth.
  • Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium-high. Lightly season pork with salt and pepper. Working in 2 batches, cook pork until well browned on all sides, 5–8 minutes per batch. Transfer to a plate.
  • Reduce heat to medium-low and add onion. Cook, stirring often, until fragrant and softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant.
  • Return pork to pot and stir in pineapple purée. Add vinegar, soy sauce, oyster sauce, peppercorns, bay leaves, and ¾ cup water and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer and cover pot. Reduce heat so adobo is at a very gentle simmer and cook until pork is tender, 45–50 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, heat remaining 2 teaspoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Cook reserved bite-size pineapple pieces, tossing occasionally, until golden brown all over, 5–8 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
  • Uncover pot and skim off any fat from surface. Increase heat to medium and cook, uncovered, until sauce is thick and shiny, about 15 minutes. Gently stir in caramelized pineapple. Remove and discard bay leaves.
  • Serve pork adobo over rice, topped with scallions.

Notes

The reason that a pork roast is the choice for slow braised recipes like this one, is that it's a fatty piece of meat. Which accounts for its flavor and tender texture. When cutting the pork roast into chunks, remove as much fat as you can. But don't cut it all off. A little fat will add flavor to this recipe.
Wine Pairing: Given the burst of tart, sweet and salty, balance is what you're looking for. Try a versatile light-bodied Chenin Blanc.

Nutrition

Calories: 257kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 728mg | Potassium: 629mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 112IU | Vitamin C: 56mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 2mg