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Meat, South and Southeast Asian

Filipino Menudo with rice

Filipino menudo is a pork stew simmered in tomato sauce, with potatoes, carrots, bell pepper and raisins. For 4 people, it takes 1h15 and stays easy to make, at about €2.70 per serving. The key to success is cooking the pork gently and adding the liver at the very end so it stays tender.

A tomato based pork stew, mild and fragrant, that's menudo from the Philippines, with potatoes, carrots and raisins.

Filipino Menudo with rice
Total time
1 h 15
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€2.70
Calories per person
740 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Filipino menudo stands out for its slightly sweet tomato sauce, thickened naturally by the potatoes that soften inside it as they cook. The pork turns tender from the long simmer, the bell pepper adds a touch of freshness, and the raisins slip in an unexpected sweetness with every bite. It's a generous stew, far from the usual tomato based dishes you might expect.

This is the kind of stew to make on a Sunday, when you have time to let it simmer slowly, though it doesn't require any real technique. Kids tend to like its mild sauce served over plain rice, and it's easy to share around a family table. Mon Chou suggests this version with pork or chicken liver, which adds character without taking over the dish.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Pork shoulder 600 g
  • Pork or chicken liver 150 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Potatoes 400 g
  • Carrots 2
  • Red bell pepper 1
  • Onion 1
  • Garlic 3 cloves

Pantry

  • Tomato sauce 40 cl
  • Raisins 40 g
  • Soy sauceoften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • White riceoften in the pantry 300 g
  • Neutral oiloften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Allergens Soy, Gluten

The step by step recipe

  1. Cut the pork, liver, potatoes and carrots into small, even cubes.

    The smaller they are, the closer the dish stays to the original.

  2. Sauté the onion and garlic in the oil, add the pork and brown it. 8 min

    The pork should get a light color before the liquid goes in.

  3. Pour in the tomato sauce, soy sauce and a glass of water, then let it simmer covered. 25 min

    Stir from time to time so the tomato doesn't stick.

  4. Add the carrots, potatoes, bell pepper, liver and raisins, and keep cooking. 20 min

    Add the liver last, it turns tough if it cooks too long.

  5. Cook the rice and serve the menudo hot. 12 min

    The stew tastes even better reheated the next day.

Our tips to get it right

  • Cut all the cubes roughly the same size so the pork, potatoes and carrots cook at the same pace.
  • If the sauce reduces too fast, add hot water rather than cold, so the cooking doesn't stall.
  • Taste before serving, the liver can turn slightly bitter if overcooked, a pinch of sugar can fix that.

The variations

  • Swap the liver for 150g more pork shoulder if you'd rather skip organ meat, the flavor will be milder.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace the pork and liver with mushrooms and chickpeas, keeping the same sweet and savory tomato sauce.
  • For kids in a hurry, blend the sauce lightly before adding back the vegetables, it turns smoother and less chunky.

What to serve it with

  • Steamed white rice
  • Crunchy pickled vegetables
  • Unsweetened iced tea

Storage

Menudo keeps for 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. It freezes well for up to 2 months, without the rice, and reheats gently with a splash of water. Cook the rice fresh right before serving.

Questions about this dish

Can you make menudo ahead of time?

Yes, it's actually recommended, the stew tastes better after resting overnight in the fridge. Reheat it gently covered and cook the rice fresh right before serving.

Can you use chicken liver instead of pork liver?

Yes, it's a common swap and gives a milder flavor. Cut it into cubes and add it at the very end of cooking so it stays tender.

Why add raisins to a savory dish?

The raisins soften slightly as they cook and balance the acidity of the tomato. This sweet touch is typical of Filipino menudo, so don't leave them out without a substitute.

Does menudo freeze well?

Yes, up to 2 months in an airtight container, without the rice. Let it thaw in the fridge, then reheat gently, adding a little water if the sauce has thickened.

How long does it take to make a Filipino menudo, a tomato based pork stew with potatoes and carrots, served with rice?

Count 1 h 15 in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a Filipino menudo, a tomato based pork stew with potatoes and carrots, served with rice?

About 740 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a Filipino menudo, a tomato based pork stew with potatoes and carrots, served with rice cost?

About €2.70 per serving, or €10.80 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains soy, gluten. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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