Try this different, but still super yummy, variation of the famous tapa–the Pork Tapa!
It is not the usual meat we use when it comes to making tapa, but it still is sure to bring those who taste this delicious and easy meal in awe, since it still has almost the same taste, despite using pork instead of the more common beef.
So what are you waiting for? Continue to read this recipe article and learn how to make the pork tapa! Included here are some tips and some trivia about this popular dish.
What is Pork Tapa?
Tapa is a type of food which involves marinating the meat usually in soy sauce, lemon juice, and sugar, plus other common spices and seasonings such as salt and pepper.
The most common meat used when making a tapa is beef, but other types of meat are also acceptable when making the tapa. Other alternatives even include gamy meat such as goat meat or even horse meat. But for this recipe, we will use pork as our meat ingredient to make the tapa.
Traditionally when making the tapa, the process involves curing the meat and then drying it afterwards, and some other methods also include smoking it. But nowadays, the modern way of making the tapa is by curing it and skipping the drying part.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Pork
Our pork cut of choice for this recipe would be pork loin. If you can’t find this, an alternative would be pork shoulder or kasim.
Citrus
In case you do not have lemons available with you or you can’t seem to find it anywhere near your place, a good alternative for it is calamansi. Just grab about 7 pieces of them and extract them until you get about one fourth cup of juice.
Another alternative you can use aside from using a lemon or calamansi is lime juice. They are very similar, with only a subtle difference in taste and it will still make this pork tapa flavorful.
Aside from these, you will also use regular pantry ingredients like garlic, soy sauce, sugar, salt, black pepper, and cooking oil. If you are filling up your pantry, here’s a handy shopping guide:
Equipment You’ll Need
- Cooking Pan (Kawali)- We will be cooking this dish all in one pan and you will be needing a regular kawali or cooking pan to do this. You can also use any pan or casserole deep enough to contain the liquids involved in this recipe.
In need of kitchen tools and equipment? Read this before you buy:
How to Cook Pork Tapa
To start with the process of making the pork tapa, there are two major steps that you need to do. This is to make the procedure more streamlined and it will make it easier for you to visualize once you’re about to prepare it.
So the first step is, you have to mix the ingredients and make it into a marinade, we will soak the pork loin here and we will leave it there overnight. Second step is, you have to cook the marinated pork. It is a pretty straightforward task of frying, so do not fret about it.
Cooking Tips
- Do not marinate the pork for more than a day because it might break down the meat and will result in a mushy texture since some of the ingredients like the lemon juice may be too acidic if left for more than the time recommended. So avoid preparing the marinade too early and just give enough time ahead when you want to prepare and make a tasty pork tapa.
- To ensure that the meat is cooked inside and out, make sure that the slices of the pork are thin enough and are cut along the grain. This will make it easier for the heat to go through the insides of the meat and it will result in a much juicier and tender pork tapa.
How to Serve Pork Tapa
This pork dish is best served with freshly cooked white rice for a lunch or dinner meal. Feel free to pair this with pickled vegetables like atsara or any vegetable dish and add up a cool drink of your choice.
How to Store and Reheat Pork Tapa
Pork tapa is best eaten when it is freshly cooked. In case you do have leftovers, place in a clean food container with cover and refrigerate. This will make your food last for about 3 days.
To reheat, you can use the microwave oven or reheat in a pan over low to medium heat.
Other Filipino Pork Recipes
- Pork Adobo (Adobong Baboy) Recipe
- Easy Homemade Pork Tocino Recipe
- Pata Tim (Braised Pork Hocks) Recipe
For a quick reference about this recipe, see the recipe table below:
Pork Tapa Recipe
Equipment
- Cooking Pan
Ingredients
- 500 g (1.1 lbs) pork loin, cut into thin slices
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup lemon juice, or calamansi juice
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 3 tbsp cooking oil
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a container, add-in the garlic, soy sauce, lemon juice, granulated sugar, and salt and pepper. Mix well until sugar and salt are dissolved.
- Add-in the pork loin and completely cover with the marinade. Place in the refrigerator and chill for at least 12 hours or overnight.
- In a cooking pan, pour-in and heat oil over low to medium heat.
- Add-in the pork loin. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes or until pork is tender and lightly browned.
- Transfer to a serving plate or serving tray. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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