Humba is a popular Filipino braised pork dish with a rich, savory-sweet flavor. It's similar to adobo, but with the addition of sugar, soy sauce, and sometimes banana blossom or pineapple, making it more distinctively sweet and fragrant. Traditionally, humba is made with pork belly, but you can also use pork shoulder or other cuts depending on your preference.
Here’s a complete recipe for Humba, including all the essential ingredients and steps.
INGREDIENTS
For the Humba:
- 1.5 kilo pork belly, cut into 2-inch cubes (you can also use pork shoulder or pork hock)
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon ginger, minced (optional, for added flavor)
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/4 teaspoon whole peppercorns
- 2 medium potatoes (optional), peeled and sliced into rounds or wedges
- 1/2 cup dried banana blossom (optional, soaked in water for 10-15 minutes)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce (optional, for umami flavor)
- 2 tablespoons vinegar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice (or water, if you don’t have pineapple juice)
- 1/4 cup water (or more, as needed)
- Salt and pepper to taste
For Garnish (optional):
- Hard-boiled eggs (optional, but commonly added for extra richness)
- Sliced scallions or fried garlic (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Prepare the Ingredients:
- Pork: Cut the pork belly into 2-inch cubes. Pat dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
- Banana Blossom: If using dried banana blossom, soak it in water for about 10-15 minutes until it softens. Drain well.
- Vegetables: If you’re adding potatoes, peel and slice them into rounds or wedges. You can either fry them lightly or cook them along with the pork to soften.
2. Sear the Pork:
- Heat a large, heavy-bottomed pan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the cooking oil.
- Once the oil is hot, add the pork belly pieces in batches, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Sear the pork on all sides until golden brown, about 5-7 minutes per batch. This helps lock in the flavor and gives the dish a rich, deep color.
- Remove the pork and set it aside.
3. Sauté Aromatics:
- In the same pan, lower the heat to medium. Add the sliced onion, garlic, and minced ginger (if using). Sauté until fragrant and the onion is translucent, about 3-5 minutes.
4. Build the Sauce:
- Add the seared pork back into the pan with the onions and garlic.
- Pour in the soy sauce, oyster sauce (if using), and vinegar. Stir well to coat the meat with the sauces. Let it cook for 2-3 minutes, allowing the vinegar to evaporate and the flavors to meld.
- Add the bay leaf, peppercorns, brown sugar, pineapple juice (or water), and a bit of water if needed to cover the pork. Stir to dissolve the sugar and blend the ingredients.
- Bring everything to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook the pork for 1.5-2 hours, or until the meat becomes tender and the sauce thickens. You may need to check and stir occasionally. If the sauce evaporates too much, add a little more water or pineapple juice.
5. Add the Vegetables:
- If you’re using potatoes, add them after the pork has simmered for about 30 minutes. You can either fry them separately until golden and soft before adding them to the pot or add them raw and let them cook along with the pork.
- If you’re adding soaked banana blossom, add it in the last 20 minutes of cooking. The banana blossom will absorb the flavors of the sauce and soften during this time.
6. Adjust Seasonings:
- Taste the sauce and adjust for salt and pepper. If it’s too salty, you can add a bit more sugar or pineapple juice for sweetness and acidity balance. If the sauce is too thick, you can add more water or pineapple juice.
7. Simmer Until Tender:
- Continue simmering until the pork is tender and the sauce has thickened to a nice glaze, coating the pork pieces. The pork should be meltingly tender, and the sauce should be rich and flavorful.
8. Garnish and Serve:
- If you’re using hard-boiled eggs, peel them and add them to the pot in the last 10 minutes of cooking. Let them absorb the sauce and become infused with flavor.
- Once done, remove the bay leaves, and serve the humba hot with steamed rice.
- Garnish with sliced scallions or fried garlic, if desired.
Tips:
- Sugar and vinegar balance: The combination of sweet and sour is key to a good humba. Feel free to adjust the sugar and vinegar to suit your taste. You can also use pineapple chunks for added sweetness and texture.
- Banana blossom: This is an optional ingredient, but it adds a distinct flavor and texture to the dish. You can skip it if you can’t find it or prefer a simpler version.
- Frying the potatoes: Frying the potatoes first gives them a crispy texture and prevents them from disintegrating too much during cooking. However, if you prefer a simpler version, you can add the raw potatoes directly into the pot.
- Pineapple juice: If you don’t have pineapple juice, you can substitute with water or chicken broth, though the pineapple juice adds a unique sweetness and depth.
Enjoy your Humba!
Humba is a delicious and hearty dish that pairs wonderfully with a big bowl of rice. It’s perfect for family meals, special occasions, or whenever you want to enjoy a flavorful Filipino comfort food!