Menudo

 

Menudo is another tomato sauce-based stew with almost identical cooking and preparation technique as other Pilipino stews such as Caldereta, Agfritada, Mechado, etc.  This dish should not be mistaken with the traditional Mexican soup of the same name.  Menudo is also a common dish prepared during Fiestas where the preparation (marinating) is done the night before to let the soy sauce and calamansi juice be absorbed by the meat. Some Pilipinos also include Choriso de Bilbao and other type of sausages and raisins.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs of pork, diced
• 1 lbs of pork or beef liver,  cubed
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 can of garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained
• 2 large potatoes, peeled and diced
• 2 medium size carrots, sliced
• 1 red bell peppers, cut into strips
• 5 calamansi or 1 large lemon or lime
• 1 cup water
• 4 bay leaf
• 1/2 of  soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 3 tablespoons cooking oil

Directions:

• In a large bowl, marinate the pork and liver with 1/2 cup of soy sauce, calamansi juice, ground black pepper, and 1 bay leaf.  Set aside.*
• In large skillet, heat oil and saute the minced garlic until it is lightly brown and add onion. 
• Add pork and liver.  Let the pork turn slightly brown and add the tomato sauce and 2 bay leaves. Stir and add the garbanzo beans, potatoes, and carrots.
• Lower heat to medium and let it simmer for 15 minutes.
• Add red bell peppers, salt, and pepper to taste.