Pork Menudo: Filipino’s Comfort Food

Pork Menudo is a beloved tomato-based stew often seen at fiestas, birthday parties, and celebrations. It includes cubed pork, potatoes, liver, carrots, and raisins.

Originally from Mexico, menudo is typically a soup with intestines and tripe. When Spain introduced it to the Philippines during their 300-year colonization, Filipinos adapted it to local tastes and ingredients.

I have fond childhood memories of menudo. Every family gathering featured a large pot of this delicious stew, simmering on the stove. As the aroma of tomatoes, soy sauce, and lemon filled the house, everyone’s mouth would water. My grandmother always made menudo, marinating the pork in soy sauce and lemon to ensure it absorbed all the flavors.

One of my favorite memories is helping my grandmother in the kitchen. She would let me peel potatoes and carrots while she expertly chopped everything into perfect cubes. She always said the secret to great menudo was in the preparation and the love you put into it.

Surprisingly, I can enjoy menudo for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for an entire week! It’s my all-time comfort food. The tender pork, soft potatoes, and sweet raisins in a rich sauce are incredibly comforting. Although I prefer my potatoes and carrots soft, you can adjust the texture to your liking.

Filipino cooking emphasizes balanced flavors. We often use sugar to ensure the dish isn’t too sour or salty—it has to be just right. My grandmother always said the key to perfect menudo is balancing flavors and cooking with love.

Over the years, I’ve experimented with different menudo variations. Sometimes, I substitute chicken for pork or add bell peppers for extra color and flavor. No matter how I make it, menudo always brings back warm, nostalgic memories of family gatherings and my grandmother’s kitchen.

Variations:

• Chicken Menudo
• Pork Giniling
• Beef Menudo