Perfectly sweet and savory filipino tocino recipe that is way too easy in just 3 simple steps! Pair this homemade tocino with garlic rice and a sunny side up egg for a Filipino favorite dish! No additional preservatives needed to cure the meat!
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This filipino tocino recipe is a definite favorite using tender pork pieces in a sweet marinade that’s mouthwatering good!
Each bite is full of that sweet authentic flavor without all those chemical preservatives needed to cure the meat!
Plus, our tocino marinade uses the perfect mix of sweet and savory ingredients to get that signature flavor just right! You know pineapple juice made the list, our fave!
This post will go over everything you need to know to create this filipino tocino recipe.
Recipe difficulty: It looks difficult…. but it’s really not (Total beginner level!)
Simply marinate and simmer this filipino pork tocino! Not a lot of prep and super easy to prepare! Plus, the tangy glaze on this pork comes together so easily when cooking! Don’t worry, use these basic tips below for the most incredible flavor!
Sam’s Pro Tips for this Filipino Tocino Recipe
Marinate and Marinate Some More
Marinating this pork tocino with pineapple juice will be the difference between just basic tocino and ones that people will remember!
This was a total hit in our Filipino Pork Barbecue Skewer Recipe Perfectly Glazed! All credit is due to the marinating!
I marinated the tocino in a brown sugar, soy sauce mixture combined with other tasty ingredients including pineapple juice (the best!) for a sweet and salty brine the pork will sit in.
Try to marinate for at least 5 hours or overnight. I usually marinate my pork overnight for the best flavor! Definitely rare to have leftovers!
Use Pork Butt! Really!
For this tocino mix recipe, using chopped pork butt works beautifully! Pork butt is usually a common barbecue choice due to the amount of flavor already in the meat and the tender cut.
To save some time for this filipino tocino recipe, have the butcher already cut the meat. Request ¼ inch thick pieces in your slices. Honestly, the larger the cut the better it looks on the plate!
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Simmer and Glaze
Very similar to our Stovetop Honey Soy Chicken Wings with Ginger, you want the tocino to simmer with the marinade and water to get it fork tender!
When simmering the meat, it may look like a ton of liquid was added, but don’t worry! The meat will absorb the tocino marinade and liquid before it glazes in the pan.
Only 2 tablespoons of canola oil is needed to glaze the meat when the liquid is mostly gone. So good!
By continuing to glaze over the heat, the glaze will give an insanely flavorful coating to the meat and become slightly shiny for the best filipino tocino recipe!
Don’t Forget Your Sides
Make this a tocino silog dish which has garlic rice, a sunny side up egg, and our yummy tocino! This is a favorite Filipino breakfast!
Garlic rice is the ABSOLUTE best with this tocino recipe pork dish, and you can’t go wrong with our Filipino Garlic Fried Rice | Sinangag!
There’s more! We love to dip our filipino pork tocino in our favorite homemade vinegar sauce!
Dipping the pork in vinegar is a traditional favorite, and we love using our vinegar sauce as seen in our Filipino Style Spam Garlic Fried Rice Anyone Will Love! Garlicy and tart!
Key Ingredients – Filipino Tocino Recipe
Below are some key and optional ingredients for this recipe:
- Pork butt: Using pork butt is a favorite in this tocino dish as its oh so tender after marinating! Tip- You’ll want to mix the marinade with the pork butt for at least 10 minutes to make sure each piece is thoroughly infused for the best results!
- Soy sauce: Any type of soy sauce will work for the tocino marinade as the pork will be further seasoned and glazed. Moreover, the soy sauce will mix with other ingredients to create the marinade.
- Brown sugar: For added sweetness to the soy mixture, ½ a cup of brown sugar is added. Having the pork sit in this mixture will give an even balance to this filipino tocino recipe.
- Vinegar: Cane vinegar is extremely popular in Filipino cooking! If you need help finding this, download our Top 5 Crazy-Cheap Ingredients You Need for Filipino Cooking and Where to Find It from my free resource library!
- Garlic powder: Using a dash of garlic powder in the tocino marinade is way easier than using fresh garlic! It gives the same flavor and will be the only seasoning in the marinade.
- Pineapple juice: The winning ingredient in the pork tocino! We love using pineapple juice for that added tropical sweetness as seen in The Ultimate Filipino Spaghetti Sauce Recipe.
- Canola oil: For that glazed look in this pork tocino with pineapple juice, we added two tablespoons of canola oil to cook with the meat once the liquid was absorbed. Olive oil can be used as well!
- Red food coloring (optional): Totally optional here, but for that signature “red look” to the tocino, add 2-3 drops of food coloring to the marinade. You can add more depending on the color desired.
More Variations to this Filipino Tocino Recipe
There are a few ways you can variate this Filipino pork barbecue. Here’s how:
- Use chicken! Instead of using pork butt, use this tocino marinade on chicken. Chicken thighs or diced chicken breast will work great! Adjust the cook time accordingly.
- Do you have other tender meat dishes? Yes! Our Instant Pot Filipino Chicken Adobo | Fall-off-the-Bone Drumsticks practically peels from the bone and is so good with rice! Another honorable mention is our 5-Step Best Beef Salpicao Recipe, with melt-in-your-mouth steak pieces.
- What can I pair with this dish? This filipino pork tocino is usually eaten with a side of garlic rice and of course, vinegar! So good! For another quick side dish popular with tocino, our 5-Minute Salted Egg Salad Recipe | Itlog na Maalat is a great option for an authentic favorite!
Interested in Filipino cuisine, but don’t know where to begin? Download our Top 5 Crazy-Cheap Ingredients You Need for Filipino Cooking and Where to Find It from my free resource library!
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Frequently Asked Questions
how to make filipino tocino?
Filipino tocino is marinated in a sugared, soy sauce mixture with other ingredients before simmering in a pan with oil.
how to marinate tocino?
Mix the tocino with the marinade for at least 10 minutes to get the pork pieces thoroughly coated. Marinate for 5 hours or overnight for best results.
What kind of meat is best for tocino making?
Pork butt is typically best for tocino as this kind of meat is already full of flavor and tender.
Lee says
Normally, I bought tocino marinade already but this one is healthy, no preservatives, and easy to make ahead of time for family breakfast over the weekend.😋
sam says
Thank you! Yes, it’s delicious!