Go Back
filipino tocino recipe

Sweet and Simple Filipino Tocino Recipe in 3 Easy Steps

5 from 1 vote
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!
Prep Time:5 hours
Cook Time:20 minutes
Total Time:5 hours 20 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Filipino
Keyword: filipino tocino recipe
Servings: 4

Ingredients

Tocino Marinade

  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • ¼ cup pineapple juice
  • 3 tablespoons cane vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons ground pepper plus more for seasoning
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • tablespoons garlic powder
  • 2 pounds pork butt sliced in ¼ inch thick pieces
  • 2-3 drops red food coloring (optional)

Simmer the Tocino

  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • salt to taste

Instructions

  • In a medium sized container, combine all the ingredients for the marinade except the pork butt. Once combined, add the pork butt and mix together for at least 10 minutes. Cover and refrigerate for 5 hours or overnight.
  • In a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, dump the pork butt and the marinade from the container into the pan. Add 1 cup of water to the pan. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Cook for another 5 minutes uncovered or until the liquid is mostly gone. Stir constantly.
  • Add the 2 tablespoons of oil to the pan to caramelize the meat. Once the meat looks glazed, season with salt and pepper to preference. Enjoy!

Notes

  1. For the best flavor, marinate the meat overnight.
  2. When simmering the meat, it may look like a ton of liquid was added, but don’t worry! The meat will absorb the marinade and liquid before it glazes in the pan. By adding the 2 tablespoons of canola oil to glaze over the heat, the glaze will give an insanely flavorful coating to the meat and become slightly shiny!
  3. For this Filipino popular breakfast, pair this tocino with our Filipino Garlic Fried Rice | Sinangag and 5-Minute Salted Egg Salad Recipe | Itlog na Maalat. So good!
  4. See Sam’s Pro Tips for this Filipino Tocino Recipe for further detail.