Ground Pork Menudo (Giniling na Menudo)

The classic Filipino stew, Menudo, is packed with savory ground pork or beef, vibrant vegetables, perfect blend of aromatics and seasonings in a tasty tomato sauce! This authentic Filipino stew recipe is a comforting delight for any meal. Serve with rice!


It’s been a while since I posted a Filipino recipe so I thought that I would share one today. This is quite an old recipe which I posted on my old blog and you can see that with the photo – I didn’t know anything about photo composition yet – point and shoot is what I did then!

But don’t worry, I promise that despite the old photo – you are guaranteed to enjoy a delicious meal with this favorite Filipino family recipe – Menudo!

What is the authentic Filipino Menudo recipe?

Menudo is a traditional Filipino pork or beef stew renowned for its rich flavors and comforting appeal. This hearty Filipino dish typically features tender chunks of pork or beef simmered in a savory tomato-based sauce along with an assortment of vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and bell peppers. Additional ingredients like liver, chickpeas, and raisins may also be incorporated to add depth and complexity to the dish.

Menudo is a beloved staple in Filipino households, often enjoyed during gatherings and special occasions, offering a taste of the country’s vibrant culinary heritage. In this post, we are making the giniling na menudo (translated as ground pork menudo) since we are using ground meat instead of the traditional stewing cut. Ground pork or beef menudo is like a shortcut version of the regular menudo because using ground meat cuts on the cooking time but the flavor profile is the same and as delicious!

The classic Filipino stew, Menudo, made with ground meat for a quicker cooking time and more flavor absorption! Loaded with vegetables and simmered in a perfectly seasoned tomato sauce the whole family will enjoy this!

You can also add some boiled eggs to this homemade Filipino stew. For the ground pork menudo version using quail eggs is highly recommended to tie up well with the ground meat used in the recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I use Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce instead of fish sauce? Absolutely! Worcestershire sauce offers a similar depth of flavor and can be used as a substitute for fish sauce, if desired. Soy sauce can work in a pinch.

Can I customize the vegetables in this recipe? Certainly! While traditional Filipino Menudo typically includes potatoes, carrots, and bell peppers, feel free to experiment with additional vegetables such as peas, green beans, or even olives to suit your taste preferences.

Can I add boiled eggs to this Menudo recipe? Yes! I highly recommend that. While the eggs are not required nor traditional to the dish they make for a lovelier presentation and enhance the flavor of ground menudo overall!

How can I store leftovers of Ground Pork Menudo? Leftover Menudo can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days or frozen for longer storage. Simply reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave before serving.

Ingredients for Giniling na Menudo (Ground Pork Menudo)

  • 2 Tablespoons Olive oil
  • 6-8 Garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 medium Onion, chopped
  • 2 Plum tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 lb ground Pork (or beef)
  • 2 Tablespoons, Fish sauce (or Worcestershire Sauce)
  • Ground Black Pepper, to taste
  • 1 cup, beef broth (or water)
  • 2 red skin Potatoes, peeled and diced
  • 1 medium Carrot, peeled and diced
  • 1/2 red Bell Pepper, seeded and diced
  • ½ cup Raisins
  • 1/3 cup Ketchup or Tomato Sauce
  • A little brown sugar, to taste

How to Make Giniling na Menudo (Ground Pork Menudo)

Heat the oil in a deep pan. Sauté garlic and onion until aromatic. Stir in the tomatoes and cook until soft. When I cooked this, I only had grape tomatoes so that’s what I used as you can see in the photo below but normally we use Plum tomatoes.

Add the ground pork and cook until brown. Season with ground black pepper and fish sauce (or salt, if preferred). Don’t be turned off by the smell of the fish sauce, as that will evaporate as the mixture cooks. When the pork has browned pour in the broth or water and bring to a boil.

Add the potatoes and carrots and simmer covered until the vegetables are slightly tender. Add the bell peppers and raisins. Continue to cook until all the veggies are tender but not mushy.

Pour in the ketchup or tomato sauce. Stir to mix everything well. If you find the sauce to be a little tart, sprinkle a little brown sugar to balance the flavors. Adjust the seasoning to taste. Serve with boiled eggs or quail eggs (if available) and jasmine rice.

Bursting with hearty goodness and fragrant aromatics, each spoonful of this comforting ground meat stew is a testament to the vibrant culinary heritage of the Philippines. So, gather your ingredients, don your apron, and immerse yourself in the tantalizing aromas of this beloved Filipino classic. Happy cooking!

Ground Pork Menudo (Giniling na Menudo)

Manila Spoon
The classic Filipino stew, Menudo, is packed with savory ground pork or beef, vibrant vegetables, perfect blend of aromatics and seasonings in a tasty tomato sauce! This authentic Filipino stew recipe is a comforting delight for any meal. Serve with rice!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Course Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine Asian, Filipino, South East Asian
Servings 6
Calories 351 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 2 Tablespoons Olive oil
  • 6-8 Garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 medium Onion, chopped
  • 2 plum Tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 lb ground Pork (or beef or a combo)
  • 2 tablespoons Fish sauce (or Worcestershire Sauce), see notes
  • Ground Black Pepper, to taste
  • 1 cup Beef broth (or water)
  • 2 red skin Potatoes, peeled and diced
  • 1 medium Carrot, peeled and diced
  • ½ red Bell Pepper, seeded and diced
  • ½ cup Raisins
  • cup Ketchup or Tomato Sauce, or to taste (see notes)
  • A little brown sugar, to taste (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Heat the oil in a deep pan. Sauté garlic and onion until aromatic. Stir in the tomatoes and cook until soft. When I cooked this, I only had grape tomatoes so that’s what I used as you can see in the photo below but normally we use Plum tomatoes.
  • Add the ground pork and cook until brown. Season with ground black pepper and fish sauce (or salt, if preferred). Don’t be turned off by the smell of the fish sauce, as that would evaporate as the mixture cooks. When the pork has browned pour in the broth or water and bring to a boil.
  • Add the potatoes and carrots and simmer covered until the vegetables are slightly tender. Add the bell peppers and raisins. Continue to cook until all the veggies are tender but not mushy.
  • Pour in the ketchup or tomato sauce. Stir to mix everything well. If you find the sauce to be a little tart, sprinkle a little brown sugar to balance the flavors.
  • Adjust the seasoning to taste. Serve with boiled eggs or quail eggs (if available) and jasmine rice.

Notes

TIPS & TRICKS
If you don’t fancy fish sauce (or don’t have the Worcestershire Sauce either), you can use soy sauce or salt instead (just adjust it to your taste). Note though that it’s more flavorful with the Fish sauce or Worcestershire Sauce. If you use Worcestershire Sauce, the taste will be slightly different than when you use fish sauce (my first preference) but it will be flavorful. This is just another option for those who don’t like Fish sauce. 
In the Philippines, my mom would use Del Monte Ketchup (slightly sweeter than the American Ketchup). When we use this we don’t need to add brown sugar because the ketchup is already quite sweet.

Nutrition

Calories: 351kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 16gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 805mgPotassium: 708mgFiber: 3gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 8885IUVitamin C: 28mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Last updated on March 6th, 2024 at 03:55 pm

Follow:

16 Comments

  1. April 29, 2013 / 3:47 am

    Hi Abby,

    Greeting from Melbourne, Australia. I'm a Singapore living in Australia and love to learn cooking and baking while blogging.

    Your ground pork menudo looks great and hope to learn lots of Filipino cooking from you. I'm now your latest follower and hope to hear from you soon.

    Zoe

    • May 2, 2013 / 3:26 am

      Hi Zoe! Thanks for joining our site. So glad to meet you and hope you find Manila Spoon helpful!

  2. April 29, 2013 / 2:14 pm

    I agree with the boiled egg part. It goes great with ground pork instead of the usual cut for the Menudo. I remember my Mom's spin with menudo would be adding beans in them.. still delicious though. as you have said, the flavor is timeless.

    • May 2, 2013 / 3:29 am

      Hi Micole, adding beans sound delicious! I do add beans with giniling…I miss quail eggs! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.

  3. April 29, 2013 / 3:44 pm

    I think your pictures looks just fine and the recipe sounds delish! I've never read a recipe for menudo before. I think I will have to try this one. Thanks for bringing it out of the attic! Wish you would share this at What'd You Do This Weekend over at Tumbleweed Contessa's kitchen.

    Linda
    http://www.tumbleweedcontessa.com/blog/

    • May 2, 2013 / 3:28 am

      Thanks for the invite, Linda. Glad you like it.

  4. April 29, 2013 / 3:46 pm

    What a great dish for any day. My family will enjoy this ground pork menudo. Thanks for sharing, Manila Spoon!

    • May 2, 2013 / 3:25 am

      Thanks, Betty! Glad you stopped by and we love Menudo, anytime too!

  5. October 3, 2013 / 6:50 am

    Gusto ko din po ito itry…mukang masarap..ngaun k lng po kasi nalaman na pwede po pala ang ground pork for menudo..mahilig po ako kumain kaya nghahanap po ako ng mga food na madaling lutuin at nakita ko po itong recipe ninyo..hehehe

    • July 12, 2014 / 12:45 am

      Hope you enjoy it Wendy! Thanks for stopping by.

  6. Anonymous
    July 9, 2014 / 2:12 am

    Hi there,

    I was just wondering if I can freeze this dish? Thanks so much.

    • July 12, 2014 / 12:46 am

      Yes, you can. Just thaw then reheat. Please enjoy!

  7. September 7, 2014 / 12:46 pm

    Hey ya, just want to know if I can use minced lamb or beef instead? Thanks 🙂

  8. January 12, 2015 / 4:24 am

    I have made this several times for my family, we love it!!!

    • January 28, 2015 / 4:10 am

      I am so delighted to know that Cynthia! Thank you so much for trying it!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating