Binagoongan with Mango Salsa

Ingredients

• 500g (1.1 lb) pork belly, cut into cubes 500g (1.1 lb) pork belly, cut into cubes
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 onion, chopped 1 onion, chopped
• 3 tablespoons shrimp paste (bagoong) 3 tablespoons shrimp paste (bagoong)
• 2 tablespoons vinegar 2 tablespoons vinegar
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 cup water 1 cup water
• Salt and pepper to taste Salt and pepper to taste
• For the Mango Salsa: For the Mango Salsa:
• 2 ripe mangoes, diced 2 ripe mangoes, diced
• 1 tomato, diced 1 tomato, diced
• 1/2 red onion, finely chopped 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• Juice of 1 lime Juice of 1 lime

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 450 kcal / 1884 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 30g, 10g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 10g, 8g
• Protein: 35g
• Fiber: 2g
• Salt: 2g

Preparation

1. 1.
   Heat the vegetable oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and chopped onion, and sauté until fragrant.
2. 2.
   Add the pork belly to the pan and cook until browned on all sides.
3. 3.
   Stir in the shrimp paste, vinegar, brown sugar, and water. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. 4.
   Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and simmer for about 1 hour or until the pork is tender.
5. 5.
   While the pork is simmering, prepare the mango salsa. In a bowl, combine the diced mangoes, tomato, red onion, cilantro, and lime juice. Mix well and set aside.
6. 6.
   Once the pork is tender, remove the lid and continue cooking for another 10-15 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken.
7. 7.
   Serve the Binagoongan hot, topped with the mango salsa. Enjoy with steamed rice.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Pork belly — For a leaner option, you can use pork loin instead of pork belly. However, keep in mind that pork belly adds a rich and succulent flavor to the dish.
• Shrimp paste (bagoong) — If you can't find shrimp paste, you can substitute it with fish sauce (patis) for a similar umami flavor.

Tips & Tricks

• To enhance the flavor of the pork, marinate it in the shrimp paste sauce for a few hours or overnight before cooking.
• Adjust the amount of shrimp paste and vinegar according to your taste preference. If you prefer a stronger shrimp paste flavor, add more. If you prefer a milder taste, reduce the amount.
• For a spicier kick, you can add chopped chili peppers to the mango salsa.

Serving advice

Serve the Binagoongan with steamed rice on the side to soak up the flavorful sauce. Garnish with fresh cilantro for added freshness.

Presentation advice

Arrange the Binagoongan on a serving platter and top it with the vibrant mango salsa. The colorful combination of the pork and salsa will make for an appetizing presentation.