Pork Asado

Pork Asado

    There was this restaurant that I go to whenever I would visit  Harisson Plaza in Manila. I always order the same set of food: their specialty fried rice and their asado. The asado was usually served with peanuts and it really matches their fried rice. I usually flood my rice with the sauce and when it is not enough, I would always use their siopao sauce to suit my preferred way of eating what I ordered. It became my habit to eat that way.  Until the management changed. Their fried rice is still there but the asado was never served and I would have to choose either pork barbecue or roast chicken to match that item they've omitted. It was never the same. So I decided to make my own. Here is my own version of that asado.

Ingredients:

1 kg Pork loin or Kasim (whole uncut)

4 cups water (for boiling)

6 cloves garlic

1 medium onion quartered

Salt and pepper (to taste)

1 cup soy sauce

1/2 cup brown sugar (or more if you prefer)

2-3 piece star anise (sanque)

1 tsp chopped ginger

2 tbsp corn starch

Procedure:

-Put the pork in a large pot.  Add 1 tsp salt. Pour enough water to cover the meat. add the onion and the garlic. Bring to a boil the lower the heat to simmer. Cover the pot then wait until the pork is tender  (around 30 minutes).

- When the meat is tender, add the the soy sauce, sugar, star anise and ginger. Add salt and pepper to taste. Boil for another 2 minutes. Add diluted corn starch while stirring to thicken the sauce.

(Optional)

-Remove meat from the pot. Put in the oven (around 250°C) and let roast for 3 to 5 minutes while brushing with catsup or char siu sauce from time to time. Remove the meat from the oven then slice using a sharp knife. 

-Arrange on a plate then pour in the sauce. Garnish with roasted (adobo) peanuts. Serve and enjoy!