How to Make Tocino: A Step-by-Step Guide

Have you ever wondered how to make tocino at home? Tocino is a sweetened and cured meat that is a staple in Filipino cuisine. This delicious dish is often served for breakfast, paired with garlic rice and eggs. Good news – making tocino at home is easy and you can customize the ingredients to your liking!

Here’s how to make tocino from scratch. First, you will need to gather the following ingredients: pork shoulder, brown sugar, pineapple juice, soy sauce, garlic, and salt. While you can purchase pre-made tocino marinade in the grocery store, making it from scratch ensures that you have control over the flavors and ingredients. Let’s get started!

Ingredients needed for making tocino:

1. Pork Belly

First and foremost, you’ll need pork belly. It’s the most commonly used meat in making tocino. You can use any part of the pork belly, but it’s better to use the center cut portion as it has the right amount of fat and lean meat. Cut it into thin slices of about 1/4 inch thickness.

2. Soy Sauce

Next up is soy sauce, the key ingredient that gives tocino its signature color and flavor. You’ll need about 1/2 cup of soy sauce for every kilogram of pork belly. You can use any brand, but it’s better to use the Filipino brand of soy sauce for that authentic taste.

3. Sugar

Sugar is a must-have ingredient for making tocino as it sweetens up the meat. You’ll need 1 cup of brown sugar or palm sugar for every kilogram of pork belly, but you can adjust the amount based on your preference.

4. Pineapple Juice

Pineapple juice is another ingredient that adds flavor and tenderizes the meat. You’ll need about 1/2 cup of pineapple juice for every kilogram of pork belly. You can use fresh or canned pineapple juice, but fresh is always better.

5. Garlic & Onion

Garlic and onion are optional ingredients, but they add a lot of flavor to the tocino. You can finely chop them or blend them into a paste and mix them with the marinade.

6. Salt & Pepper

Salt and pepper are essential for seasoning the meat. You can add salt and pepper to the marinade mixture or sprinkle them directly on the pork belly slices before cooking.

7. Food Coloring

Food coloring is optional, but it gives the tocino that bright red color that’s typical of Filipino-style tocino. You can use any red food coloring, but it’s better to use a natural food coloring made from beets.

8. Plastic Bag or Container

You’ll need a plastic bag or container to marinate the pork belly. A plastic bag is convenient as you can easily squeeze out the air and make sure the meat is evenly coated with the marinade. A container with a lid works well too.

9. Skewers or Pan

You’ll need skewers or a pan to cook the tocino. You can skewer the pork belly slices and grill them over charcoal or use a non-stick pan or griddle to fry them.

10. Rice and Fried Egg

Lastly, you’ll need to serve the tocino with steamed rice and a fried egg for that classic Filipino breakfast. You can also add some pickled papaya or atchara and a cup of coffee to complete the meal.

Ingredients needed for making tocino

Making tocino is quite simple, but you need to have the right ingredients to make it taste as delicious as possible. Here are the ingredients that you will need:

1. Pork meat – Choose a fatty cut of pork for the best results. Tocino is usually made with pork shoulder or belly.

2. Sugar – This is the key ingredient that makes tocino sweet. Brown sugar is commonly used, but you can also use white sugar or palm sugar.

3. Salt – Don’t forget to add salt to balance out the sweetness of the sugar. Use kosher salt or sea salt for the best results.

4. Soy sauce – This gives tocino its distinct savory flavor. You can use either regular soy sauce or a low-sodium version.

5. Vinegar – This adds a tangy flavor to the tocino and helps tenderize the meat. Use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar.

6. Garlic – This adds an aromatic flavor to the tocino. Use fresh garlic instead of powdered garlic for better flavor.

7. Pineapple juice or powder – This is an optional ingredient that gives tocino its fruity flavor. You can also use orange juice or calamansi juice.

8. Food coloring – This is optional, but it gives tocino its bright red color. Use natural food coloring made from beets or annatto instead of synthetic food coloring.

9. Plastic Ziploc bag – This is used to marinate the pork. Make sure to use a high-quality, leak-proof bag that can withstand the acidity of the marinade.

10. Cooking oil – Use a neutral-tasting oil such as vegetable oil or canola oil for frying the tocino.

Now that you have all the ingredients ready, it’s time to start making tocino. But before we proceed to the next step, let’s talk about the importance of marinating the pork to achieve the best flavor.

Marinating the Pork

After preparing the pork belly, it’s time to marinate it. The key to a delicious tocino is using the right balance of sweet and savory flavors. Here’s how to do it:

Ingredients

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl, stirring well until the sugar dissolves. Make sure to taste the marinade and adjust it to your liking. Some people prefer it sweeter, while others like it saltier.

Once the marinade is ready, add the pork belly and massage it well. Make sure the meat is evenly coated, and then transfer it to a ziplock bag. Remove any excess air, seal the bag, and refrigerate it for at least 24 hours.

During this time, the meat will absorb all the flavors of the marinade, resulting in a deliciously sweet and savory tocino.

Alternative Marinades

While the traditional tocino recipe calls for a sweet and savory marinade, you can experiment with other flavors depending on your preference. Here’s a few that you can try:

• Honey garlic: honey, soy sauce, garlic, and sesame oil
• Lemon pepper: lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and black pepper
• Spicy: paprika, chili powder, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and brown sugar

These are just a few ideas, but feel free to get creative and come up with your own unique marinade.

Tips for a Perfectly Marinated Tocino

To ensure that your tocino turns out as delicious as possible, keep these tips in mind:

1. Make the marinade at least a day in advance to give the flavors time to blend.
2. Use fresh, high-quality ingredients for the best taste.
3. Massage the marinade into the meat thoroughly to ensure even coating.
4. Refrigerate the pork belly for at least 24 hours so it can absorb all the flavors of the marinade.

By following these tips and experimenting with different marinades, you can create a tocino that is perfectly suited to your taste buds.

Time to Enjoy Your Delicious Homemade Tocino!

Now that you know how to make tocino, it’s time to whip up a batch and enjoy the sweet and savory flavors with your family and friends. Don’t forget to store the leftovers in the fridge for a quick and easy breakfast or lunch option. Thank you for reading, and don’t hesitate to come back for more delicious recipes. Happy cooking!