Authentic Visayan Pork Humba Recipe - Foxy Folksy (2024)

BY :Bebs | Published: | Updated: | 13 Comments

RECIPE PRINT

4.94 from 15 votes

Pin It

Delicious braised pork belly with savory-sweet soy-vinegar sauce with a distinguishing taste of tausi cooked until tender. Pork Humba is another Filipino dish to try!

Authentic Visayan Pork Humba Recipe - Foxy Folksy (1)

  • What is Pork Humba?
  • What is in Humba?
  • Printable Recipe
  • Pork Humba

What is Pork Humba?

Humba is a Filipino braised pork dish that is very popular in the Visayan and southern regions. Said to be a derivative of the Chinese Hong-ba (also Hong-Shao-Rou or Red Braised Pork Belly). It is believed that it was introduced by Chinese immigrants and was adaptedby our Visaya folks. They replaced some of the ingredients like Shaoxing wine and five-spices with what is more easily found locally. Ginger is also omitted and instead, tausi is used.

Like any others, there are different manners of cooking this dish. Some people would marinate the meat first before searing. Others would skip the searing part entirely.

Authentic Visayan Pork Humba Recipe - Foxy Folksy (2)

Adobo Vs. Humba

Humba or sometimes homba is usually likened to the Adobo. They are both cooked with soy sauce and vinegar. Humba, however, has a mildly sweet take from the addition of brown or muscovado sugar and/or pineapple.

Another difference is the way they are cooked. Unlike Adobo, that you just put together and simmer until sauce thickens, Humba is cooked using the braising technique. The pork belly which usually has a good amount of fats is first seared to render the fats. It will then be simmered in liquids and spices.

Authentic Visayan Pork Humba Recipe - Foxy Folksy (3)

What is in Humba?

Meat- It is normally made with pork and the most common cut used is the belly or liempo. Pork leg, hocks, and sometimes shoulder are also used. Hard-boiled eggs are also sometimes added.

Braising liquid- Soy sauce, vinegar, and water are used for braising the meat. Pineapple juice is also sometimes added while some use soda (Sprite or 7-up).

Spices- Like Adobo, it also has bay leaves, peppercorn, garlic, and onions. Another thing that sets them apart is the added tausi (fermented black beans), which is a must ingredient. Banana blossoms are also added optionally so as pineapple bits.

Authentic Visayan Pork Humba Recipe - Foxy Folksy (4)

Printable Recipe

Authentic Visayan Pork Humba Recipe - Foxy Folksy (5)

Print Review

Pork Humba

4.94 from 15 votes

A Filipino braised pork belly dish with sweet-savory soy-vinegar sauce. Made more flavorful by adding black fermented beans (tausi) and banana blossoms.

Course :Main Course

Servings =4

Print Recipe Rate this Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 tablspoons oil
  • 1.5 pounds pork belly - cut into 1x2-inch sizes -see NOTE 1
  • 4 cloves garlic -minced
  • 1 medium red onion - chopped
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • ¼ cup vinegar
  • 2 cups water - add more if needed
  • 1 tablespoon peppercorn
  • 2 pieces bay leaves
  • ¼ cup dried banana blossoms (optional)
  • ¼ cup fermented black beans (tausi) - see NOTE 2
  • ½ cup pineapple tidbits - liquids included (optional)
  • 3 tablespoon brown sugar

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sear pork belly until lightly browned and fats are rendered. Set fried pork aside. Remove excess oil from the pot and leave just about 2 tablespoons.

  • In the same pot, saute garlic until golden and aromatic. Add back the pork belly and stir.

  • Add the rest of the ingredients and stir. Cover the pot and let it simmer for 40-50 minutes or until pork is tender. Add more water if needed until meat is fork-tender.

  • Remove the cover and continue to simmer until liquid is reduced to a thick sauce.

  • Transfer to a serving dish and serve with plain rice.

Notes

  • NOTE 1 : If pork belly has a lot of fat, separate the fatty part from the leaner part. Sear the fatty part first to render the fats. Sear the leaner meat for shorter time so it will not dry up and become chewy.
  • NOTE 2: If using dried fermented black beans, soak it a bit and rinse before adding as it may be too salty. If using the canned ones with liquid, drain the liquid.

Nutrition

Calories: 1013kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 23gFat: 93gSaturated Fat: 33gCholesterol: 122mgSodium: 1469mgPotassium: 561mgFiber: 4gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 75IUVitamin C: 6.5mgCalcium: 57mgIron: 10.4mg

Have you tried this recipe?Mention @foxyfolksy or tag #FoxyFolksyRecipes!

More Pork Recipes

  • Lechon Paksiw
  • Sweet and Sour Pork
  • Nilagang Baboy
  • Menchi Katsu

Latest Recipes

Ginisang Togue

Binignit

Cajun Shrimp Pasta

Sinangag

Palitaw sa Latik

Peri-Peri Chicken

Lechon Paksiw

Reader Interactions

Comments

    What do you think?

  1. Georgia says

    Hi there, what kind of vinegar is required for this recipe??

    Reply

    • Bebs says

      We normally use cane vinegar but you could use any.

      Reply

  2. Ivy says

    Authentic Visayan Pork Humba Recipe - Foxy Folksy (18)
    Made this today and absolutely the best humba recipe I've tried. A plus, thank you for sharing.

    Reply

    • Bebs says

      Awww...thank you for the awesome review, Ivy!

      Reply

  3. Pepito Siaton says

    Very good Bisaya ang lasa. Ok ko ko

    Reply

  4. KuyaKen says

    Authentic Visayan Pork Humba Recipe - Foxy Folksy (19)
    Excellent recipe! I used pineapple juice since I didn't have have the canned fruit. Next time I will swap one cup of water for another cup of pineapple juice. When I doubled the recipe I used one full can of fermented black beans which was about 1/2 a cup. Salamat po!

    Reply

  5. Amadeo says

    Authentic Visayan Pork Humba Recipe - Foxy Folksy (20)
    Yummy recipe. Hope taste delicious too without banana
    blossoms and tausi (fermented black beans). Not available here.

    Reply

  6. Nik says

    Authentic Visayan Pork Humba Recipe - Foxy Folksy (21)
    Sarap! Parang Adobo pero with a twist! Thanks for the Recipe! 🙂

    Reply

    • Bebs says

      Glad you like it, Nik.

      Reply

  7. May says

    Wanna try all your recipes as possible. Thank you

    Reply

    • Bebs says

      Go! go! go! Hope you like them all 😊.

      Reply

  8. John says

    Authentic Visayan Pork Humba Recipe - Foxy Folksy (22)
    Love it having more tonight

    Reply

    • Bebs says

      Thanks, for the stars John! Stay safe and well.

      Reply

Authentic Visayan Pork Humba Recipe - Foxy Folksy (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between adobo and humba? ›

Although the two dishes resembles in terms of appearance, Humba is sweet, sour, and salty all at once in taste while Adobo is sour and salty. Humba uses all the basic ingredients of Adobo with the addition of brown sugar, salted black beans (tausi), and banana blossoms.

Where did pork humba originated? ›

Humba (homba), which literally translates to tender (hum) pork (ba), is a Visayan braised pork dish similar to the classic adobo. It's said to have originated from the Chinese hong-bah/hong-mah, a red braised pork belly dish brought to the Visayas islands by Hokkien traders.

What is humba in cebu? ›

Humbà, also spelled hombà, is a Filipino braised pork dish from Visayas, Philippines. It traditionally uses pork belly slow-cooked until very tender in soy sauce, vinegar, black peppercorns, garlic, bay leaves, and fermented black beans (tausi) sweetened with muscovado sugar.

What part of the meat is used in the Humba? ›

What is in Humba? Meat- It is normally made with pork and the most common cut used is the belly or liempo. Pork leg, hocks, and sometimes shoulder are also used.

What is the difference between Estofado and Humba? ›

Traditionally the difference is that Humba uses. liempo and has fried banana and peanuts while. Estofado uses pata and has fried camote and bread on. the side.

Do Filipinos use adobo seasoning? ›

As in Puerto Rico, adobo is beloved in most Filipino households; it's the unofficial dish of the Philippines, even as it varies by region or household. Most modern-day Filipino adobo is prepared with vinegar and soy sauce. Some families keep it simple with vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, bay leaves, and black pepper.

What is the Tagalog of humba? ›

Definition for the Tagalog word humba:

humbâ [noun] a Filipino braised pork dish from Visayas, Philippines.

Is a humba an adobo dish in Leyte? ›

While they are both cooked in soy sauce and vinegar, they vary in taste. Adobo is savory and sour, while Humba is savory and sweet. Salted black beans, tablea (pure dark cocoa tablets), and star anise are the main ingredients of Humba that set it apart from Adobo. Truly, a must-try dish when in Leyte.

Where did crispy pata originated in the Philippines? ›

Crispy pata, which is similar to the German Schweinshaxe, has a short history in the Philippines. It was “invented” in the 1950s by Rodolfo Ongpauco, whose mother owned the restaurant Barrio Fiesta in Caloocan, north of Manila, after he decided to deep fry discarded pork legs.

What is pig brain dish in Cebu? ›

Tuslob buwa is a popular Filipino street food found in the Pasil neighborhood of Cebu City. Its chief ingredients are pork liver and brain, which get sautéed with garlic, onions, shrimp paste, and chilis.

Why are there so many Chinese in Cebu? ›

Although Cebu was adversely affected by the removal of the seat of the Spanish colonial government to Manila, it still had many inhabitants, particularly Sangleys (Echevarria, 1974). The Chinese community in Cebu was formed during the period of Spanish occupation, whose origins or roots are Southern Fujian.

What is the English name of humba animal? ›

Misheck Samanyanga on LinkedIn: HUMBA MAKOMBE TOTEM Humba is a wild pig which is very strong and…

Who invented humba? ›

Origin of humba

This meal was made famous on the Visayan Islands in the central Philippines. Some accounts say that the dish originated from the Visayas. Others say that Fujian Chinese settlers were the masterminds behind this delicacy and that the dish originates from Chinese red braised pork belly.

What is the Philippines favorite meat? ›

It is not a secret that we Pinoys love our meat. Most, if not all, restaurants in our country offer a variety of pork dishes. Some of the favorite pork dishes of Pinoys are Lechon, Sisig, and Pork Barbeque.

Is humba the same as adobo? ›

Humba uses the pork pata. Adobo uses chicken and pork. Even the pork parts of these three dishes are different. Where lechon paksiw can be made with any pork cut from the leftover lechon, humba is made from the pork pata.

What are the 2 versions of adobo? ›

Based on the main ingredients, the most common adobo types are adobong manók, in which chicken is used, and adobong baboy, in which pork is used.

What's so special about Filipino adobo? ›

Filipino families also often have their own recipes for adobo, passed down from one generation to another. One of the unique features of adobo is its versatility. The dish can be made with different meats, such as beef or fish, and can be customized with various seasonings and ingredients.

What is the closest thing to adobo seasoning? ›

What can be used in place of adobo seasoning? A suitable substitute for adobo seasoning is a blend of common spices, such as garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Alternatively, you can try using Cajun seasoning or mild curry powder to achieve a similar flavor profile.

What is the other name for humba? ›

Humba, also called 'Homba' dish got it's name from the term 'humot na baboy' a Visayan term that means 'aromatic pork', both referring to and describing the pork dish's characteristics.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rubie Ullrich

Last Updated:

Views: 5442

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (52 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rubie Ullrich

Birthday: 1998-02-02

Address: 743 Stoltenberg Center, Genovevaville, NJ 59925-3119

Phone: +2202978377583

Job: Administration Engineer

Hobby: Surfing, Sailing, Listening to music, Web surfing, Kitesurfing, Geocaching, Backpacking

Introduction: My name is Rubie Ullrich, I am a enthusiastic, perfect, tender, vivacious, talented, famous, delightful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.