Pork Menudo Recipe – Classic Filipino Tomato-Based Pork Stew
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If you’re looking for a comforting pork menudo recipe, this is the version I make for my family—tender pork, potatoes, carrots, hot dogs, and liver simmered in a savory tomato-based sauce.
I marinate the pork first in soy sauce and lemon or calamansi, which gives it so much flavor before it even goes into the pot. And because my son isn’t a big fan of pieces of pork liver, I sometimes use liver spread or liverwurst instead. He loves it this way, and it makes a great kid-friendly version of menudo.
Peas and raisins? Completely optional in our house.
Serve it with plenty of warm rice, and dinner is done.
What Is Pork Menudo?
Pork menudo is a classic Filipino stew made with pork, vegetables, and a rich tomato-based sauce. Potatoes and carrots are common, along with pork liver and sliced hot dogs.
Depending on the family making it, you might also find peas, raisins, bell peppers, or other additions.
And if you’re wondering about the name, Filipino menudo is completely different from Mexican menudo. Filipino pork menudo is a tomato-based pork stew, while Mexican menudo is traditionally a soup made with beef tripe.
Like so many Filipino dishes, there isn’t just one way to make menudo. This is simply how I make mine at home. If you love hearty Filipino dishes like this, you might also enjoy my Pork Giniling Recipe, another family-friendly pork dish with potatoes, carrots, and a savory tomato sauce.
Why You’ll Love This Pork Menudo Recipe
Full of flavor. Marinating the pork in soy sauce and lemon or calamansi gives the meat flavor before we even start cooking.
Family-friendly. If your kids don’t like pieces of pork liver, try my liver spread or liverwurst substitution. My son loves menudo this way.
Easy to customize. Add peas and raisins if your family loves them. Leave them out if they don’t.
Perfect with rice. You get tender pork, vegetables, and plenty of savory tomato sauce to spoon over freshly cooked rice.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 2 pounds pork, cut into serving-size pieces
- ¼ pound pork liver, sliced, or about ½ small can liver spread or liverwurst for the kid-friendly version
- 1 cup potatoes, cubed
- 1 carrot, cubed
- ½ cup soy sauce
- Juice of ½ lemon or calamansi, plus more to taste
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ¾ cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup water, plus more as needed
- 4 hot dogs, sliced diagonally
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil
- 2–3 dried bay leaves
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Green peas, optional
- Raisins, optional
My Kid-Friendly Liver Substitute
Traditional Filipino pork menudo usually includes pork liver, but liver can be a hard sell for kids.
Instead of pieces of pork liver, I sometimes use liver spread or liverwurst, and my son loves it this way.
It still adds that rich, savory flavor to the menudo, but it melts right into the tomato sauce instead of leaving noticeable pieces of liver throughout the dish.
I like to start with about half a small can. Stir it into the sauce until completely incorporated, taste, and add more if you want.
Of course, if your family loves traditional pork liver, use it. But if you’re cooking for kids—or anyone who doesn’t enjoy the texture of liver—this is an easy substitute.
How to Make Pork Menudo
1. Marinate the Pork
Combine the pork, soy sauce, and lemon or calamansi juice in a bowl.
Mix well, cover, and let the pork marinate for about 1 hour.
2. Sauté the Garlic and Onion
Heat the cooking oil in a large pot over medium heat.
Add the onion and garlic and sauté until the onion softens and the garlic becomes fragrant.
3. Brown the Pork
Add the marinated pork to the pot with the sauce.
Cook until the pork begins to brown.
Giving the pork a little time to brown here adds another layer of flavor to the finished menudo.
4. Make the Menudo Sauce
Add the tomato sauce, water, sugar, and bay leaves. Stir everything together and bring it to a gentle simmer.
Cover and cook until the pork begins to become tender.
5. Add the Potatoes and Carrots
Add the cubed potatoes and carrots.
Continue simmering until the pork is tender and the vegetables are cooked through.
Try not to overcook the vegetables. You want tender potatoes and carrots, not ones that disappear into the sauce.
6. Add the Hot Dogs and Liver
Add the sliced hot dogs and pork liver during the last 5 minutes of cooking. Cook just until the liver is cooked through. Avoid simmering the liver for too long, as it can become tough and chewy.
For the kid-friendly version: Skip the pork liver and stir in about ½ small can of liver spread or liverwurst instead. Stir until completely incorporated into the sauce, then taste before adding more.
7. Finish and Season
If you’re adding peas or raisins, stir them in toward the end of cooking.
Taste the menudo before adding salt since the soy sauce and hot dogs already bring plenty of flavor.
Season with salt and black pepper as needed.
If the sauce becomes too thick, add a little water. If you want it thicker, let it simmer uncovered for a few more minutes.
8. Serve
Remove the bay leaves and serve the pork menudo hot with freshly cooked rice.
Tips for the Best Pork Menudo
Give the pork time to marinate. I like giving it about an hour so the soy sauce and citrus have time to flavor the meat.
Brown the pork before adding the sauce. Don’t rush this part. A little browning gives the finished dish more flavor.
Don’t add the vegetables too early. Let the pork get a head start before adding the potatoes and carrots so they don’t become too soft.
Taste before adding salt. Soy sauce, hot dogs, and liver spread or liverwurst can all add saltiness, so taste the sauce first.
Adjust the consistency at the end. Add a little water if you want more sauce, or simmer uncovered if you prefer your menudo thicker.
Peas and Raisins—or No Peas and Raisins?
This is one of those Filipino food questions where every family seems to have an opinion.
You’ll find plenty of pork menudo recipes with green peas and raisins. If that’s the menudo you grew up eating, add them.
My husband and son don’t really care for peas or raisins in menudo, so I usually leave them out.
That’s the nice thing about home cooking. Make it the way your family actually wants to eat it.
What to Serve With Pork Menudo
Rice.
Really, you don’t need much else.
Pork menudo already has meat, potatoes, carrots, and that rich tomato sauce. Spoon everything over freshly cooked white rice, and you have a filling Filipino meal.
If you’re looking for more easy Filipino meals for busy days, check out my Filipino Lunch Ideas, where you’ll find dishes like adobo, munggo, pancit bihon, lumpiang Shanghai, and giniling.
How to Store and Reheat Pork Menudo
Let leftover pork menudo cool before transferring it to an airtight container and storing it in the refrigerator.
When you’re ready to eat, reheat the portion you need until it’s hot throughout.
The sauce may thicken after sitting in the refrigerator. If it does, add a small splash of water while reheating until you get the consistency you like.
Menudo is also one of those dishes I don’t mind eating again the next day. Once all those flavors have had even more time together, the leftovers are pretty good.
Pork Menudo Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Marinate the Pork. Combine the pork, soy sauce, and lemon or calamansi juice in a bowl. Mix well, cover, and marinate for 1 hour. Reserve the marinade for the sauce.
- Sauté the Aromatics. Heat the cooking oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté until the onion softens and the garlic becomes fragrant.
- Brown the Pork. Add the marinated pork, with the marinade. Cook until the pork begins to brown.
- Make the Menudo Sauce. Add the tomato sauce, water, sugar, and bay leaves. Stir well and bring to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook until the pork begins to become tender.
- Add the Potatoes and Carrots. Add the potatoes and carrots. Continue simmering until the pork is tender and the vegetables are cooked through.
- Add the Hot Dogs and Liver. Add the sliced hot dogs and pork liver during the last 5 minutes of cooking. Cook just until the liver is cooked through. Avoid overcooking the liver because it can become tough and chewy.For the kid-friendly version: Skip the pork liver and stir in about ½ small can of liver spread or liverwurst instead. Stir until completely incorporated into the sauce, then taste before adding more.
- Finish and Season. If using green peas or raisins, stir them in toward the end of cooking.Taste before adding salt since the soy sauce, hot dogs, and liver spread or liverwurst can already add plenty of saltiness. Season with salt and black pepper as needed.Add a little more water if you prefer more sauce, or simmer uncovered for a few minutes if you want a thicker consistency.
- Serve. Remove the bay leaves and serve the Pork Menudo hot with freshly cooked rice.
Notes
New to Filipino Cooking?
Want to make Filipino food at home but not sure where to start?
Get my FREE Filipino Dinner Starter Kit with 5 beginner-friendly Filipino recipes, a 5-day meal plan, one-trip grocery list, and a beginner Filipino pantry guide.
More Filipino Recipes to Try
If you enjoyed this pork menudo, here are a few more Filipino favorites to make next:
Pork Adobo Recipe — tender pork simmered in a savory soy-vinegar sauce.
Pork Giniling Recipe — ground pork with potatoes, carrots, tomato sauce, and eggs.
Ginisang Munggo — comforting mung bean stew with ground pork and greens.
Pancit Bihon — classic Filipino rice noodles with pork and vegetables.
Lumpiang Shanghai — crispy Filipino spring rolls filled with seasoned ground pork.
My Kitchen & Cooking Essentials
These are some of my favorite kitchen tools and cooking essentials that make everyday cooking a little easier.
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