How To Cook Pork Liempo – Filipino Style Pork Belly (Inihaw Na Liempo)

Pork Liempo, or ‘Inihaw na Liempo’, is one of the most popular grilled dishes in the Philippines. This juicy, glazed, sweet, and savory grilled pork belly dish, is traditionally made with a marinade of soy sauce, calamansi juice, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and banana ketchup. Sometimes a spoonful of brown sugar is added to improve the caramelization of the meat.

After the marinade is prepared and added to the pork slices, the pork is kept in the refrigerator or a cool place overnight. The pork belly is then grilled over charcoal for a few minutes, brushing it with the remaining sauce often, until each side has a nice char. The dish is served with a side of spiced vinegar dipping sauce and a generous serving of rice.

A simple recipe that takes just a few ingredients, marinates overnight, and then can be grilled, baked, or pan-seared.

The smell of charcoal-grilled liempo with some freshly caught fish grilled on the side reminds Filipinos of days at the beach. The pork is often accompanied by heaps of rice placed in a large bowl with roasted eggplant and other veggies. Bottles of ice-cold soda and mango, watermelon, or fruit salad kept in the cooler for dessert complete the meal.

This combination is sure to your mouth water in anticipation of summer vacation, or maybe just in anticipation of dinner time or a trip to that Filipino restaurant in town.

The ingredients list

• Pork belly – try to get a pork belly that’s not too lean, especially when grilling or baking. The fats keep the meat from drying.
• Salt and pepper – for seasoning
• Dark soy sauce – a sweet and salty combo that also adds color to the pork belly.
• Garlic – makes the dish aromatic and helps remove any foul smell.
• Vinegar – breaks down the meat's muscle fibers and allows the meat to absorb the sauce better.
• Lemon or Calamansi – adds acidity and tenderizes the meat.
• Banana ketchup – adds sweetness. Can be replaced with tomato ketchup with 1 or 2 tablespoons of sugar.
• Oil – to keep the meat from sticking to the rack when grilling.

Quick tips

• To check if the pork has been cooked, poke the meat with a fork; the juices that come out should look clear.
• If you like a sweeter version of the dish, add 2 – 3 tablespoons of brown sugar.
• To store the remaining pork liempo, cool it to room temperature before placing this in an airtight container. This can be kept in the fridge for 1 week and in the freezer for almost a month.
• To reheat, preheat an oven to 150 °C or 300 °F, and cover the pork belly with foil. You can also place this on a wire rack again to remove any excess oils. Bake for 25 – 30 minutes, or till it feels warm. To pan fry, just sauté it in medium heat, flipping once the other side warms up.
• Try not to microwave this dish, as the fats will start melting and may turn it into an oily soup.
• If frozen, thaw this out before reheating in a pan or oven.

Frequently Asked Questions

What ways can I cook pork liempo? Grilling, pan-searing, or baking?

Pork liempo is a versatile dish that's easy to prepare, no matter what the method. Frying: sear the pieces of pork belly in a pan. This makes for an easy clean-up. Baking: bake the meat on a wire rack over a baking tray to separate the oils and make it a bit healthier. Grilling: heat the pork over charcoal to impart a smoky flavor for the traditional pork liempo taste. You could also use an air fryer for about 20–30 minutes to cook the pork belly pieces.

Why use Filipino banana Ketchup instead of regular ketchup?

Banana ketchup is a popular condiment in the Philippines and can be found in any convenience store, grocery, or sari-sari store around the country. You can find this bright red tomato sauce sweetened with bananas online or make your own banana ketchup.

Alternatively, you can add 1 – 2 tablespoons of brown sugar to the regular tomato sauce to add sweetness.

Is pork liempo gluten-free?

Yes, meat is naturally gluten-free, and the ingredients do not have any flour in them. But you might need to check the banana ketchup label just to make sure.

What makes good Pork belly?

There should be a good fat-to-meat ratio. Don't be afraid of using cuts with a lot of fat. There should be enough fat in the pork belly to prevent it from drying as it cooks.

What to do with the leftover sauce?

You can also use the marinade as a basting sauce. Brush the sauce all over the pork belly slices before baking, grilling, or sautéing. Every time you flip the pork belly, you can brush the sauce on.

What to pair with this dish?

Pork liempo is best paired with the following side dishes and accompaniments

• A big heaping scoop of white rice or garlic rice.
• To help make the fatty texture more palatable, serve it with a side of achara, a Filipino version of fermented green papaya.
• a spicy dipping sauce mix made of vinegar, soy sauce, chilies, garlic, and onion. Mix and add ingredients to your taste.
• For a simpler sauce, mix 2 parts soy sauce and 1 part calamansi or lemon to create toyomansi.

If this dish tickles your fancy, try pork belly lechón for the ultimate in cripy-skinned, juicy pork recipes.