Ulam is the main food dish prepared in the Philippines and often eaten with steamed rice. There are hundreds of Ulam types based on the ingredient used for cooking. For easy and quick Ulam dishes, you should check some Pork Ulam Ideas that I am going to share here.

In order to make Ulam and other recipes, the pork is cut into different parts and each part used for a different dish. The pork parts used for making Filipino Ulam are ground pork, pork belly, pork chop, pork leg, pork shoulder and pork ribs.

Why Filipino People Love Pork Ulam Dishes

The pork Ulam is not new for Filipino People, it is one of the traditional food recipes in the culture of the Philippines. If you want to know why most Filipino People love pork Ulam dishes, I will share the reasons for that.

Cultural Roots

Pork is not a new thing in the Philippines, it has existed since pre-colonial period and it has always been a part of Filipino Food Culture.

Created Iconic Dishes

The pork has created many Iconic Filipino Dishes such as Pork Adobo, Pork Sisig, Pork Lechon and Pork Hamonado. These pork recipes are loved by thousands of people across the country and that’s why the pork become an important part of daily meal for many people living in the Philippines.

Ease of Availability

There is a large population of pigs (swine) across the Philippines and other Asian countries. This makes the pork easily available almost everywhere in the Philippines. Because the pork is easy to find, Filipino people get more attracted to it.

Versatile Cooking Methods

The pork Ulam is not limited to any one method, you can cook the pork Ulam in various ways such as roasting, steaming, pan-frying, deep-frying, air-frying, stirring, sauteing, grilling, baking and other methods.

So, you can choose how you want to cook the pork Ulam dish at your home. This is another reason for its popularity across the country.

Affordable and Valuable

The pork is available at a cheaper price than beef and some other meats. The pork is more budget-friendly and therefore many people choose to buy pork for the weekend meals more frequently than other food products.

Each part of the pork is usable for cooking an Ulam or other food dish. The pork has very low amount of waste which makes it more valuable for people who have a limited budget for meals.

So, these are the five major reasons for which the pork Ulam recipes are more favourable among Filipino People.

15 Tasty Pork Ulam Ideas for Home-Style Cooking

Pork is a popular main ingredient for preparing Filipino Ulam dishes. If you want a healthy and quick food dish then cooking pork Ulam is a good idea for sure. But you have to decide which pork Ulam dish you want to cook today after checking out the list of pork Ulam ideas available in present time.

Here I am sharing a complete list of best pork Ulam ideas for Filipino home cooks looking for easy, affordable and delicious meal inspiration.

Easy Pork Ulam Ideas

#1. Pork Giniling

Pork Giniling is an easy pork Ulam dish prepared with ground pork and some vegetables. It is a perfect combination that offers savory, slightly sweet and rich flavours. You need to saute the ground pork with the mixture of crushed onion, garlic and tomatoes.

After the ground pork is sauteed well, you can add vegetables like potatoes, carrots and others as you like. Simmer all these together in soy sauce and water/broth till the pork becomes softer and veggies become tender.

Once the Pork Giniling Ulam is ready, serve hot with steamed rice and enjoy the yummy meal with your family.

#2. Pork Adobo

Pork Adobo is a tasty pork Ulam recipe for everyday cooking. In this Ulam dish, you need cook the pork slowly in the mixture of soy sauce, garlic, vinegar and spices. As you cook it slowly, the pork becomes tender and absorbs the flavours, then it’s time to add two more things.

To get a deeper and better taste, you can add black peppercorns and bay leaves. In order to cook Pork Adobo Ulam Dish, I suggest you to use pork belly as it contains both the meat and fat. When you cook it, the fat will mix with the sauce to create the best taste for you.

#3. Pork Bistek

Pork Bistek is an affordable pork Ulam recipe in Philippines. It is inspired from the Spanish Dish called Bistec but there is a little difference. The Spanish Dish uses beef, while the Filipino People prefer pork to make it an affordable Ulam dish for their family.

To cook Pork Bistek Ulam, first you need to marinate the slices of pork into the mixture of soy sauce and calamansi juice. Wait for the pork to absorb these two flavours. Thereafter pan-fry the pork till its colour turns brown, cook it slowly and serve on the dinner table when it’s ready to eat.

#4. Pork Nilaga

Pork Nilaga is a simple Filipino Soup Ulam Recipe. Among all pork Ulam ideas and recipes, the pork Nilaga is the easiest dish to cook at home. It required a limited number of ingredients yet it offers an amazing flavourful taste when served hot.

You need to simmer the chunks of pork in a water filled pot. Let the pork get boiled slowly. Soon the fat will melt and mix with water. Then add garlic, onion, peppercorns, salt and fish sauce. Once you get the flavourful smell, the Pork Nilaga Ulam is ready.

Some people add vegetables like cabbage, potatoes, carrots, etc. during the cooking process but it also tastes good without vegetables. So, it is completely up to you, you can choose to cook Pork Nilaga with vegetables or without vegetables as per your taste choices.

If you want somthing lighet, try these Vegetable Ulam Ideas that are perfect for everyday meals.

Budget-Friendly Pork Ulam Ideas

#5. Pork Menudo

Pork Menudo is a rich and flavourful yummy pork Ulam Dish to cook at home. The recipe name is derived from a Mexican Dish with same name but the Filipino Pork Menudo Ulam is cooked different from the Mexican Dish. It is a budget-friendly pork Ulam recipe that is worth trying at home.

In order to cook Pork Menudo, you should cut the pork into small cubes and saute the pork with garlic and onion. Then add tomato sauce as well as potatoes, carrots and bell pepper. If you have pork liver, add it later as the liver gets cooked faster than other parts of pork. Once the veggies become softer, your Pork Menudo Ulam is ready, enjoy eating it with your loved ones.

#6. Pork Sinigang

Pork Sinigang is one of the most popular Filipino Ulam Recipes that everyone knows about. The Pork Sinigang is a favorite soup cum Ulam dish for every Filipino person. You should use pork belly or ribs to cook this budget-friendly Pork Sinigang Ulam Dish.

Start with boiling the pork at low heat in a pot with water for 30 to 40 minutes. Then add sliced tomatoes and onions, let them become soft. Now, add fresh tamarind juice and stir properly. Then add eggplant, kangkong and green chilli. Finally, add fish sauce and salt, simmer for a while and serve hot to experience the best pork Ulam taste.

#7. Crispy Pork Belly

Crispy Pork Belly is a yummy and unique Ulam dish cooked in a different way. As the name suggests, you need to cook the pork belly till its outer skin becomes crispy and crunchy. But before that, you must boil the pork belly in seasoned water of salt, bay leaves, peppercorns, garlic and onions.

After boiling well, get the pork belly out and pat dry it with paper towels. Wait for the pork to get completely dry and then deep fry it in hot oil. Fry the pork belly properly to get its skin crispy. Then chop the pork belly in small pieces and enjoy eating with a tangy sauce and steamed rice.

Healthy Pork Ulam Ideas

#8. Pork Inihaw na Liempo

Pork Inihaw na Liempo is a healthy pork Ulam dish to try out at home. Its name indicates as Grilled Pork Belly, so you need to grill the pork belly to prepare Pork Inihaw na Liempo for yourself and your family. Cut the belly portion from the pork meat and then make slices of the pork belly.

Before starting to cook, marinate the pork belly slices in a mixture of soy sauce, garlic, calamansi and pepper. Leave it as it is for a few hours and then grill the marinated pork over hot charcoal. When the outside of the pork becomes charred, it is a sign that your Pork Inihaw na Liempo Dish is ready, enjoy the smoky and juicy taste.

If you prefer poultry, here are some delicious Chicken Ulam Ideas you can try next.

#9. Tapsilog Style Pork

Tapsilog Style Pork is different from other pork dishes because it is a breakfast dish made of 3 different food items. The name “Tapsilog” contains three words Tapa (beef/pork), Sinangag (garlic fried rice) and Itlog (fried egg). When all three are served together, it is called Tapsilog Style Pork, you can consider it as a healthy pork Ulam dish as it offers various nutrients.

Cooking the pork in this dish is super easy. First you need to marinate the thin slices of pork in a mixture of soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, sugar, and pepper. Then fry the pork slices till they become crispy on the outside. Enjoy the crispy pork with fried egg and garlic fried rice as a yummy breakfast with your family members.

#10. Pork Sinigang na Baboy

Pork Sinigang na Baboy is a delicious Filipino Pork Ulam Soup with sour and savory taste. The clear meaning of this dish name is Boiled Sour Soup with Pork which has remained lovable for Filipino People for many years.

First of all, cut the pork into pieces and boil it at low heat in a pot filled with water. Once boiled, add tomatoes, onions, eggplant and radish, let them get soften. Then add tamarind, fish sauce and sat, then mix it well. Wait for a few minutes to get your Pork Sinigang na Baboy get cooked and ready for eating.

#11. Pork Bicol Express

Pork Bicol Express is a spicy and creamy pork Ulam dish. This Filipino Dish belongs to Bicol Region of Luzon island in the Philippines and its name “Pork Bicol Express” is inspired by a train called Bicol Express running between Manila and Bicol. Now, it has become so popular that every Filipino person knows about Bicol Express Dish.

You need pork belly to cook Pork Bicol Express Dish. Saute garlic and onion in a pan with some oil. Cut the pork belly into small cubes and add them in the pan. Cook the pork for 5-7 minutes, then add shrimp paste. Then pour coconut milk and simmer for 20 minutes. At last, add chilli peppers, salt and pepper to finish.

The Pork Bicol Express Ulam Dish feels spicy and creamy with every bite you eat.

Special Occasion Pork Ulam Ideas

#12. Lechon Kawali

Lechon Kawali is one more Pork Ulam dish that you can cook on special occasions like someone’s birthday. You need to use pork belly to prepare this yummy recipe at home. The Lechon Kawali Cooking Process is divided in two parts. First you need to boil the pork belly cubes in a pot filled with water seasoned with onion, garlic, peppercorns and bay leaves.

After the pork is boiled well, get it out of the pot and put on an empty plate to get the pork dry. It may takes some minutes to hours, then deep dry the boiled & dried pork belly cubes in hot oil. Then serve the pork with a dipping sauce made from garlic, chilli and vinegar.

You can enjoy Lechon Kawali Pork Ulam with steamed white rice or fried rice or eat just Lechon Kawali with the garlic-chilli sauce.

#13. Pork Kare-Kare

Pork Kare-Kare is a yummy yet unique pork Ulam dish you can cook on a special occasion. The kare-kare pork Ulam is cooked with pork belly or shoulder, let me tell you how to cook it perfectly. Cut the pork belly into pieces or cubes, then boil it in a water filled pot till the pork becomes tender and the water turns into thick broth.

Saute garlic and onion in a little oil pan. Add boiled pork cubes with broth into pan. Then add peanut butter and stir to mix it well. Add vegetables like eggplant and string beans, simmer till veggies turn soft. Add some fish sauce to finish and eat pork kare-kare with steamed rice to check the taste.

#14. Pork Caldereta

Pork Caldereta is a creamy and saucy pork Ulam dish. It is cooked with tomato sauce that gives a tangy taste. Cut the pork belly/shoulder into cubes and get ready to cook the Caldereta Pork Dish. Saute garlic and onion in a little oil in a pot or deep pan. Then add pork cubes and stir well till it turns brown.

Add a little soy sauce and stir well, then pour the tomato sauce and a little water. Mix it properly and let the pork get simmered in tomato sauce for 30 minutes. Add potatoes and carrots, simmer them till they turn soft.

Add some liver spread, bell peppers, oil and some cheese. Mix all these properly and cook the Pork Caldereta Ulam Dish for another five minutes to finish. Once it is ready, you can serve it hot and taste it with rice to feel the tangy and savory taste.

#15. Pork Hamonado

Pork Hamonado is a sweet and salty Ulam recipe loved by many Filipino People. It is cooked with pineapple chunks and juice as well as soy sauce and other ingredients. Cut the pork into cubes and marinade the pork in the mixture of pineapple juice, soy sauce and sugar. Wait for 2 hours, then get the pork cubes out after marinating and keep the marinade/mixture for using it later.

Saute garlic and onion in a deep pan with some cooking oil. Then add marinated pork cubes in the pan and cook till they turn brown. Pour the marinade and also add pineapple chunks. Cook the pork for 30 minutes and check the taste. Add salt and pepper to adjust the taste as per your preference.

Which Pork Cuts (Body Parts) Used for Cooking Ulam?

There are multiple pork cuts used for cooking Ulam in the Philippines. Here I provide the list of pork cuts that are used in making pork Ulam recipes by Filipino People.

• Pork Belly (Liempo)
• Pork Shoulder (Kasim)
• Pork Ham/Leg (Pigue)
• Pork Ribs (Tadyang)
• Pork Hock (Pata)
• Pork Knuckles/Feet (Paa)
• Pork Tenderloin (Lomo)
• Pork Liver (Atay)
• Pork Blood (Dugo)
• Pork Skin (Balat)

Summary

The pork Ulam ideas are great for everyday cooking and also for special occasions like birthday, anniversary and others. The pork Ulam recipes are easy to cook and they offer an amazing taste with every bite. The pork Ulam mixes easily with steamed rice.

Above I have explained everything about pork Ulam ideas, recipes and the reasons for its popularity in the Philippines. For more Filipino recipes, visit ulamideas.ph. For more queries or questions, kindly refer the FAQs given here or ask your queries in the comment section.

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