Ground Pork Menudo

Pork Menudo is a comforting, hearty Filipino stew. This recipe, made with ground pork, is a delicious dish for lunch or dinner. And it goes great when served over rice.

As a child, I was very confused about menudo.

Is it:

a) a Mexican food
b) a Filipino food, or
c) one of the coolest boy bands of all time?

The answer is, of course, yes. It is all three! :)

This menudo recipe is my Filipino American version of authentic Filipino menudo. I wanted to create a warm, comforting dish that was still rich and satisfying as the traditional version, but also a little faster and easier to make for those of us with less time to cook.

I hope you love this and find it to be the ultimate comfort food!

🌟 What is menudo?

In the Philippines, menudo is traditionally a comforting stew. It's normally made with chopped pork or beef tripe. My version of Filipino Menudo uses ground pork. It's my Filipino American take on authentic Filipino menudo. 

I wanted to create a warm, comforting dish that was still rich and satisfying as the traditional version, but also a little faster and easier to make for those of us with less time to cook.

🧄 Ingredient notes

• Pork - This recipe calls for ground pork, which cooks quickly and still absorbs all of that luscious rich umami from the sauce and cooked vegetables. You can also use the more traditional chopped pork shoulder or pork butt, but if you do that, be sure to add a few extra minutes to the cooking time so it becomes tender.
• Carrots, Potato, Bell Pepper - These are the main vegetables that you'll need to cook down until they are slightly softened. Be sure to chop them all to the same size so they cook evenly.
• Peas - I use frozen peas since we always have some in the freezer, but you can use fresh peas if you have them. These go in last since they cook up very quickly.
• Fish sauce - This gives the dish more depth of flavor and some rich umami taste.
• Tomato sauce - For some extra acidity and texture. You can also use fresh tomatoes, but I find that tomato sauce helps thicken the dish.
• Garlic and onions - These aromatics provide even more flavor throughout the dish.

✅ Step-by-step instructions

Exact measurements of ingredients and instructions are in the printable recipe card toward the bottom of this post. Here are some helpful tips to guide you as you make this recipe.

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and onions and sauté just until they are soft and fragrant, about 2 minutes.

2. Add the ground pork, season with salt and pepper, and cook just until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes.

3. Add the carrots, potato, and bell pepper. Stir and sauté for 1 minute.

4. Pour in the fish sauce, tomato sauce, and water. Stir the ingredients, then cover the skillet and lower the heat to medium.

5. Cook, covered, for about 7 to 10 minutes, just until the sauce has thickened a little and the vegetables are soft.

6. Remove the lid, add the peas, and stir and cook for another 5 minutes. Serve with rice.

👩🏻‍🍳 ✅Recipe FAQs

🍽 What to serve with menudo

Ground pork menudo is traditionally and best served over rice - either plain white rice or try this Instant Pot Garlic Rice.

If you are serving a Filipino feast, making Lumpia is a given. Also try serving Pandesal (Filipino rolls) and Pancit Bihon Noodles (Filipino noodles).

For dessert, these Ube White Chocolate Chip Cookies are both beautiful to look at and delicious to eat! But you can also make a classic meryenda snack like Taisan, a Filipino loaf cake.

⏲ Kitchen tools and equipment

For this recipe, you just need a few basic kitchen tools:

Large skillet - I usually cook my pork menudo in a large 12" cast iron skillet. You can use any large skillet or even a large saucepan with high sides or dutch oven to make this. You can also use a wok. Just be sure to watch cook times if using a wok since the ingredients will cook up quickly.

🥂 Best wine pairings for Filipino menudo

Like many Filipino dishes, this ground pork menudo can be enjoyed with either white or red wine.

When choosing a white wine, reach for a crisp Sauvignon Blanc or unoaked Chardonnay.

If you're in the mood for red wine, this menudo pairs deliciously with a vibrant Rioja.

For more, you can buy my Filipino cookbook: Modern Filipino Cooking, my 55-page e-Book with authentic Filipino recipes that I've adapted for today's modern kitchen!