Giniling: A Filipino Twist to the Picadillo Comfort Food

Think of this ground pork dish as the dry and tropical version of Picadillo.

If you’re familiar with the traditional Mexican or Cuban cuisine, you certainly know that a hearty and slightly saucy bowl of Picadillo is the most beloved comfort food in all of Latin America. From the word picar which means “to mince” or “to chop/ground,” Picadillo is a traditional Latin-American stew picked up from Spanish influence that is made of finely ground pork, rich tomato sauce, and brilliant contrasting of sweet and savory notes that end with a spicy kick. It is so versatile that some ingredients can be added to reflect local culinary flavors or be used as filling for tacos, empanada, lasagna, or piononos.

Depending on the region, Picadillo can exhibit sweet and savory nuances from additional ingredients that make it lean more to the spicier or sweeter side while keeping the base ingredients intact. For example, the most popular version from Cuba adds olives, raisins, potatoes, cinnamon, and capers to make it sweeter and aromatic. The Mexican version incorporates a classic blend of bell pepper or jalapeno, onion, potatoes, carrots, peas, and spices, then served alongside rice and/or tacos.

In the Philippines, a version of Picadillo exists that somewhat combines the Cuban and Mexican flavor profiles but with an even thinner and lighter tomato sauce. Similar to Latin American variations, Pork Giniling recipe uses fresh tomatoes or diluted tomato sauce, green peas, potatoes, red bell peppers, carrots, and raisins. To reflect the tropical taste, some local variations add pineapple cuts and plantains to make it sweeter. Giniling may not be the top choice for comfort food of Filipinos, but this recipe from Foxy Folksy will convince you it is best experienced when topped with hardboiled eggs and served with rice. It is also economical because any leftover can be combined with eggplants and well-beaten eggs to transform the dish to an entirely different Tortang Giniling (Eggplant Omelet with ground pork).

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tbsp oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 3-5 tbsp tomato sauce
• 1-2 tbsp tomato paste
• 500 grams ground pork
• 1 ½ tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp calamansi juice or lime juice
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• ½ cup water
• ½ cup butter
• 1 medium carrot
• 1 medium potato
• 1 medium red bell pepper
• ½ to 1 cup grated cheese
• 1 cup green peas
• 6 pieces hardboiled eggs

Get these ingredients from My Tindahan here.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Over medium heat, sauté garlic and onion in a skillet until limp and aromatic. Add the tomato sauce and tomato paste. Cook until the oil starts to resurface on top of the sauce.
2. Add the ground pork. Cook until lightly brown. Add water. Simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Add soy sauce, calamansi or lime juice, salt, and pepper. Cook for additional ten minutes. Add butter and cover the lid. Let it simmer for 5 minutes.
4. Add carrots, potatoes, and bell pepper. Cover the lid and simmer again for 5 minutes or until vegetables are cooked through.
5. Add grated cheese. Mix until completely melted. Add green peas and cook for another minute. Add hardboiled eggs and mix.
6. Transfer to a bowl or pot. Serve with rice.