Tomato Braised Pork Steaks Recipe

IMAGE Stephanie Cueva

Braised pork is a classic Chinese pork recipe. It's the pork belly or liempo that is commonly used to make this classic dish. However, it's a popular cut. If you can't get your hands on a slab of this multilayered pork cut, you should try your braised pork recipe using other cuts that are just as flavorful and delicious. 

For this recipe, we used the pork steak cut. The pork steak is just as tender, juicy, and delicious as the pork chop. Also known as the blade steak or pork blade cut, it can be a tougher cut of meat but the good news is that it's a flavorful one that can be simmered and braised until tender. 

How do you make your braised pork dish tastier? 

Flavor isn't always just about salt. While salt is the universal flavor enhancer, the combination of other ingredients can elevate the main base flavor and make it even more delicious! This is where herbs and spices come into play. Braised dishes in Chinese cuisine is likely to have spices such as star anise, cloves, and even cinnamon sticks. For this recipe, ground cumin is the obvious spice that makes this taste different from other braised pork dishes. 

Using tomatoes as part of the braising liquid is a classic ingredient for many braised recipes and not just for Chinese dishes. You'll find tomatoes in Italian, American, and yes, even local dishes such as kaldereta, menudo, and afritada all using tomatoes. This is because tomatoes transform into an ingredient that is much tastier and more intense the longer it cooks. What does that mean for your dish? It means you get an umami-packed stew loaded with appetizing ingredients with the pork. 

 

Photo by Stephanie Cueva