Bopis is a spicy Filipino dish made from minced pig’s lungs and heart. This can be served as an appetizer for beer and alcoholic beverages; it is also considered as a main dish and is best served with steamed white rice.
The recipe of bopis has continually evolved throughout the years. There are recipes with a little bit of sauce in it, while there are others that require to let all the liquid evaporate. All of the recipes that I’ve tried are good. – But I prefer dry bopis.
I enjoy having this dish because of its spice, unique flavor, and soft texture. The spice depends on the amount of bird’s eye chili used, while the texture is the result of long hours of simmering. The unique taste, on the other hand, relies on two factors: the seasonings and the technique used in neutralizing the pungent odor of the pig’s lungs.
It is a must to neutralize the pungent and gamy odor of the lungs before starting to cook. There are many ways to do this; one is to boil and simmer the lungs with cooking wine, or you can simmer it with herbs and spices. I do both depending on the availability of the ingredients.
What is bopis?
As we mentioned prior, bopis is essentially slices of pig lungs with other ingredients that give it that tart and spicy taste. It is said that bopis has Spanish origins, though there doesn’t seem to be any record of the meaning of the word in the original language. Regardless, the same vibrant flavors you expect of any Spanish-influenced dish are definitely present here! The type of bopis dishes are endless; some opt for simply pork lungs, while others go for the heart, too. Others even use beef! Whatever you prefer, this meat is sautéed and stir-fried until crispy, giving you that extra layer of texture in each bite. It’s delicious!
You usually mix the meat with a combination of carrots, onions, and tomatoes. Ginger, annatto powder, and Thai chili peppers are what give you that additional flavor you’ve come to know and love in bopis. Aromatic and addictive, the scent of this dish is only a teaser to the piquancy you and your loved ones are sure to enjoy. Like another Kapampangan favorite, sisig, some opt to serve bopis on a sizzling plate. This adds to the dish’s crunchiness and makes it more exciting — especially when you serve it with rice!
The combination of spicy and sour isn’t one you often see executed as well as it is in a perfect plate of bopis. This Kapampangan favorite is an excellent mesh of two seemingly opposite flavors. From the hot and spicy to the zesty and tart, each bite packs a punch that’ll keep you coming back for more. Whether you’re eating it as a standalone or with cups (and cups) of rice, bopis is more than just a staple — it’s loved across the Philippines!
Big, bold, bright — these three b words encapsulate bopis perfectly. And when you want to give it a try, you might have to be a little brave, too. After all — did you know that this hearty dish is made with pork lungs? Like many other Filipino dishes, this recipe knows not to waste any single part of the precious pig! While you might scrunch your nose up at the notion of eating pork lungs, don’t worry! Tap into your adventurous side, and you might even find your next favorite meal. Bopis is the perfect place to start on your daring culinary experience.
Tips for cooking bopis
It’s very important that you’ve cleaned your pork lungs properly before continuing your cooking process. This ensures that you can enjoy this scrumptious dish as safely as you possibly can! Another important step is ensuring that your organs are tender enough to chew on, too. You can achieve this by putting your pig parts in a pot of boiling water. Couple this with bay leaves and sibot, and your lungs are sure to not only be tender — but tasty, too!
Equally important is ensuring that you have just enough vinegar, and that you don’t stir it in right away. Do this, and your dish may end up more sour than it should, completely forsaking the spicy. Wait a few moments before stirring, or even pour the water in first. This will guarantee that your dish is perfectly balanced, as it should be.
Armed with these tips, making bopis is sure to be a piece of cake! Read on to find out the easy steps to this Filipino classic.
Bopis Recipe
Boil 8 cups of water in a large pot alongside 5 dried bay leaves and 25 grams of sibot. Then, put in three pounds of pig’s lungs and let it boil for about an hour. When your time is up, remove the lungs from the pot, letting them cool down before slicing them. Take your small pieces and set them aside for later. Meanwhile, in another pot, heat cooking oil and sauté garlic, onion, and ginger.
Now, add in the lungs you had diced prior. Do this when your onions softened, and cook these together for about three minutes. Vinegar goes in next; use five tablespoons, and cook for two minutes. After this, pour 2 ½ cups of water into the pot and once again bring it to a boil. Toss in your Knorr Pork Cube and another 5 bay leaves, and stir. Cover your pot and bring your heat between low to medium. The goal is to get your liquid to evaporate by half before continuing to make your bopis.
Did your liquid lessen? Now you can add in your carrot, chili peppers, and annatto powder. For 3 minutes, cook your bopis and mix thoroughly. Don’t forget to season with ground black pepper and patis (or fish sauce) to taste!
When you’re happy with the end product, it’s time to serve your bopis! Transfer your dish to a serving plate, and share and enjoy! Whether it’s with rice or a cold one, your bopis will be a smashing success. Let us know what you and your family think of this jewel!
Bopis Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 lbs pork lungs
- 1 Knorr Pork Cube
- 5 dried bay leaves
- 2 carrots diced
- 3 thumbs ginger minced
- 1 tablespoon annatto powder
- 3 Thai chili pepper chopped
- 1 onion diced
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 5 tablespoons vinegar
- 2 ½ cups water
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 tablespoons cooking oil
- Fish sauce to taste
Boiling ingredients:
- 8 cups water
- 5 dried bay leaves
- 25 g sibot
Instructions
- In a large pot, boil 8 cups of water and then add the rest of the boiling ingredients. Put the pig’s lungs into the pot and continue boiling for 1 hours. Remove the lungs, let it cool down, and then dice into small pieces. Set aside.
- Heat oil on a clean pot. Sauté garlic, onion, and ginger.
- Add the diced lungs once the onion softens. Cook for 3 minutes while stirring.
- Add vinegar. Cook for 2 minutes.
- Pour 2 ½ cups of water into the pot. Let it boil.
- Add Knorr Pork cube and bay leaves. Stir. Cover the pot and adjust the heat between low to medium setting. Continue cooking until the liquid reduces to half.
- Add the carrot, chili pepper, and annatto powder. Cook for 3 minutes.
- Season with ground black pepper and fish sauce.
- Transfer to a serving plate. Share and enjoy!
Jocelyn Williams says
It’s my first time eating this kind of dish
Really
Alyn says
Since i am at the Middle East, can i use Beef lungs and heart instead?
Vanjo Merano says
yes you may, Alyn.
ayrene says
have you tried using chicken gizzard and heart instead of pork lungs and heart? Try it it’s equally good!
ayrene says
I like my bopis with green and red bell peppers instead of carrots.
shad says
Sir, if there is no annatto seeds available what can we use as a substitute?
ken says
substitute for annatto- i used yellow food coloring… or a pinch of pabrika, turmeric