Dinakdakan is an appetizer dish that originated from the Ilocos Region, in the Philippines. This interesting dish is made-up of boiled and grilled pig parts, in which ears, liver, and face or mascara are the most commonly used. Stomach and intestines can be utilized. It looks like sisig except that the ingredients in this recipe are not finely chopped.
The authentic dinakdakan recipe makes use of pig’s brain. This ingredient helps give the dish a thick and sticky texture. We won’t be daring in this recipe feature because I had a hard time sourcing for pig brain here in the Northern Suburbs of Chicago, so we’ll use an alternative ingredient which is mayonnaise. This dinakdakan recipe tastes great.
It is important to make sure that each ingredient comes out tender after boiling. You do not want your dish to be tough and hard to chew. Grilling the meat is important. Your dish will have a better texture. This will make it more enjoyable to eat.
Other ingredients for this dinakdakan recipe can simply be added and mixed. This means to literally add into the bowl and toss untill well blended. Add more chili to make your dish spicy. Note that I had garlic powder as an optional ingredient. I think that adding garlic powder makes dinakdakan more flavorful.
Try this Dinakdakan Recipe. Cheers!
Dinakdakan Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb. pig ears
- 1 lb. pig face maskara
- 6 ounces pig liver
- 1 teaspoon ginger powder
- 1 medium red onion sliced
- 6 green and red chili chopped
- 4 tablespoons white or cane vinegar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder optional
- 1 tablespoon minced ginger
- 3 pieces bay leaves optional
- 1 tablespoon whole peppercorn optional
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pour 6 to 8 cups water in a cooking pot. Let boil.
- Once the water starts to boil, you have the option to add dried bay leaves and whole peppercorn. Add-in the pig ears and face. Set the heat to low and continue to boil for 50 to 60 minutes.
- Discard the water and let the excess water drip. Rub a little bit of salt all over the boiled ears and face. Rub the ginger powder on the liver.
- Heat-up the grill. Grill the ears and face for 4 to 6 minutes per side or until it turns a bit crisp, but not burnt. Grill the liver for 5 to 8 minutes depending on the thickness.
- Remove the grilled pig parts from the grill. Let it cool down and start chopping into bite-size pieces.
- Meanwhile, combine mayonnaise and vinegar in mixing bowl. Stir.
- Add some ground black pepper. Continue to stir until the ingredients are well blended.
- Add the ginger, chili, onion, and garlic powder (optional). Toss.
- Add more salt if needed.
- Transfer to a serving bowl. Serve.
- Share and enjoy!
Sonny says
Ti paggatgatangak ti utek ti baboy ket idiay Super Fresh Market didiay Waukegan. Haan da nga idisdisplay, ngem nu damagem ida, ikkan daka. Last time nga nangalaak ket around $2.50/lb. Salamat, padasek dayta recipem.
Vanjo Merano says
Thanks Sonny! I will try to go there next time I needed to cook Pig brain.
Ambi Sarmiento says
I’ll surely try this..
Bethlili says
Thank you! Keep it up. More recipes to come. Kindly try to cook our local dish in Bicol, Pork Pochero with tamarind, NOT with tomato sauce. Tnx..
Marion Grace says
Helpful! I would surely try to make this one. Although one thing that I would suggest to the speaker/cook/narrator is to be more spontaneous and conversational. Thank you for sharing all your cooking tips.
abner says
dinakdakan if using pig ears, mask and liver. warek-warek when using pig innards. same procedures, only the ingredients differ. thanks