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Tocino
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4.60 from 5 votes

Homemade Pork Tocino

Sweet cured red pork is a Filipino favorite. This is a popular breakfast dish served with fried rice and eggs. This recipe shows you how to make tocino at home.
Prep Time12 hours
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time12 hours 20 minutes
Course: Pork
Keyword: pork tocino, tocino, tosilog
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 325kcal
Author: Vanjo Merano

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs. pork ham
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon Prague powder #1
  • 3/4 cups granulated white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon sodium phosphate
  • 1/4 cup anisette liquor
  • 1/2 cup pineapple juice
  • 1/4 cup crushed garlic
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon Vitamin C powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon Red food coloring
  • 5 tbsp water
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Slice the pork ham to about ¼ inch thickness
    2 lbs. pork ham
  • Dissolve the sodium phosphate in 5 tablespoons of water.
    1 teaspoon sodium phosphate, 5 tbsp water
  • Except for the meat, combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well
    1 1/2 tablespoons sea salt, 1/2 teaspoon Prague powder #1, 3/4 cups granulated white sugar, 1/4 cup anisette liquor, 1/2 cup pineapple juice, 1/4 cup crushed garlic, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon Vitamin C powder, 1/4 teaspoon Red food coloring
  • Apply the combined mixture to the meat by rubbing. Make sure that the mixture is evenly distributed across the meat
  • Place the mixed ingredients in a covered container
  • Store the covered container (with meat and mixture) in room temperature for 14 hours. It may also be refrigerated but would take at least 3.5 days to complete.

Notes

Making Homemade Tocino with Missing Ingredients
If one ingredient is missing from the list for homemade tocino, it is still possible to make the recipe, but the result might differ in flavor, texture, or appearance. For example, omitting anisette liquor or pineapple juice could reduce the tocino's characteristic sweetness and tanginess. Missing Prague powder #1 or sodium phosphate may affect the preservation and texture of the meat. Each ingredient has a specific role in achieving the desired taste and texture, so while the tocino will remain edible, it might not have the same depth of flavor or color. Adjustments may be necessary based on the ingredients you have.

Nutrition

Serving: 6g | Calories: 325kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 2197mg | Potassium: 646mg | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1.1mg