Pork Sisig

History of Sisig

In a documentary by the journalist Jessica Soho (2014), the Filipino dish "sisig" originated in Angeles City, Province of Pampanga. In 1974, Mrs. Lucing Cunanan (Aling Lucing) opened a "carinderia" along a railway in Angeles City. One day, she accidentally burned some pork skin on the grill. To avoid wastage, she chopped up the burnt meat and sauteed it with spices and soy sauce. This was when sisig was first served.

Aling Lucing named it "sisig" because of it's somewhat sour taste. The term sisig refers to a pregnant woman's craving for something sour.

Aling Lucing has passed away in 2008, however, her carinderia is still open to serve the original sisig. The carinderia is named "Aling Lucing's Sisig (Pampanga's Specialty)".

Pork Sisig Recipe

The main ingredient of this dish is locally referred to as "maskara". Maskara is essentially the skin of a pig's face including the ears. This dish is very popular and is served in many carinderias, restaurants, and canteens. In fact, it is so popular that you will have to be in the market very early in the morning if you want to buy maskara. By noon, maskara is sold out. At least that is the case in my local market. It is for this reason that I was not able to purchase maskara for this recipe. So, instead I used pork skin from the belly.

Ingredients:

• 1/3 kilo pork maskara/skin
• water
• 1/2 cup vinegar
• 2 tsp ground black pepper
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp butter
• 2 shallots (minced)
• 2 tsp chilli pepper (minced)
• 2 tbsp calamansi juice (or lemon juice)
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 egg

Procedure:

1. Boil maskara in water with vinegar, ground black pepper, and salt for 45 minutes.
2. Drain water and let the maskara cool down.
3. Chop up the meat.
4. Melt butter in a wok.
5. Sauté minced onion.
6. Add in pork.
7. Cook for 10-15 minutes. Mix occasionally.
8. Add in soy sauce and minced chilli peppers.
9. Cook for another 3 minutes.
10. Add salt and pepper to taste.
11. Serve hot on a plate.
12. Crack one fresh egg on top. Mix in the egg while hot.
13. Enjoy!

Reference:

Soho, J. 2014 August 24. Aling Lucing's orginal sisig from Pampanga. KMJS Isla Kulinarya. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXZzMJkS5g8