Thin strips of pork belly strips cooked “bistek” style. What makes this different from all other savory Filipino dishes? The flavorful and citrusy sauce which comes from calamansi (or calamondin) and the sharp, pungent onion flavor.
In a bowl, combine all ingredients of the marinade. Mix well then add it to the pork belly strips. Marinate for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Remove the pork from the marinade. Sear in a hot pan with a little oil until it turns light brown or slightly caramelized. Do this in batches. Do not overcrowd the pan. Leave about 2 teaspoons of oil in the pan and discard (or keep it for later use) excess fat.
Stir-fry 1/4 cup of the onions and garlic until translucent. Add the marinade and water. Let it simmer for a minute then add back the pork. Lower the heat, cover with a lid and slowly cook until pork is tender. Season with black pepper. Taste test, adjust seasoning as needed. Add more calamansi juice or soy sauce if preferred.
Set heat to low or turn it off then add the remaining onion. Stir until onions are coated with the sauce. Serve with a warm bowl of rice. Enjoy!
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Notes
Sear the meat in batches. Do not overcrowd the pan. This will help retain the heat of the pan, making the caramelization easier.
Discard excess fat or keep it for later use, up to you!
If you don't like raw onions, let the excess heat steam it before serving.
Oyster sauce elevates the over all flavor, but it's totally optional.
Other meat cut options for bistek are pork chop and pork shoulder. Both are tougher cuts so you will need more water and longer cooking time to tenderize.