Filipino Food: Sisig

Sisig is a Kapampangan term which means "to snack on something sour". It usually refers to fruits, often unripe or half-ripe, sometimes dipped in salt and vinegar. It also refers to a method of preparing fish and meat, especially pork, which is marinated in a sour liquid such as lemon juice or vinegar, then seasoned with salt, pepper and other spices.

The dish is said to have originated from local residents who bought unused pig heads from the commissaries of Clark Air Base in Angeles City, Pampanga. Pig heads were purchased cheap since they were not used in preparing meals for the U.S. Air Force personnel stationed there. An alternate explanation of its origin is that it is but an innovative variation on an older recipe, which is pork ears and jowl, boiled, chopped then marinated.

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Preparing sisig comes in three phases: boiling, broiling and finally frying. A pig's head is first boiled to remove hairs and to tenderize it. Portions of it are then chopped and grilled or broiled. Finally, it is fried with onions and served on a sizzling plate. Variations of sisig may add any of the following: eggs, ox brains, chicharon (pork cracklings), pork or chicken liver, and even mayonnaise. Recently, local chefs have experimented with ingredients other than pork such as chicken, squid, tuna, and tofu

Ingredients

• 2 lbs pig ears
• ¼ lb pork belly
• 1 cup onion, minced
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 knob ginger, minced
• 3 tbsp chili

• 1 piece lemon (or 3 to 5 pieces calamansi)
• ½ cup butter (or margarine)
• ¼ lb chicken liver
• 34 ounces water
• 3 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 tsp salt

Procedure

1. Pour the water in a pan and bring to a boil
2. Add salt and pepper
3. Put-in the pig’s ears and pork belly then simmer for 40 minutes to 1 hour (or until tender).
4. Remove the boiled ingredients from the pot then drain excess water
5. Grill the boiled pig ears and pork belly until done
6. Chop the pig ears and pork belly into fine pieces
7. In a pan, melt the butter then add the onions. Cook until onions are soft.
8. Put-in the ginger and cook for a few minutes
9. Add the chicken liver and cook until well done.
10. Crush the chicken liver while being cooked in the pan
11. Add the chopped pig ears and pork belly then cook for 10 minutes
12. Put-in the soy sauce and chili then mix well
13. Add salt and pepper to taste
14. Put-in the mayonnaise and mix with the other ingredients
15. Serve hot. Share and Enjoy (add the lemon or calamansi before eating)

Source:
http://panlasangpinoy.com/2009/07/26/filipino-food-appetizer-pulutan-sisig/