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natural tocino marinade

Natural Tocino Marinade

This Filipino tocino marinade is homemade without curing powders. The result is sweet, savory, glazed, and lip-smacking glazed meat, tender in each bite!
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Course: Breakfast, Marinade, Sauce
Cuisine: Filipino
Keyword: annatto, annatto seeds, crispy pork belly, pineapple juice, tocino marinade, topsilog
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Marinate: 1 day
Total Time: 1 day 10 minutes
Servings: 2 pounds of meat
Calories: 407kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs pork shoulder or belly or chicken thighs sliced ¼-inch thin
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ⅓ cup white sugar
  • 2 tbsp salt pink or sea salt
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 5 cloves garlic crushed
  • small half of star anise optional
  • ¾ cup pineapple juice
  • ¼ cup rice vinegar
  • 3 tbsp water Natural
  • 2 tbsp annatto seeds or powder If using annatto powder, just add 1 tbsp to the marinade and that's it.

Instructions

First Part of Making Tocino Marinade

  • Heat the pineapple juice to very hot in the microwave or on the stovetop. Do not boil.
    ¾ cup pineapple juice
  • In a large bowl, add the white and brown sugar, and whisk in the very hot pineapple juice.
    ½ cup brown sugar, ⅓ cup white sugar
  • (If you are using annatto powder instead, go to Step 5) Add in the annatto seeds. Whisk so the sugars totally dissolve, and the annatto seeds begin to release a little color. Let the mixture sit until it has cooled down.
    2 tbsp annatto seeds or powder
  • Strain the annatto seed-infused and sugary pineapple juice, so the seeds are removed. Discard the seeds. The color may not be red or too vibrant and that is okay.
  • If you are using a tablespoon of annatto powder, add that to the marinade.
  • Add in all the other remaining ingredients, such as the crushed garlic, soy sauce, salt, rice vinegar, water, and anise if using. Whisk until everything is combined.
    Add in your prepared meat to the tocino marinade recipe, massage the meat for a minute, cover the bowl, and let the marinade do its work for at least 24 hours is suggested, and even up to 48 hours is ideal.
    2 tbsp salt, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 5 cloves garlic, small half of star anise, ¼ cup rice vinegar, 3 tbsp water

Second Part of Cooking with Tocino Marinade

  • Heat a skillet over low-medium heat. (If you used annatto powder in the marinade, go to Step 4.)
  • In the skillet, add 1-2 tablespoons of oil and 1 tablespoon annatto seeds. Gently heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, to extract the red color. Do not burn the seeds.
  • Remove and discard the annatto seeds, leaving the colored oil in the skillet.
  • Add the marinated meat to an oiled skillet over steady medium heat, along with a few tablespoons of the tocino marinade.
    2 lbs pork shoulder or belly or chicken thighs
  • Cook uncovered (the sauce may be simmering), stirring occasionally, until the liquid reduces, the sugar caramelizes, and the meat becomes glossy with lightly charred edges, about 10–12 minutes. Watch the heat and turn the meat to avoid burning, as the sugar in the marinade can burn quickly!
    Once fully caramelized and cooked through, remove from heat and serve immediately.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Natural Tocino Marinade
Amount per Serving
Calories
407
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
0.3
g
0
%
Saturated Fat
 
0.01
g
0
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
0.1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
0.01
g
Sodium
 
7500
mg
326
%
Potassium
 
240
mg
7
%
Carbohydrates
 
102
g
34
%
Fiber
 
0.4
g
2
%
Sugar
 
96
g
107
%
Protein
 
2
g
4
%
Vitamin A
 
5
IU
0
%
Vitamin C
 
11
mg
13
%
Calcium
 
80
mg
8
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.