🔥🥓 Inihaw na Liempo (Filipino Grilled Pork Belly) 🇵🇭✨

Juicy, smoky, and caramelized pork belly marinated in a savory-sweet Filipino-style sauce

6

Inihaw na Liempo is a beloved Filipino grilled dish made with thick slices of pork belly soaked in a flavorful marinade, then grilled until the edges are charred and the meat is tender and juicy.

🥓 Ingredients (Serves 4–6)

For the Pork

• 1 kg (2.2 lbs) pork belly, sliced into ½-inch thick pieces
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ cup soy sauce
• ¼ cup calamansi juice (or lemon juice)
• ¼ cup banana ketchup (or regular ketchup)
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 tbsp vinegar
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp oyster sauce (optional)
• 2 tbsp cooking oil

Dipping Sauce (Sawsawan)

• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp vinegar
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 tomato, diced
• 1–2 red chilies, sliced
• Calamansi or lemon juice, to taste

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Marinate the Pork

1. Combine garlic, soy sauce, calamansi juice, ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, pepper, salt, and oyster sauce.
2. Add pork belly and coat well.
3. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.

2. Grill the Liempo

1. Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
2. Remove pork from marinade (reserve marinade if using as basting sauce).
3. Grill for 5–8 minutes per side, turning occasionally.
4. Brush with marinade while grilling until the pork develops a beautiful caramelized glaze.
5. Cook until browned, slightly charred, and tender.

3. Make the Sawsawan

Mix soy sauce, vinegar, onion, tomato, chilies, and calamansi juice together.

4. Serve

Slice the grilled pork belly and serve with:

• 🍚 Steamed white rice
• 🥗 Atchara (Filipino pickled papaya)
• 🌶️ Spicy vinegar dipping sauce
• 🥒 Fresh cucumber salad

🔥 Tips for Perfect Inihaw na Liempo

• Marinate overnight for deeper flavor.
• Grill over charcoal for the best smoky taste.
• Don’t cook over extremely high heat — pork belly fat can burn before the inside cooks.
• Let the meat rest 5 minutes before slicing for juicier pieces.

Flavor: smoky 🔥 + savory 🧄 + sweet caramelized glaze 🍯 + juicy pork belly perfection 🥓.