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Sinantomas - Instant Pot + Stove-top

Sinantomas is a Filipino pork dish cooked with tomato sauces, pineapple juice, soy sauce and seasonings. This is my modern version, cooked with ingredients I had. Most traditional Philippine recipes of this entree use pork ribs and sweet potatoes. I simmered the meat and potatoes together in a stockpot, till the tomato sauce base reduced to a thick, rich liquid. The sweet-savory dish is splendid served with rice. This is an Asian in America recipe. Serves 4.
*I share 2 alternative ways to cook Sinantomas: in the Instant Pot or on the stove-top. Cooking time here is for stove-top.
Prep Time2 hours
Cook Time50 minutes
Total Time2 hours 50 minutes
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: Asian, Filipino
Keyword: Sinantomas Pork Stew with Tomatoes
Servings: 4
Calories: 105kcal
Author: Elizabeth Ann Quirino

Equipment

  • Stockpot or Dutch Oven - for stove-top cooking
  • Instant Pot multicooker - for cooking in high pressure

Ingredients

For marinade:

  • 1 pound pork belly or pork shoulder, fat trimmed cut into 2-inch cubes
  • ½ cup pineapple juice
  • ¼ cup toyo (soy sauce)
  • ¼ cup banana catsup

For cooking:

  • 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 2 whole tomatoes chopped
  • 1 can (8 oz.) tomato paste
  • 1 ½ cups broth (chicken, beef or pork)
  • 2 whole potatoes, peeled, quartered
  • pinch of salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ½ cup frozen green peas

For serving:

  • steamed rice

Instructions

To cook on the stove-top:

  • Marinate the pork cubes in the following: Pineapple juice, soy sauce and banana catsup. Cover and refrigerate. Keep marinated for at least 2 hours or up to overnight.
  • When ready to cook, remove the pork from the marinade. Set the liquid aside.
    In a large stockpot, over medium-high heat, add the oil. When oil is hot enough, saute the garlic, onions and tomatoes for 2 to 3 minutes till tomatoes are soft.
    Add the pork cubes. The pork will render some fat and become crisp on the outside.
    Pour the liquid marinade and add the tomato paste.
    Pour the broth. Add the potatoes. Season with salt and pepper.
    Cover and simmer on medium heat for 50 minutes till meat is tender and sauce is reduced to a thick consistency. Stir the stew every so often. Add the frozen green peas at nearly the end of cooking.
    Serve warm with rice.

To cook in the Instant Pot:

  • Marinate the pork with the marinade ingredients for 2 hours or up to overnight in the refrigerator.
    When ready to cook, remove the pork cubes from the marinade. Set the liquid aside.
    Click on Saute function on the keypad.
    Pour the oil in the inside pot. When oil is hot in 1 to 2 minutes, saute the garlic, onions and tomatoes, till soft. The tomatoes will soften in about 2 to 3 minutes.
    Add the pork cubes and potatoes. Brown the pork and potatoes for 5 minutes.
    Click Cancel to turn off the Saute function.
    Pour the marinade liquid, tomato paste and broth. Add the green peas. Season with salt and black pepper.
    Cover and lock the lid. Set the valve to Sealing.
    Click Manual + Meats/Stews and cook on High Pressure for 25 minutes.
    When the timer beeps to announce cooking is done, do a Quick Release.
    Unlock and remove the cover carefully. Set the cover on a safe, dry surface of the counter.
    Click Cancel to turn off. Unplug the Instant Pot.
    Serve warm with steamed rice.

Notes on the Instant Pot:

  • It takes about 17 minutes for the Instant Pot to preheat before the High Pressure cooking time begins. For other multicookers, please consult the product manual.
    The Instant Pot is ideal to use when you need to walk away from the kitchen and don't have time to watch the stove. It also cuts cooking time in nearly half if you want to tenderize thick meat cuts.
    Quick Release: This is when you release the pressure instantly. Press Cancel and turn the Steam release handle on the lid to a Venting position. Wait for the steam to stop hissing before you attempt to unlock and open the lid.
    Safety precautions: Use accessories recommended for the Instant Pot or multicookers, like metal or silicone. Do not use glassware. For more information, read the product manual.

Cook's comments:

  • Most recipes of Sinantomas deep-fry the potatoes separately, then add them to the simmering stew at the end. My son, Tim suggested, to roast the potatoes in the oven instead of deep frying.
    For this recipe, I chose to add the potatoes to the simmering stew to save cooking time.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 105kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 360mg | Potassium: 266mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 946IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg