Paksiw na pata is a Filipino dish made of pork hocks and banana blossoms stewed in vinegar and soy sauce. Melt-in-your-mouth tender and smothered in a sweet and savory sauce, it's delicious with steamed rice!
Since pork is said to be a "lucky" dish to serve on New Year, I thought I'd update this paksiw na pata, first posted on the blog in 2013, and include it in our holiday series. If you're looking for more ways to enjoy pork, check out my hamonado, guisantes, humba, menudo, and estofado recipes! They're perfect for large parties and are sure to be hit with the crowd.
Paksiw is a Filipino style of cooking where meat, fish, or vegetables are stewed in vinegar and spices such as garlic, ginger, onions, and peppercorns.
In this pata version, pork hocks or knuckles are the type of cut used, and soy sauce is added for a savory flavor. Other key ingredients also give this patang paksiw its distinct taste. Brown sugar is stirred during the last few minutes of cooking for a touch of sweetness, along with dried banana blossoms for texture.
Cooking tips
- Sear the meat- While you can just throw everything in the pot to simmer, I suggest taking the extra step of browning the pork. Searing over high heat caramelizes the meat's surface, enriching the dish with more complex flavors.
- Boil the vinegar- Allow the vinegar to boil, uncovered and without stirring, for a few minutes to cook off the strong acid taste.
- Give it time- Cooking low and slow allows the fat to melt and the tough connective tissues to soften. This paksiw is best when the hocks are cooked until they fall off the bone.
- Use brown sugar- and not white, as it has a slightly less concentrated sweetness and contains molasses for added depth of flavor.
- Want to make it extra special?- Add pineapple chunks or pan-fried saba bananas!
This braised pata dish is simple to prepare, albeit it takes a couple of hours to simmer to adequate tenderness. No time to tend the pot? You can make it in a slow cooker or a pressure cooker!
- Slow Cooker- takes longer, but it can cook unattended. Sear the meat in a pan on the stovetop and combine it with the rest of the ingredients in a crockpot. Cook on HIGH for about 4 to 6 hours or on LOW for about 6 to 8 hours. When the meat is tender, remove the lid and continue to cook for another 30 minutes or until the sauce is reduced. Or transfer the liquid into a saucepan and simmer on the stovetop until reduced.
- Pressure Cooker- cooks in half the time. Sear the meat in a pan on the stovetop or use the SAUTE feature of an Instant Pot and combine it with the rest of the ingredients in a pressure cooker. Pressure cook on HIGH for about 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the size of the hocks. Carefully remove the lid of the pressure cooker according to the manufacturer's directions. Continue to simmer, without the lid, until the sauce is reduced as desired.
Serving suggestions
Serve this paksiw na pata for lunch or dinner as the main entree, with generous helpings of steamed rice as an excellent canvas for the delicious meat and sweet and savory sauce.
Storage and reheating instructions
- Like adobo, paksiw na pata keeps well for days due to the use of vinegar. Cool completely and store in a container with a tight-fitting lid. Refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
- Reheat in a saucepan over medium heat to 165 F.
More pata recipes
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1 onion, peeled and sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 2 pounds pork shanks or hocks, cut 2-inch thick
- 2 bay leaves
- ยผ teaspoon peppercorns, cracked
- 1 cup vinegar
- ยฝ cup soy sauce
- 2 cups water
- ยผ cup brown sugar
- ยฝ cup dried banana blossoms (lily buds)
- salt to taste
Instructions
- In a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat, heat oil. Add garlic and onions and cook until softened.
- Add pork hocks and cook, turning occasionally, until lightly browned on all sides.
- Add vinegar and bring to a boil, uncovered and without stirring, for about 2 to 4 minutes.
- Add soy sauce, water, bay leaves, and peppercorns.
- Lower heat, cover, and simmer for about 1 ยฝ to 2 hours or until meat starts to fall off the bone, adding more water in ยฝ cup increments as needed.
- Add sugar and banana blossoms. Continue to cook until blossoms are softened, meat is very tender and sauce is reduced and thickened.
- Season with salt to taste. Serve hot.
Notes
Video
Nutrition Information
โThis website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.โ
Irish says
I cooked this today and it was good!! But I put a dash of oregano to make it tastes betterโฆ a little suggestion if anyone wants to try it. ๐
Joji Mendoza says
Great recipe... i just add a little of oyster sauce (if you don't mind).๐
Gloria says
Always my to go to recipes. Only from kawaling pinoy trusted as ever. Maraming salamat. Eto un reliable yung amound and list ng ingredients. Never ako nahirapan maghanap. Kahit sa talipapa meron.
Alicia says
I first boiled the hocks for 30 minutes and discard the water. Then continue with the recipeโs step by step instructions; the searing, the boiling with vinegar without stirring which make a lot of difference in cooking this recipe. It was awesome! 5-star for you Lalaine
Alberto Valdez Mateo says
Paksiw n Pata
recipe ingredients
Rose says
I didn't have pork shanks or hocks in my ref so I used pork bones instead. I kind of follow this recipe except I run out of garlic so I just used garlic powder instead, then I added a little bit more sugar to add sweetness. After I tasted the end result, I realized that I can add barbeque sauce in it so I rolled some of the pork bones in barbeque sauce. It tasted really good, my hubby loves it. He said it tasted like pork barbeque ribs. I made 2 dishes accidentally, haha.
Lalaine Manalo says
I'm glad you were able to adjust the recipe to your liking ๐
Rac rivera says
Will adding vinegar to pork hocks not cooked the pork well..
Lora Espiritu says
My husband was craving for paksiw na pata for lunch today, I followed your recipe but added another 1/4 cup of sugar and used pork stock instead of plain water. Paksiw na pata was a hit. โบ๏ธ
Lalaine Manalo says
Thanks for the feedback. Cravings satisfied ๐
Belle Acuna says
Hi, I canโt find banana blossoms. Instead can I use dried lily blossoms? IT looks like banana blossoms too.
Thanks
Belle
Lalaine Manalo says
Yes, that's the one to use ๐ The package is labeled dried lily blossoms ๐
Irish says
Hi. I love browsing over at your recipe index and I stumbled on this recipe of yours and I tried it tonight. It was delicious and a hit. However, I added maybe 1/2tsp of oregano flakes per suggestion of my mom... boy! It added a more depth of flavor. Kuddos to your blogs!
Lalaine Manalo says
Hi Irish! Hm, great idea. I'll have to try adding some oregano flakes the next time I make this dish. Thank you!
Paulo Jener says
Thank you for the recipe! Eto ulam namin today grabe ang SARAP! ๐
Lalaine Manalo says
Thank you Paulo! Hope it was great.