How To Cook The Best Tortang Giniling na Baboy Or Ground Pork Frittata

It is often said that the most important meal of the day is breakfast. And what's breakfast without eggs, right? It can be hard-boiled, made sunny side up, or scrambled, but an omelet is a perfect choice for a more complete and filling breakfast. And that's precisely our featured recipe for this article, the Filipino take on the omelette. 

Anthony Bourdain, a renowned chef, and food critic, once said," how you make an omelette reveals your character." And if this statement is true, then our featured recipe truly captures the Filipino character's essence with the assortment of ingredients that you can use to come up with your very own variation of this dish. 

And I hope you're excited as I am in learning the many ways and varieties that this versatile dish can offer. And at the end of this article, I am pretty confident that you'll be able to master cooking the best Tortang Giniling na Baboy that your family is going to fall in love with. 

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What Is Best Tortang Giniling na Baboy (Ground Pork Frittata)

A lot of dish items may come to mind when you hear the term torta. If we are to take it literally, the word torta refers to a Mexican sandwich, a fluffy bun spread with butter and garnished with ingredients of your choice. However, our featured recipe is not that kind of torta because it is nowhere near a sandwich. Torta in the Philippines refers to fried dishes that employ the use of egg and flour batter. 

It can be considered a variant of the omelette only because it uses eggs as its main ingredient. What makes our recipe different from the traditional meal is the way of preparing it. Omelet cooked the typical method is by frying the scrambled eggs first and then folding in the fillings in the middle halfway through the cooking process. 

On the other hand, our menu resembles more of a frittata because of how it is cooked. The meat and other ingredients are sauteed first then transferred to a bowl for them to cool down. Once they've cooled down, they are mixed in with the eggs, and thus forming a much firmer consistency than the usual omelet. If you prefer having a substantial and savory breakfast, then this is an excellent choice for you. 

Our menu featured for this article is relatively popular as go-to packed lunch, not just for kids but also for the working classes. And for starting cooks, this dish is one that needs to be on your repertoire because of its simplicity and versatility. One only needs to change the main ingredients, and you got yourself your very own variation to it. 

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Ways To Cook Minced Pork Frittata

Many of us grew up watching our mothers cook this dish during breakfast. And many of us knew the typical way of preparing this dish. But because of the advancement of technology comes the advent of new kitchen appliances that give further convenience and provide faster cooking time or healthier cooking options. So we listed down some of the various ways you can cook Minced Meat Frittata to fit your needs and lifestyle. 

Instant Pot Minced Pork Frittata

Probably one of the most innovative kitchen cookware of modern times, this cooker can pretty much do anything. You can use it to fry, saute, stew, heck you can even roast in it. So using this to cook our featured menu is straightforward. 

To start cooking, heat the pot and saute the ingredients until they are tender. While you're at it, whisk the eggs, water, and flour in a separate bowl. Then pour it into the sauteed mixture and set the pot to pressure cook for about 10-12 minutes. This cooking method is recommended for people who are into healthier cooking options since oil is minimized. And compared to the traditional way of cooking, this method is way more comfortable. 

Slow Cooker Minced Pork Frittata

The slow cooker method means that they are cooked whatever you're cooking because of the slow cooking time. If you are not in a hurry, then this method is a perfect fit for you. Plus, the concentration of flavors is a task that can be better achieved by slowly cooking the meal. 

First, you have to saute the ingredients in a separate skillet; make sure that you do not overcook them; all you have to do is draw out the flavors from them. Then transfer them into the pot along with the egg mixture. Set the cooker to high and cook for about 2 hours. And leave the pot to cook; meanwhile, you can do other stuff at home or maybe exercise or read a book. 

This method ensures that every ingredient is cooked thoroughly, and the eggs will be fluffy and creamy. So say bye to rubbery eggs when using this cooking method. 

Oven-Baked Minced Pork Frittata

 As we have mentioned, our menu is closer to fritters than an omelet, and the first picture that comes to mind when you hear the word fritter is oil, and we're talking about a lot. However, we have here a sure-fire way of nailing this dish without deep frying it. 

So in this method, we will be using more flour than the indicated amount since what we aim for is a thicker consistency for the dish to hold its shape. Sautee the ingredients first, then add them to the egg mixture. Line up the baking pan with parchment paper, then scoop the mixture into the tray. Bake them for about 10-15 minutes or until they are light golden brown. 

This method of cooking Minced Pig Meat Frittata is indeed different from what we are familiar with. And the fantastic thing about this is that we won't be using too much oil, so it is safe to say that this is healthier than usual.

Air Fryer Tortang Giniling

Fried foods may be one of our guilty pleasures in life, and cutting down our consumption of them can be heartbreaking. But what if I tell you that there is a way of enjoying fried dishes without really frying them in oil. Exciting, isn't it? That's what this method is about; cooking our menu using the air fryer. 

There is no need for us to saute the ingredients; all you have to do is put the egg mixture into the pan that fits the air fryer. Just make sure to coat it in oil lightly or use cooking spray. Afterward, set the air fryer to cook for about 10-12 minutes or until the eggs are cooked. Of all the methods that we have listed, this is probably the healthiest amongst them. 

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Variations 

Minced Pig’s Meat Frittata might be a simple and straightforward menu, but it is also a versatile dish. And tweaking the menu is no rocket science; all you need to do is change the filling or the meats and replace it with your choice of ingredients, and you got yourself your variation to it. To give you the idea of how you can come up with your take on this dish, we listed down a few possible variations that you can try at home for starters. 

Cheesy Giniling na Baboy(ground pork) Frittata

What's a better addition to level up our already sumptuous dish than cheese. The saltiness of the cheese accents the rich taste of the eggs making the dish even more savory. Just proceed with the steps indicated in the menu, and on the egg mixture, add in grated cheese to give it a richer flavor. The preferred variant of cheese would be cheddar or quick melt, but if you're feeling a bit fancy, you can add mozzarella or any other cheese variant as you please. 

Tortang Manok (Chicken Frittata)

    If you're the type of person who prefers white meat over red meats, this variant is the right for you. This variant has a milder flavor, which allows you to taste all the ingredients without them overpowering each other. And chicken contains less fat than minced meat making it a suitable choice if you're on a diet. 

    Before sauteing the ingredients, boil the chicken meat, preferably the breast and leg part, in water, then once cooked, shred the chicken meat. Then proceed with the steps as indicated. 

Mushroom Torta

If you want to have a healthy approach to recipes like this, this variation is perfect. All you have to do is substitute meat with diced mushroom, and you're okay to go. The cooking process won't change, only that the flavor will be a little more unique. 

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Troubleshooting

Cooking recipes like this may seem so easy, but there are some downfalls that you might encounter along the way. As your kitchen buddy, we are going to give you a heads up on how to face them

• If the dish happens to taste more flour or cake-like in texture than the pig’s meat, add beaten egg to increase the mixture's liquids. 
• On the other hand, if the dish does not form well while cooking, add eggs to the mixture to increase the binding agent needed. 

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Trivia

Did you know that the term Torat has a different take on every city it is used? 

For example, in Spain, it is known to locals that torta is a flatbread. While in Mexico, the term is used to refer to a cake. On the other hand, in the Philippines, it is a kind of omelet with minced meat and potatoes, and in its Visayan region, it is used to refer to a sponge cake. Having this wonderful omelet treat in the morning is a fantastic way to start your day. 

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Tips

As your kitchen friend, we always want to make sure that you will have an excellent kitchen experience. To cook this dish perfectly, follow our friendly tips. 

• Always buy fresh meat in all recipes that you are going to cook to ensure its quality. The freshness of the meat impacts the taste of the dish. The same goes for the vegetables. 
• In frying, make sure that the oil is hot enough to avoid splatters. Aside from splatters, it will also ensure that the dish will cook evenly. 

Best Served With

 Recipes like this are already fulfilling by itself, but having a perfect pair with it will make it a fantastic meal. Here are some of the great dishes that you could pair with recipes like this. 

• Buko Pandan - this dessert is perfect for tasteful dishes like this. Buko pandan also cleanses the palate after a savory dish. 
• Iced tea - a mouthful dish like this needs something to slide with. Iced tea is a refreshing partner for recipes like this. 

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Conclusion 

In a world where time is very precious, easy to cook meals are essential. But resorting to instant foods have a terrible effect on your health in the long run. Amazingly, recipes like this are one of the healthy dishes that are easy to cook. 

Aside from being healthy, it is also flexible to add lots of other vegetables that go well with it. So try this dish and enjoy it!

For more delicious recipe, visit Eat Like Pinoy!

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