Putong Babi 

Equipment

• Large non-stick skillet – 12 inches diameter

Ingredients

• 8 to 10 whole Filipino Pan de Sal or large dinner bread buns; sliced open in half
• 1/2 pound ground pork or beef
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
• 4 to 6 cloves garlic minced garlic cloves
• 3 whole medium-sized potatoes peeled, cubed into 1/4-inch sized pieces ( or use sweet potatoes, same amount)
• 2 whole eggs beaten
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs for topping
• 3/4 cup raisins

Instructions

1. Prepare 8 to 10 open-faced half slices of bread buns or the Filipino pan de sal. Set aside in a bread box to keep them from drying up or hardening.
2. Pre-marinate the ground meat by adding lemon (or calamansi) juice and soy sauce. Mix well, then set aside.
3. In a large skillet, over medium high heat, add the vegetable oil. Saute the garlic quickly. Then add the ground meat. Cook till meat turns from pink to brown, for about 8 to 10 minutes.
4. Add the cubed potatoes and the raisins. Season with salt and pepper. Cook till potatoes and meat are done, for 8 to 10 minutes more.
5. Spread the meat-potatoes mixture on the sliced bread bun or pan de sal.  Pour the beaten egg over it. Sprinkle with bread crumbs.
6. In a skillet, over medium high heat, spray some vegetable oil. Pan sear the open faced bread slices, meat side down. Press down with a turner to flatten it. This should fry in 2 to 3 minutes. Turn the slice over in the pan and flatten the top with the turner. Let the bottom side of the bread brown for 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a platter and serve hot.
7. If baking these meat-filled bread slices, place them in a baking sheet with parchment paper. Bake at 375 F degrees for 15 minutes or till top is brown. Serve hot.
8. COOK’S COMMENTS: In Pampanga, “putong babi” is also cooked with sweet potato. Cut them in cubes and use instead of regular potatoes. Cook for the same amount of time.
9. Availability of ingredients: Pan de sal can be found in Filipino bakeries or Asian markets. When the weather gets cooler in the fall and winter, I bake my own pan de sal for the family. You can use any other bread available which you prefer.