Enjoy the sweet and savory taste of this Filipino vegan Humba. This recipe is perfect for vegans who love the authentic taste of the meat in the recipe but without losing the authentic taste of the Humba.
Want more easy and healthy Filipino recipes? Try cooking my Tofu Sisig, Congee, or this easy Sinigang.
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What is Humba?
Humba is basically a braised pork dish in pineapple juice which can be bought in cans or made by pressing the pineapple fruit itself.
Humba is usually made with pork belly meat, dried banana blossoms, black beans, laurel leaves, soy sauce, brown sugar, salt, and pepper.
To veganize it, we used tofu but kept most of the usual ingredients to keep the authentic pork humba flavor. Enjoy!
Substitutions
- You can use artichokes if you don't have banana blossoms.
- Swap the pork-like meat with these vegetarian meats that would go with this recipe: Porkless Bites (save the sauce for another dish), Vegetarian Roast Duck , and Soy Curls. You can buy then at a local Asian grocery store or online retailers.
- Substitute soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos for a gluten-free alternative.
Variations
- Try adding a splash of coconut milk for a creamier twist.
- Toss in some chopped bell peppers or mushrooms to boost the veggies, or add saba banana for an extra dose of carbs!
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a pan over low heat, adding a splash of water if the sauce thickens too much.
Top Tips
- Before frying your tofu for the Vegan Humba, pat it dry after slicing. Patting it dry with a kitchen towel or paper towel will prevent oil splatters which can hurt and burn your skin.
- After frying the tofu, get rid of excess oil by placing them on a kitchen paper towel. It will absorb all the excess oils from the fried tofu.
- If you do not have coconut oil for sautéing the spices, you can use olive oil instead. Just remember that olive oil has a high smoke point so you have to be quick in sautéing and adjust the stove heat properly.
Ingredients
Here's a quick overview of all the ingredients you will need:
- vegetarian pork-liked protein meat (find vegetarian meat in health food stores or online)
- block tofu
- garlic
- red onion
- peppercorns
- vinegar or lime
- soy sauce
- coconut oil
- water
- pineapple juice
- dried banana blossoms
- black beans
- bay leaves
- brown sugar
- salt
- pepper
Instructions
In a large bowl, add garlic, onion, peppercorns, vinegar or calamansi, and soy sauce, and mix until well combined:
In the same bowl add vegetarian pork-like meat and tofu to marinate for 30 minutes to 1 hour (the longer the better):
Heat a nonstick pan or pot over medium-high heat and add oil. Fry the marinated vegetarian pork and tofu until golden brown and set aside:
Take out from the pan and place in a bowl. Set aside and proceed to the next cooking steps of the Vegan Humba:
In the same pan, add marinated sauce:
Then add cup water and bring to a simmer:
Add a mixture of cornstarch and water to thicken the sauce. Add the cup of pineapple juice:
Add in the fried vege pork and tofu chunks, cover with a lid and bring to a boil:
Add banana blossoms:
Then add the black beans and bay leaves. Allow it to simmer:
After allowing it to simmer, add brown sugar, salt, and pepper then stir:
Cover the pan and let it continue to simmer for at least 2 minutes:
Taste and season if needed. Vegan Humba is best served hot and eaten with steamed white rice 🙂
Perfect vegan Humba for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are more delicious Filipino Food to try:
Humba
Ingredients
Marinate Mixture
- 1 cup vegetarian pork-liked protein meat
- ½ cup tofu cubed
- 4-5 cloves garlic minced
- 1 medium red onion minced
- 1 tablespoon peppercorns
- 2 tablespoons vinegar or lime
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
To Make the Humba:
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 cup of water
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 2 tablespoon dried banana blossoms
- 2 tablespoon black beans
- 2-4 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon of pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add garlic, onion, peppercorns, vinegar or calaminsi, soy sauce and mix until well combined. In the same bowl add vegetarian pork-like meat and tofu to marinate for 30 minutes to 1 hour. (the longer the better).
- Heat a nonstick pan over medium heat and add oil.
- Fry the marinated vegetarian pork and tofu until golden brown and set aside.
- In the same pan, add marinated sauce, water and bring to a simmer. (If you would like the sauce thicker, mix constarch and water and add), add pineapple juice, fried vege pork and tofu, and cover with a lid and bring to a boil.
- Add banana blossoms, black beans, bay leaves, allow it to simmer then add brown sugar, salt and pepper.
- Taste and season if needed.
- Best served hot.
Claire M says
Nice recipe! I will try adding saba bananas next time.