How to Cook Ginabot

Ginabot is a crispy dish popular in the Queen City of the South. It is Cebu’s take on chicharon bulaklak or pork crackling made from pig intestines. It is a staple in the local hawker stalls or pungko-pungko in Cebu, and is usually served with puso or woven-leaf pouches of hanging rice and soft drinks. Ginabot is best eaten with vinegar with spice on the side. The pig intestines take a bit of time to clean and boil, but cooking ginabot is pretty straightforward, and eating it can become quite a habit. 

Facts about ginabot

Filipinos have a way with making unpalatable parts of animals become a tasty treat. In this case, the intestines of the pig is salted, battered, and deep-fried to golden perfection. Ginabot is eaten as a full-course meal, but it is also enjoyed as an appetizer or pulutan or snacks that are usually paired with beer.

Ginabot can be found almost anywhere in the city, and it is cheap and accessible, hence its enduring popularity among Cebuanos. But it is highly advised to eat the cracklings moderately, as they are rich in cholesterol and salt.

Hawkers of ginabot cook the snacks in front of waiting customers in pungko-pungko stalls (pungko means “squat” which is how customers look like sitting at the stalls’ low benches and tables). Ginabot is cooked along with other pungko-pungko food like lumpia (Filipino spring rolls), ngohiong, hotdog, and longganisa (spiced pork sausage). Food served at pungko pungko in Cebu in general is eaten with bare hands for a full experience.

Each piece costs Php10 to Php15. You can find the best ginabot in Cebu around the downtown area. If you’re too tired or lazy to leave your home, there are restaurants and food shops that offer to deliver ginabot in a box right to your doorstep. Or, you could learn how to cook ginabot in this easy-to-follow ginabot recipe. If you feel inclined, you can also modify the recipe to your liking.

It is considered an important part of Cebu City’s urban culture to eat ginabot with friends. When visiting, sharing this treat is a nice way to establish rapport with the locals.

How to cook ginabot 

This ginabot recipe is taken from balay.ph. Proper cleaning and cooking of the pork is the key to making this delicious treat. Completely dry the pork after boiling before frying it so it is as crispy as possible. Here are the ingredients:

For the main dish

• 1 kilo of pork intestines, cleaned and sliced
• 3 cups of water
• 1 teaspoon of rock salt
• 2 gloves garlic
• Frying oil
• Egg
• Cornstarch

For the sauce

• Vinegar
• Salt
• Crushed garlic
• Chili pepper

How to cook:

1. Along with the garlic, onion, ginger, and vinegar, boil the pig intestines.
2. Once drained, slice the pork intestine into even slices. Use the minced garlic, salt, egg, and cornstarch to season them.
3. Deep-fry the even slices on a pan with frying oil until golden brown.
4. To remove excess oil, drain them with paper towels.
5. Mix the ingredients for sauce.
6. Dip the golden brown ginabot slices in the sauce, and eat with bare hands.