Filipino Chocolate Meat (Dinuguan)

This may sound bizarre or even disgusting to some people since it uses edible pork blood [found in most international grocery store's freezer aisle], but many cultures use blood as an ingredient (ie: European blood sausage, British black pudding) so don't knock it before you try it! =] I found this recipe online and posted it here for safekeeping and because this website hardly has any Filipino recipes. It's called "chocolate meat" because of the way the cooked pork blood resembles a chocolate sauce. It was also a good way to get your younger kids to try it out! It worked on me... haha!

• Ready In: 45 mins
• Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 lbs  pork belly (pork butt is fine)
• 10  ounces  edible  pork blood
• 2  cups  chicken stock (water is fine)
• 1  cup  cane vinegar (I use Datu-Puti brand)
• 3  tablespoons fish sauce
• 4  garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
• 1  medium onion, sliced thinly
• 1  bay leaf
• 4  jalapenos, sliced
• 1⁄2 tablespoon ground black pepper
•  Accent seasoning, to taste
• 1⁄2 tablespoon kosher salt
•  oil, for sauteing

Directions

1. Prepare pork blood by straining it and separating the blood that is in a jelly form in a separate bowl.
2. Next add ¼ cup of water and break up the jellied blood with your hands and set aside.
3. Slice pork into small bite sized pieces and set aside.
4. Heat 1 tbsp of corn oil, add the pork, and spread it evenly on the bottom of the pot. Cover and let it cook on medium low heat for three minutes without stirring it.
5. Remove cover, stir the pork, and drain the liquid accumulated. Add garlic and sauté for one minute, then add the onions, stir, and cover.
6. Let it cook for another minute. Next add fish sauce and bay leaf and sauté for 3 minutes.
7. Then add ½ cup of vinegar, cover, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and let it simmer for 3 minutes.
8. Add the chicken stock and salt and let it simmer for five minutes. Add the jelly formed pork blood first, stir for about a minute, then add the rest of the pork blood and the jalapenos.
9. Continue to stir for about two minutes, cover, and let simmer for another five minutes. Add another ½ cup of vinegar. Again cover and let it simmer for an additional 5 minutes.
10. Adjust the taste by adding salt & pepper if needed. For extra flavor, you can use Accent flavor seasoning. Serve with white rice.