Since it's prepared with pork, after which the cuisine was named, and various kinds of fresh or processed vegetables, it can be eaten as a staple food instead of being eaten only as an accompaniment to a staple food.
名称の元となっている豚肉のほか、複数種の野菜、あるいはそれらの加工品を入れる為、単に副食としての汁物としてでは無く、単品で主食にもなり得る。