Pork Menudo

Estimated preparation & cooking time: 50 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/2 kilo pork (cut into small chunks)

• 1/4 kilo pork liver (cut into small cubes)

• 5 pieces chorizo Bilbao (also cut in small pieces)

• 4 potatoes (peeled, cut in small cubes, fried)

• 1 green and 1 red bell pepper (diced)

• 1 cup chickpeas

• 1/4 cup raisins

• 1/2 teaspoon paprika

• 1 cup pork or chicken stock

• 2 teaspoons of patis (fish sauce)

• 3 tablespoons oil

• 1 tablespoon atsuete oil (optional)

• 3 tomatoes (diced)

• 1 small head of garlic (minced)

• 1 medium size onion (diced)

Menudo Cooking Instructions:

• In a pan or wok, heat cooking oil and atsuete oil.

• Saute garlic, onion. Then add the pork, liver, chorizo de Bilabo, tomatoes, bell pepper, paprika, patis and the stock.

• Cover and bring to a boil. Simmer for 20 minutes or until the pork is tender.

• Add the chickpeas, potatoes and raisins. Boil of another 2 minutes.

• Salt and pepper to taste.

• Serve hot with white rice.

Source: http://www.filipinofoodrecipes.net/menudo.htm

Filipino Chicken Potato Salad

Estimated cooking & preparation time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

• 1 kilo potatoes

• 1 big chicken breast

• 3 pieces medium sized carrots

• 500 ml mayonnaise

• 1 can (836 g) pineapple tidbits or chunks

• 1/2 cup sweet pickle relish

• 1 cup cheddar cheese, diced (optional)

• 3 tablespoons of chopped spring onions (optional)

• Iodized salt to taste (pepper, optional)

Chicken Potato Salad Cooking Instructions:

• In a big pot, boil potatoes and carrots (covered with water) for about 15 to 20 minutes or until cracks on the potato skin appears. (tip: pierce a potato with a toothpick. If you can pierce it with little resistance and the toothpick comes out clean, the potatoes & carrots are cooked).

• Drain potatoes and carrots, let cool.

• Once cooled, the skin can be easily be pealed by hand.

• Dice the potatoes and carrots (about 1x1 cm)

• Boil the chicken breast in water with some salt. Let cool, then shred the chicken meat in 1 inch lengths

• Drain pineapple chunks or tidbits.

• Combine all ingredients (potatoes, chicken meat, pineapple, carrots, pickle relish, mayonnaise...) in a big bowl and salt to taste. You may add pepper if you wish.

• Refrigerate before serving.

Potato Salad Cooking Notes:

• You may add the optional ingredients (diced cheese, chopped onions, spring onions) or a handful of raisins for added flavour.

Source: http://www.filipinofoodrecipes.net/potato_salad.htm

Beef Mechado

Estimated cooking time: 1 hour

Mechado Ingredients:

• 1 kilo of beef cut into chunks

• 1/8 kilo of pork fat cut into strips

• 4 onions, peeled and quartered

• 5 medium potatoes, quartered (optional: fried)

• 1 medium sized carrot, sliced in 1/2" sections

• 2 red bell pepper, sliced

• 2 cups beef stock or 2 bouillon cubes dissolved in water

• 3 bay leaves (laurel leaves)

• 1/4 -cup vinegar

• 2 cups tomato sauce or 1/2 cup tomato paste

• 1 cup soy sauce

• salt & pepper to taste

Mechado Cooking Instructions:

• Cut an incision on the beef chunks and insert a pork strip in the middle (mitsa)

• In a casserole, combine the beef (with the fat), tomato sauce, soy sauce, bay leaves and beef stock. Bring to a boil and simmer until the beef is almost tender

• Add the vinegar and let boil for a minute or two

• Add the potatoes, onions, carrot, and bell pepper

• Let simmer until potatoes and carrots are cooked - occasionally stir to thicken sauce

• Serve hot with white rice

Beef Mechado Cooking Tips:

• Pressure cook the beef with the beef stock for faster cooking time.

• Fry the potatoes before adding to the casserole.

• Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil and stir when the mechado dish is almost done for added flavor.

Source: http://www.filipinofoodrecipes.net/mechado.htm

Beef Stew (Nilaga)

Estimated Cooking time: 1 to 2 hours

Ingredients:

• 1 kilo beef, cut into 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" cubes

• 8 potatoes cut the same size as the beef

• 1 bundle Pechay (Bok choy) cut into 2 pieces

• 1 small cabbage, quartered

• 5 onions, diced

• 1 head garlic, minced

• 4 tablespoons of patis (fish sauce)

• 3 tablespoons of cooking oil

• 10 corns of black pepper

• 1 liter of water

• Salt and pepper to taste

Beef Stew Cooking Instructions:

• In a big casserole, heat oil and sauté the garlic and onions.

• Add water, the beef, black pepper and patis. Bring to a boil then simmer for 1 hour or until the beef is tender.

• Add the potatoes. Continue to simmer until potatoes are cooked.

• Add the cabbage then the pechay. Do not over cook the vegetables.

• Salt and pepper to taste.

• Serve steaming hot in a bowl and plain white rice.

Cooking Tips:

You can substitute the beef with chicken (chicken stew) or pork (pork stew) for variety.

Beef Morcon

Estimated cooking time: 2 to 3 hours.

Morcon Ingredients:

• 1 kilo beef, sliced 1/4 inch thick (3 pcs.)

• 1/4 kilo ground beef liver

• 200 grams sliced sausages or ham

• 200 grams pork fat (cut is strips)

• 3 hard boiled eggs, sliced

• 100 grams cheddar cheese in strips

• 100 grams grated cheddar cheese

• 2 onions, chopped

• 5 bay leaf (laurel)

• 1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper

• 1/2 cup vinegar

• 2 teaspoon salt

• 2 cups of water

• 2 meters thread or string (for tying)

Beef Morcon Cooking Instructions:

• Spread and stretch the sliced beef on your working table.

• Arrange the filling on the sliced beef: sausage strips, cheese strips, sliced eggs, pork fat and some ground liver.

• Roll the sliced beef with all the filling inside and secure with a thread or string.

• Repeat the procedure for the two remaining beef slices.

• On a pot, place the beef rolls and put the water, the remaining ground liver, grated cheese, chopped onions, bay leaves, ground black pepper and salt.

• Cover the pot and bring to a boil. Simmer for one hour.

• Add the vinegar and continue to simmer of another hour or until beef is tender.

• Slice the beef morcon, arrange on a platter and top with the sauce/ gravy poured on top.

Cooking Tips:

• A spoon or two of flour can be added to water to thicken the sauce.

• Instead of boiling in a pot, you can use a pressure cooker for faster cooking.

• Optional: Garnish with olives before serving.

Source:http://www.filipinofoodrecipes.net/morcon.htm

Pork Steak / Beef Steak Filipino Style

Estimated time to prepare and cook: 50 minutes

Ingredients:

• 3/4 kilo tender pork or beef steaks, sliced

• 1 tablespoon kalamansi or lemon juice

• 5 tablespoons soy sauce

• 3 cloves of garlic

• 1 small piece ginger, crushed

• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

• 1/2 cup onions, sliced in rings

• 4 tablespoons cooking oil

Pork / Beef Steak Cooking Instructions:

• Marinate the pork or beef steak in kalamansi (lemon) juice, garlic, ginger, soy sauce and pepper for 30 minutes.
• In a frying, add cooking oil. Add the marinated pork or beef steak and cook slow until done.
• Increase heat for a minute or two to brown steaks.
• Add the sliced onions and continue to cook for another minute.
• Serve on a platter including the oil and sauce.
• Best served with hot plain rice.

Source: http://www.filipinofoodrecipes.net/pork_steak.htm

Sweet and Sour Pork

Estimated cooking time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/2 kilo pork loin, sliced into pieces

• 1 small can pineapple chunks

• 1 large onion, quartered

• 1 red & 1 green bell peppers, sliced into strips

• 2 tablespoons of soy sauce

• 3 tablespoons of peanut oil

• 4 tablespoons of cornstarch

• 3 tablespoons of ketchup

• 1 tablespoon of sugar

• 1 teaspoon of salt

• 3 cloves of minced garlic

Sweet and Sour Pork Cooking Instructions:

• In a pot, boil pork in 2 cups of water with 1/2 teaspoon of salt until tender, then drain (keep the pork stock for later).

• Mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and soy sauce then coat the pork with the cornstarch mixture.

• Fry the pork in a skillet until golden brown, set aside.

• Dissolve the remaining 2 tablespoons of cornstarch on 1/2 cup of pork stock - set aside.

• Sauté garlic and onions on oil, then add the bell peppers, pineapple chunks (including the syrup), ketchup, sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the dissolved cornstarch. Stir until sauce thickens.

• Pour over fried pork then serve with rice.

Beef Kaldereta

Ingredients:

• 1 kilo beef, cut into chunks

• 1 big can (350g) liver spread or ground liver

• 5 onions, minced

• 5 cloves garlic, minced

• 6 tomatoes, sliced

• 1 cup tomato sauce

• 3 green peppers, diced

• 3 red peppers, diced

• 4 pieces hot chilli peppers, minced

• 3/4 cup grated cheese

• 2 cups beef stock or water

• 1/4 cup cooking or olive oil

Kaldereta Cooking Instructions:

• In a casserole, sauté: garlic and onions in oil. Then add tomatoes, red & green pepper and chilli peppers.

• Add in the beef, tomato sauce, liver spread and water or stock. Salt to taste and let simmer for at least 1 hour or until the beef is tender.

• Add cheese and olives (optional) and continue to simmer until the sauce thickens.

• Serve with plain rice

Cooking Tips:

• Instead of beef, goat's meat (kambing) can be used. If goat's meat is used, marinate the meat in vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper for at least 15 minutes.

• For a special kaldereta, do not use water or beef stock. Use an equivalent weight of onions to the beef (1 kg of onions : 1 kg of beef). The onions will serve as water to the dish.

Estimated cooking time: 1 1/2 to 2 hours



Source: http://www.filipinofoodrecipes.net/kaldereta.htm

Tinolang Manok (Chicken Ginger Stew)

Ingredients:

• 1 kilo whole chicken, cut into pieces.

• 1 small young papaya or sayote, cut into small pieces.

• 2 tablespoons ginger, crushed and slliced into strips

• 1/2 cup dahon ng sili (chili leaves) or mallunggay leaves

• 1 liter of water

• 5 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 red onion, diced

• 4 tablespoons oil

• 2 tablespoons patis (fish sauce)

Instructions:

• In a stock pot, heat oil and sauté garlic, onion and ginger.

• Add water and the chicken.

• Bring to a boil and simmer for about 20 minutes or until chicken is almost done.

• Season with patis

• Add papaya and continue to simmer for an additional 5 minutes or until papaya softens but not overcooked.

• Add sili leaves then turn off the heat.

• Serve steaming hot on a bowl with plain rice on the side.

Estimated cooking time: 45 minutes

Source: http://www.filipinofoodrecipes.net/chickenstew.htm

Fish Balls

RAW MATERIALS :

fresh fish - any of the following species: kalaso, dalagang bukid, labahita, shark, bidbid, torsillo and bisugo

Ingredients: (for ½ kg fish meat):

2 tsp salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup cornstarch
2 tbsp baking powder
½ cup iced water
¼ tsp monosodium glutamate (MSG), optional


UTENSILS:

stove, turner, trays,
casserole, colander, food processor/grinder,
frying pan (carajay), measuring cup, weighing scale,
knives, measuring spoon, plastic sealer,
chopping board, mixing bowl


PROCEDURE:

1. Wash fish, split into butterfly fillet and eviscerate. Wash and drain.
2. Separate fish meat from skin and bones and chop finely.
3. Add salt to fish and mix evenly. Gradually add flour, cornstarch, baking powder and MSG (optional) and mix well.
4. Add iced water and mix well until a thick homogenous paste is obtained.
5. Form into balls and allow to set in water for 2 hours.
6. Cook in boiling water. When balls float, they are already cooked.
7. Transfer fish balls in perforated trays or colander and cool to room temperature.
8. Pack the fish balls in polyethylene bags with weights of ¼ kg to 1 kg per pack.
9. Store the product in a chiller or freezer.

Sauce:

Ingredients:
¾ cup water
½ tbsp cornstarch
½ tbsp patis
½ tbsp flour
2 tbsp sugar
¼ tsp black pepper

Procedure:
Combine all the ingredients and cook in medium heat with constant stirring (5-10 minutes).


Source: http://pinoynegosyo.blogspot.com/2006/08/making-fish-balls.html

Tocino

How to make Tocino

Ingredients and Weight

Shoulder 1.0 kg
Salt 20 g
Sugar 80 g
Prague powder 4 g
MSG 4 g
Black Pepper 4 g
Phosphate 3 g
Water 100 ml

Procedure:

1. Slice the meat across the grain.
2. Dissolve all the ingredients.
3. Mix in the sliced meat thoroughly.
4. Cure in the chiller for 24 hours.
5. Package.


Source: http://pinoynegosyo.blogspot.com/2006/09/making-tocino-longanisa-and-sausage.html

Letchon Paksiw

Ingredients:

1/4 kilo Lechong Baboy
1 cup Mang Tomas Sarsa for lechon
1 tbsp. minced garlic
2 tbsp. vinegar
1 medium onion
salt and pepper
sugar

Procedures:
1. In 1 casserole, put all ingredients.
2. Let it boil. Do not stir.
3. After 15 minutes, taste and add seasoning such as salt, pepper and sugar until you get the right sourness, sweetness and saltiness.
4. Serve while its hot.

Source: http://lutongpinoy.info/lechon-paksiw/

Steamed Tilapia

Steamed tilapia. I was surprised the first time I learned that steamed fish from Chinese restaurants are first pouched before steaming with the required ingredients. And at some instances they never actually steam the fish. I later learned that this is done for the following reason. First is to rid off or reduce the unpleasant fishiness and to significantly reduce the cooking time of the fish especially with large fish. My steamed tilapia uses the same poached/steam method, of course there are several method by the Chinese in steaming a fish including pouring hot oil over the steamed fish but that is reserved for future post. Here is a simple method of steaming a fish.



Ingredients:

2 medium size tilapia
2 thumb size ginger, cut into strips
1 small bundle spring onion, cut into 2” length
1 small bundle kinchay, Chinese parsley copped
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 tsp. sugar
toasted sesame seeds (optional)
1 tsp. sesame oil
salt

Cooking procedure:



Remove gills, scales and innards of fish. Trim fins, rinse and drain well. Slit/cut across diagonally at both side of each fish. Dust a thin coating of salt and rub evenly over the fish, including cavity. Poached the fish in a wok of boiling water for 3-5 minutes. When done carefully slide the fish in a colander to drain excess water. In a steaming bowl arrange half of the ginger, spring onion and Chinese parsley at the bottom. Now carefully slide over and arrange side by side the poached fish, add the remaining ginger, spring onion and Chinese parsley over the fish. Mix the soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil and toasted sesame seed if using and pour over the fish. Bring water in the steamer to a boil. Now place the steaming bowl with the fish in the steamer and steam over medium to high heat for 8-10 minutes. Remove from steamer and serve while still hot with a dipping sauce of soy sauce and kalamansi.



Source: http://overseaspinoycooking.blogspot.com/2009/08/steamed-tilapia.html

Embutido

Embutido, Changes are most likely the embutido you bought at your favorite supermarket or even your office mate taste like bread or flour at times you won’t even recognize that embutido is supposed to be the Pinoy equivalent of meat loaf therefore should be made up of meat. The reason is commercial embutido are full of extenders to compensate for the high prize of meat and to make it affordable to everyone. Now I would like to share a recipe of a real meat embutido. If you have a steamer or can set up your ordinary pot as steamer, all you need is a rack that fit inside the pot, Making embutido is fairly easy, aside from steaming there is no other especial cooking technique. Enjoy…

Ingredients:

1 k. ground pork
4-6 slices sweet ham, finely chopped
1 small size carrot, finely chopped
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
3 pcs. big size egg, beaten
1 small size red bell pepper, finely chopped
1 small size green bell pepper, finely chopped
3 pcs. hard-cooked eggs, quartered into wedges
5 pcs. regular hotdog, sliced into halves
1/2 c. sweet pickled relish
1/4 c. raisins, chopped
1/4 cup cornstarch
2 tbsp. soy sauce
salt and pepper

Cooking procedure:



Except the hard boiled eggs and hotdogs, in a big bowl combine all the ingredients and mix until well blended. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Divide the mixture into five portions. Divide also hard boiled eggs and hotdogs into five portions.



Prepare five square pieces of aluminium foil and place on top of each other on a flat surface. Spread and flatten one portion of the mixture onto the center of each foil, Place one portion of egg wedges and hotdog slices at the center of each mixture and hand roll until the mixture covers the eggs and hotdogs. Now roll the aluminium foil into a tightly packed log about 2" in diameter, twist and seal both ends. Repeat with the rest of the mixture.



Arrange the embutido side by side in a steamer and steam for one hour. Let it cool, discard aluminium wrapper and slice into rings. Serve with ketchup or sweet chilly sauce.

Special Embutido

Special embutido. Embutido is one of the popular dishes that are prepared specially for the holiday season. I have made a post on embutido recipe a few months back but that version was influenced by the commercial versions that uses hotdog core fillings and aluminum foil wrapper. For my holiday celebration version, I am making an embutido as close, as authentic and comparable to the versions our grandparents used to make the original method of making embutido. For the wrapper I used sinsal or pork lard leaf as wrapper instead of aluminum foil. Sinsal is the original wrapper for embutido. For the sausage core filling, I used Vienna sausage it is the original core filling before the coming of hotdogs. For the steaming water, I have added little vinegar, lots of crushed garlic and bay leaf that resulted an adobo aroma that was infused in the steaming embutido. Embutido is supposed to be serve with banana ketchup, I prefer it steamed for me this is how embutido should be served.



Ingredients:

150 gram sinsal, leaf lard
1 1/2 kilo lean ground pork
2 cans Vienna sausage, chopped
1 pc. chorizo de bilbao, chopped
1 small size carrot, finely chopped
2 medium size red bell pepper, roasted and chopped
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
4 small size onion, chopped
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup pickled relish
1/2 cup raisins, chopped
1/2 head garlic, chopped
4 pcs. big size egg, beaten
1 tbsp. ground black pepper
2 tbsp. salt

For core filling:

6 pcs. hard-cooked eggs, quartered into wedges
2 cans whole Vienna sausage

For steaming:

2 tbsp. vinegar
1 head garlic, crushed
3-5 pcs. bay leaf

Cooking procedure:



Wash and drain sinsal, divide into to make seven pieces of embutido and set aside. Divide also hard-boiled eggs and whole Vienna sausages into seven portions and set aside. In a big bowl combine all the ingredients and mix until well blended. Divide into seven portions and set aside. Spread out sinsal wrapper in a big plate. Spread and flatten one portion of the mixture onto the center of sinsal wrapper. Place one portion of egg wedges and Vienna sausages at the center of each mixture and hand roll until the mixture covers the eggs and sausages. Now roll the sinsal wrapper into a tightly packed log about 2 1/2” in diameter, seal both ends. Repeat with the rest of the mixture. Pour in 6 cups of water, vinegar, garlic and bay leaf in the steamer and let boil. Arrange the embutido side by side in the steamer and steam for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Let it cool and slice into rings. Serve with banana ketchup.



Source: http://overseaspinoycooking.blogspot.com/search/label/Embutido

Chili Crab

Chili crab. I first have my chili crab experience when I was working in Singapore. It is one of the must have dish when ever your in Singapore. I wanted to cook this dish for some time. Today I finally both a kilo of live mud crabs, the size of the crabs are just right four pieces a kilo. Killing the crabs is fairly easy, while the claws are still tied up turn crab upside down and open the flaps under the belly. Stab with the tip of the knife across the middle. Here is how I cooked my chili crab Pinoy style.

Ingredients:



1 kilo alimango (mud crab)
1 thumb size ginger, finely chopped
2 medium size onion, chopped
1/2 head garlic, finely chopped
3-5 siling labuyo, chopped
3 cup tomato sauce
1 egg
3-5 stalk wansoy, chopped
1/4 cup white wine
cooking oil
salt

Cooking procedure:

Kill crab by stabbing across the belly with the tip of a knife. Separate the shell from the body with the claws and legs intact. Clean out all the guts and gills, rinse with water and cut it into half. Break the shells of the claws but keep intact. In a large wok, sauté garlic, ginger and onion. Add chopped siling labuyo and then add white wine, stir cook for a minute. Add crab pieces and stir for 2-3 minutes or until color start to change. Add tomato sauce and 2 cups of water, season with salt. Cover and simmer for 8-10 minutes until the crab is cooked. Lightly beat one egg and stir in to thicken the sauce, add chopped wansoy and cook for another minute. Serve hot.


Source: http://overseaspinoycooking.blogspot.com/search/label/Chilli%20Crab

Kinilaw na Dilis

Kinilaw na dilis. This is my version of kinilaw na dilis, it is not the usual kinilaw na dilis that was squeezed into unrecognizable white mass and overcooked with vinegar. Most likely, it tastes so sour that the natural sweetness of the fish is already lost. Okey, for my kinilaw na dilis I use vinegar only to wash and briefly marinate the fish and subsequently discarded or drain off. The anchovy fillets are then tossed with chopped ginger, onion and chili. Now just drizzle with kalamasi juice. The sweetness and crunchiness of the fish is retained. Try it, there is no doubt you will enjoy it if you love kinilaw.

Ingredients:



1/2 kilo dilis, anchovy
1 thumb size ginger, finely chopped
1 medium size onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup kalamansi juice
1-2 pcs. siling labuyo, chopped
vinegar
salt

Method:



To prepare, wash and drain anchovies, remove and discard bones, head and innards by curving out flesh on both side of the fish into fillet. Rinse fillets in running water and drain thoroughly. To make the kinilaw, wash anchovy fillets in a bath of vinegar and drain. Repeat this step this time let it marinate for 5-8 minutes and drain thoroughly, do not squeeze just lightly press to drain off excess vinegar. Place the anchovy fillet in a bowl, add all the other ingredients and toss mix. Season with salt to taste. Serve immediately or chill in refrigerator before serving.



Source: http://overseaspinoycooking.blogspot.com/search/label/Fish

Fish Sisig

Fish Sisig, Tilapia Sisig

Fish sisig, tilapia sisig. Here is a healthy alternative to the cholesterol laden pork sisig. For this version of sisig I have used tilapia but you can also use bangus of any other fish. When stir frying the fish sisig I would suggest that it is to be stir fried as quickly as possible and careful stirring to avoid disintegration of the fish flakes. It can be serve as is or serve in a sizzling plate toped with egg. On this post I will share a technique in serving sisig sizzling style with out using hot plates. This can be done with the use of a microwave oven. Place a serving of the sisig in a microwave safe plate, break a whole egg on top then cook in microwave at medium to high heat until the egg is just cook or until the egg white turn to opaque white in color. Just watch out that you will not overcook the egg, it should be just cook that the sisig can still be stir mix when serving. Here is how I did it, enjoy!

Ingredients:



2 kilo tilapia
1 small can liver spread
3 gloves garlic, chopped
4 medium size onion, chopped
3-5 pcs. green sili, chopped
1 pc. beef bouillon cube
1/2 cup vinegar
1/4 c soy sauce
2 tbsp. liquid seasoning
3 pcs. bay leaf
salt and pepper
cooking oil
egg
kalamansi

Cooking procedure:




Remove gills and innards of tilapia and wash fish thoroughly, drain. Fry fish in a large frying pan until golden brown and skin is crispy, Drain on paper towels. Flake fried fish and discard bones. I a big wok stir-fry garlic until fragrant, add in flaked fish, liver spread onion, beef bullion diluted in 1/4 cup of water, vinegar, soy sauce, liquid seasoning and green sili, stir cook for 3-5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste, stir cook for another minute. Now turn off the stove. When ready to serve place one serving on a platter and top one whole egg. Cook in a microwave oven at medium to high heat until egg white turn to opaque white. Serve with kalamansi.


Source: http://overseaspinoycooking.blogspot.com/search/label/Fish

Chicken Adobo in Oyster Sauce

This version of adobo was once served by a friend, way back when I was still working in Singapore. It was a birthday dinner and was prepared by a common friend who is from the Visayas. The use of lemongrass is common in Visayan dishes. In fact it was from that dish that I learned and started using lemongrass on some of my adobo recipe. This adobo version uses also oysters sauce which further enhances the tangy flavor and rich sauce to the dish. If you want a little twist to your regular adobo then here is the recipe.

Ingredients:

1 kilo chicken, cut into serving pieces, bones intact
1/2 kilo chicken liver, cut in half
1 tsp. peppercorns, lightly crushed
1 stalk tanglad, lemongrass, crushed
1 thumb size ginger, sliced
1/2 head garlic, crushed
1/2 cup oyster sauce
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup vinegar
3 bay leaf
salt

Cooking procedure:



Wash thoroughly the chicken meat and liver. Keep aside liver and put chicken meat in a saucepan, pour in 3-4 cups of water, add in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, onion, ginger, peppercorns, lemongrass and bay leaf, bring to a boil and simmer in medium heat for 15-20 minutes, add more water as necessary. Add in chicken liver, oyster sauce and cook for another 5-10 minutes or until tender and sauce has reduce to about half, season with salt as required. Serve with a lot of rice.



Source: http://overseaspinoycooking.blogspot.com/search/label/Adobo

Paksiw na Bisugo

Paksiw na isda is usually topped with ampalaya and eggplant. The vegetables are supposed to be steam during the cooking of the fish. The juices from the vegetables are infused to the paksiw, which enhance the flavor of the fish, specially the bitterness of the ampalaya. I like to drizzle with some cooking oil to the dish to neutralize the sourness. I know many Pinoys are not so keen about paksiw na isda. However, there are more who really love their paksiw, just the though of the dish makes them droll including myself. The dish is usually served with patis and with kalamansi and a couple of cut siling labuyo and of course served with a lot of rice.

Ingredients:

1 kilo bisugo
1 medium size ampalaya, de-seeded, cut into wedges
2 medium size eggplant, cut into wedges
1/2 head garlic, crushed
1 thumb size ginger cut into thin slices
1 medium size onion, quartered
1/4 c. vinegar or 3 tbsp. sampalok sinigang mix
1 tbsp. whole black pepper
3 whole green sili
cooking oil
salt

Cooking procedure:



Remove gills and innards of bisugo. Using scissors cut fins and tails and wash fish thoroughly drain. In a casserole put garlic, onion and ginger at the bottom. Arrange fish side by side, add 1 cup of water and vinegar or sampalok sinigang mix. Put on top vegetable, green sili and black pepper. Season with salt and drizzle with cooking oil. Cover and simmer at heat for 8–12 minutes or until fish is cooked.



Source: http://overseaspinoycooking.blogspot.com/search/label/Paksiw%20na%20Isda