Low Budget Meal Recipes

Vigan Empanada

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Filipino Style Recipe: Vigan Empanada is a popular authentic delicacy from Vigan, Ilocos. The filling is made of grated unripe papaya and raw egg, we also add sauteed vigan longganisa to make it special. The Wrap consists of rice flour, butter, water and food coloring then deep fried until crisp.

This dish is commonly sold along the streets as meryenda(mid-afternoon snack) and usually served with vinegar. I tried a special Vigan Empanada somewhere in Sampaloc, Manila last year and it was also good. But of course, the authentic Vigan empanada from Ilocos is still different and it’s a good experience once you try it.

Estimated time of preparation: 25 minutes
Estimated time of cooking: 20-30 minutes

Ingredients:
Dough:
1 1/2 cups rice flour
1/2 cup water
orange food coloring or annatto seeds(dilute in water)(optional)
50 grams butter
cooking oil for greasing and frying

Filling:
4 pieces Vigan Longganisa, skin removed
1 unripe papaya, grated
1 onion, chopped
2 gloves garlic, finely chopped
6 raw eggs
salt and pepper to taste

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a pan, heat oil and saute garlic and onion.
2. Add longganisa then season with salt and pepper, cook until brown.
3. Transfer in a bowl then add grated papaya then mix and set aside.

Part 2
1. In bowl, combine all ingredients then mix until dough is formed. Set aside.

Part 3
1. Place a plastic wrap on the table then brushed with oil.
2. Take 3 tablespoons of dough then flatten using a rolling pin.
3. Place 3 tablespoons of filling over flatten dough then make a small space in the middle for raw egg.
4. Fold and seal the sides then trim the edges using a plastic plate.

Part 4
1. In a pan, heat enough oil then deep fry empanada for 3 minutes or until crisp.
2. Drain on paper towel then serve with garlic vinegar.

Adobong Giniling

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Filipino Style Recipe: Adobong giniling or ground pork adobo is another variety of Filipino adobo. This dish is simple and easy to prepare, the typical Filipino adobo is made of meat cooked in a blend of soy sauce, vinegar, bay leaves, salt and pepper to taste. I add fried potatoes cut into finely cubed and hard-boiled quail eggs to increase the content of our adobo.

Estimated time of preparation and cooking: 50 minutes. Good for 2-4 persons.

Ingredients:
500 grams ground pork(giniling)
2 pieces medium-sized potatoes, peeled and finely diced
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup soy sauce
4 gloves garlic, minced
3 pieces bay leaves
1/2 tablespoon grind pepper
salt and sugar to taste
4 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon dried chili flakes(optional)
8-10 pieces quail eggs, hard-boiled(optional)

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a pan, heat oil and fry the potatoes until slightly brown. Set aside.

Part 2
1. In a same pan, heat oil and saute garlic then add ground pork and cook until light brown.
2. Add soy sauce, vinegar, grind pepper, bay leaf and chili flakes.
3. Simmer for 10 minutes then adjust seasoning according to taste. Add water if necessary.
4. Add fried potatoes and hard-boiled quail eggs then cook until sauce is thickens to nearly dry.
5. Remove from heat then transfer to serving bowl then serve with steamed rice.

Kangkong with Bagoong

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Filipino Style Recipe: Kangkong(water spinach) with bagoong guisado(sauteed shrimp paste) is an easy and simple side dish. Kangkong is usually steamed or blanched for 2-3 minutes then rinse in cold water to maintain the color, texture, flavor and stop the cooking. This is usually serve during breakfast with sauteed shrimp paste.

Estimated time preparation and cooking: 15-20 minutes
Good for 2-3 persons

Ingredients:
1 bunch Kangkong(water spinach), trimmed
5 cups water for boiling

Sauteed Shrimp Paste:
1/2 cup bagoong alamang(shrimp paste)
100 grams pork, cut into small pieces
4 gloves garlic, finely minced
1 onion, finely minced
1 large tomatoes, minced
sugar and vinegar to taste

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a pan, heat oil and saute, garlic, onion and tomatoes until soft.
2. Add the pork and cook for until golden brown.
3. Add bagoong alamang, vinegar and sugar then simmer for 10 minutes. Set aside.

Part 2
1. In a pot, boil water then blanch kangkong for 3 minutes.
2. In a strainer, drain kangkong and rinse with cold water.
3. Let the excess water drip off then cut into 5 inch.
4. Arrange in a serving plate then serve with sauteed shrimp paste.

Notes:
1. If you want to skip Part 1, sauteed shrimp paste is also available in grocery stores. I recommend a regular sauteed shrimp paste from Dizon farm.

Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

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Filipino Style Recipe: Bacon wrapped asparagus is another simple yet delicious appetizer. Usually the asparagus wrapped in bacon strips the season with salt and pepper. Baked or grilled until crisp and serve with sour cream.

Estimated time of preparation: 20 minutes
Estimated time of cooking: 20 minutes

Ingredients:
16 pieces medium-sized fresh asparagus, trimmed to 5inch
1 tablespoon olive oil
8 smoked bacon strips
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup sour cream for dipping(optional)

Procedures:
1. Wrap a bacon slice around 2-3 pieces of asparagus then secure ends with toothpick.
2. Repeat the step for remaining pieces then season with salt and grind pepper.
3. Drizzle a little bit of olive oil then bake or grill for 8 minutes or until bacon is crisp.
4. Discard toothpicks then transfer to serving plate. Serve with sour cream.

Kinilaw na Tuna

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Filipino Style Recipe: kinilaw na tuna is a raw fish salad made of fresh tuna mixed with vinegar, garlic, onion, ginger, calamansi juice, salt and pepper. This dish is another Filipino delicacy and usually served as appetizer or pulutan. Make sure it is fresh because the taste of kinilaw is depends on the freshness of the fish.

Estimated time of preparation: 10 minutes(plus chilling time)

Ingredients:
500 grams fresh yellow fin tuna fillet, cut into cubed
1/3 cup spiced vinegar
4 gloves garlic, finely minced
1 white onion, chopped
2 tablespoons minced ginger
4 tablespoons calamansi or lime juice
salt and pepper to taste
3/4 cup vinegar for washing

1 red onion, chopped(optional)
3 pieces birds eye chili(siling labuyo), chopped(optional)
1 tablespoon sugar(optional)
2 tomatoes, diced(optional)
1/2 cup pork cracklings(chicharon), crushed

Procedures:
1. In a bowl, combine cubed tuna and vinegar then mix well.
2. Let stand for 2 minutes then drain vinegar.
3. Add the remaining ingredients then mix well.
4. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Serve chilled with beer.

(photo credit to cheannetoday)

Sweet and Spicy Calamares

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Filipino Style Recipe: Sweet and spicy calamares is comprises a squid as main ingredient. Normally the squid cut into rings then mix with batter then deep fried for a minute. Mix to coat in a sweet and spicy sauce made of honey, hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce.

Estimated time of preparation and cooking: 20 minutes.
Good for 2-3 persons

Ingredients:
500 grams squid, clean and cut into rings
1 egg, beaten
3/4 cup flour
1 cup breadcrumbs(optional)
salt and pepper to taste
vegetable oil for frying
1/2 cup liquid honey
3 tablespoons hot sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a small bowl, combine honey, hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Mix well and set aside.

Part 2
1. In a bowl, combine flour, salt and pepper. Mix well.
2. Add squid then dip in beaten egg then roll in breadcrumbs. Set aside.

Part 3
1. In a frying pan, heat oil and fry the squid for 1 minute or until golden brown. Do not overcooked.
2. Remove squids and drain on paper towels.
3. Transfer the fried calamares in serving plate and pour the sauce on top. Mix to coat then serve.

Sinigang na Bilong-Bilong

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Filipino Style Recipe: Sinigang na bilong-bilong(moonfish) is another simple and easy Filipino dish. The procedure is similar to other sinigang, normally the fish cooked in a combination of onions, tomatoes, different vegetables and tamarind which gives a sour taste.

Estimated time of preparation and cooking: 15 minutes

Ingredients:
1/2 kilo Moonfish(Bilong-bilong)
1 pack sinigang sa sampaloc mix or 10 pieces tamarind(sampaloc)
3 cups water or rice washing
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, sliced
1 thumb-sized ginger, sliced thinly
2 tomatoes, halves
a bunch potato tops(talbos ng kamote) or petchay
3 tablespoons olive oil
salt or fish sauce to taste
1 teaspoon ground pepper

Procedures:
1. In a pot, heat olive oil and saute garlic, onion, ginger and tomatoes.
2. Pour water and bring to boil. Add fish then cover and simmer for 3 minutes.
4. Add tamarind juice then simmer for another 4 minutes.
5. Season with salt or fish sauce according to taste.
6. Add green chili and potato tops and simmer for another 1 minute.
7. Transfer to serving bowl and serve hot.

Notes:
If using tamarind instead of sinigang mix, here’s the procedure:
1. Boil tamarind until soften.
2. Pound and extract the juices.

Banana-Cream Crepes

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Filipino Style Recipe: Banana cream crepes is a popular dessert made of very thin pancakes originated from France. It is consists of flour, eggs, milk, vanilla and salt whisk together then chilled overnight. Cooked and swirl in hot pan with butter until almost set. I got this idea from one of the stall somewhere in Boracay last month, they served crepes with different variety of fillings. I used banana slices and vanilla ice cream in this recipe, but you may choose your own combination of fillings.

Estimated time of preparation: 10 minutes(plus chilling time)
Estimated time of cooking: 5 minutes
Good for 6 crepes

Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract(optional)
1 ripe plantain, sliced
vanilla ice cream

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a bowl, combine flour and eggs. Whisk well.
2. Add milk, vanilla extract, butter and salt. Mix until well combine.
3. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.

Part 2
1. In a non-stick pan, melt butter then scoop and pour 1/4 cup of batter.
2. Swirl the batter then cook for 20 seconds or until almost set. Flip and cook the other side.
3.Transfer to serving plate then place the banana slices and a scoop of vanilla ice cream in the center.
4. Fold both side to form a triangle then serve.

Adobong Balut

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Filipino Style Recipe: Adobong Balut or Boiled Fertilized Duck Egg Adobo is an exotic Filipino dish. Balut is commonly sold along the street, usually during nighttime and served as finger food or pulutan. Some said that duck egg is considered as aphrodisiac and help to increase the stamina. Normally the boiled balut cooked in a blend of soy sauce and vinegar, season with sugar, salt and pepper. This dish is similar to other adobo dish.

Estimated time of preparation: 10 minutes
Estimated time of cooking: 15-20 minutes

Ingredients:
12 pieces balut(boiled fertilized duck egg)
1/2 head garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
1 thumb-sized ginger, peeled and minced
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup vinegar
1/4 cup water
3 bay leaves(laurel)
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon peppercorns
salt and sugar to taste
1/2 teaspoon chili flakes(optional)

Procedures:
Part 1
1. Remove balut shells then set aside. Reserve the broth.

Part 2
1. In a pan, heat oil then saute ginger, garlic and onion.
2. Add balut and stir fry to a minute.
3. Add soy sauce, balut broth, water, bay leaf and peppercorns then bring to boil.
4. Add vinegar and simmer for a few minutes. Add water if necessary.
5. Add chili flakes, salt and sugar according to taste then simmer for a minute.
6. Transfer to serving plate then serve with steamed rice. Enjoy:)

Adobong Hito

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Filipino Style Recipe: Adobong Hito or catfish is another variety of popular Filipino adobo. The procedure is almost the same, normally the fish cooked in a blend of soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, peppercorn, salt and soda to add sweetness to our dish. Covered and simmered until the fish is tender and a little sauce is left. This delicious dish commonly served main dish or sometimes as pulutan.

Estimated time of preparation: 15 minutes
Estimated time of cooking: 25 minutes
Good for 3-4 persons

Ingredients:
2 pieces medium-sized catfish (hito), cleaned
1 1/2 cup soda or lemonade
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup vinegar
1/2 head garlic, peeled and crushed
1 large onion, peeled and sliced
1 thumb-sized ginger, chopped and crushed
1 tablespoon peppercorns
salt to taste
4 pieces red chili peppers(labuyo), chopped(optional)

Procedures:
Part 1
1. Clean the fish by removing the fins, innards and chop off the tails.
2. Slice into serving pieces then rub with salt and wash on running water.

Part 2
1. In a cooking pot, arrange the fish and all the ingredients.
2. Cover and simmer in a medium heat until tender and a little sauce is left.
3. Adjust seasoning according to taste, add water if necessary then simmer for a few minutes.
4. Remove from heat then transfer on a serving plate. Serve with steamed rice.