Buko Pandan

Filipino Style Recipe:buko pandan is another popular Filipino dessert that usually served in any occasion specially during Holidays. It is made of young coconut strips and pandan flavored gelatin mixed with cream and condensed milk.

Estimated time of preparation and cooking: 10-15 minutes(plus draining time)
Good for  5-8 persons

Ingredients:
2 cups young coconut, shredded into strips
1 pack gulaman(sweetened pandan flavor)
1 pack(250 ml) All-Purpose Cream
1 can(300 ml) condensed milk
1 tablespoon pandan flavoring essence

1 bottle clear nata de coco(optional)
1/2 cup tapioca pearls(sago), cooked(optional)

Procedures:
Part 1
1. Prepare gulaman based on package instructions.
2. Cut into small cubes. Set aside.

Part 2
1. In a large bowl, combine all purpose cream and condensed milk then mix until well blended.
2. Add gulaman, coconut strips, nata de coco, sago and pandan flavoring essence then mix.
3. Cover and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight before serving.

Green Chicken Curry

Filipino Style Recipe: green chicken curry is popular in Thai cuisines. This is similar to traditional chicken curry but we used Thai green curry in this recipe. Usually the chicken cooked in a blend of Thai green curry and coconut milk then season with fish sauce, lime juice and sugar.

Estimated time of preparation and cooking: 20-30 minutes.
Good for 3-4 persons

Ingredients:
500 grams chicken fillets, cut into serving pieces
2 tablespoons Thai green curry paste
1 1/2 cup coconut milk
1 onion, chopped
2 lime leaves
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1 tablespoon lime juice
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

2 bell peppers(green and red), strips(optional)
1 carrot, cubed(optional)
1 cup broccoli flower(optional)

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a pan, heat oil and saute onion.
2. Add curry paste and cook for 2 minutes. Stir constantly.
3. Pour coconut milk and bring to boil. Add water if needed.
4. Add chicken and vegetables, simmer uncovered for 20 minutes or until tender.
5. Season with fish sauce, lime juice and brown sugar. Stir to combine.
6. Transfer to serving plate then serve.

Pork Tapa

Filipino Style Recipe: pork tapa or tapang baboy is another variety of Filipino tapa. Normally we use beef but in this recipe we will use pork. Normally the meat prepared in thin slices and marinated overnight then fry until tender. Tapa is usually serve during breakfast with fried rice and egg, together with achara(picked papaya strips).

Estimated time of preparation: 10 minutes, (plus marinating time)
Estimated time of cooking: 10-15 minutes
Good for 3-4 persons

Ingredients:
500 grams pork sirloin, sliced thinly
1/4 cup cooking oil

Marinade:
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons lime or calamansi juice
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 cup soda
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon oyster sauce(optional)
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper(optional)

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a bowl, combine pork and marinade. Mix well then cover and marinate overnight inside the fridge.

Part 2
1. In a pan, heat cooking oil over low heat then fry marinated pork for 8-10 minutes or until light brown and tender.(Don’t overcooked, meat will become tough).
2. Drain and transfer to serving plate. Serve with kamatis, fried rice and fried egg.

Baked Buttered Tahong

Filipino Style Recipe: baked buttered tahong or halaan is another easy and simple seafood appetizer dish. Normally the tahong comes stir fried or boiled until shells open and discard the top cover. Top with butter, garlic and grated cheese then baked until melted.

Estimated time of preparation and cooking: 20-25 minutes
Good for 3-4 persons

Ingredients:
1 kilo large tahong(mussels) or halaan(clams)
1/2 cup butter, softened
5 gloves garlic, finely chopped
salt and pepper to taste
1 thumb-sized, ginger, minced(optional)
1/2 cup chopped parsley(optional)
1/2 cup grated cheese(quick melt)(optional)

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a pan, place ginger and mussels with enough water. Bring to boil until the shells open.
2. Drain and remove top shell. Set aside.

Part 2
1. In a bowl, combine butter, garlic, parsley, salt and pepper. Mix well.
2. Top each mussel meat with mixture and grated cheese then arrange on baking tray.
3. Bake over 250 Fahrenheit for 15 minutes.
4. Remove from the oven and transfer to a serving plate. Done.

Mango Sago

Filipino Style Recipe: mango sago is a refreshing dessert that usually served during summer season. Usually the ripe mangoes cut into cubes then mix with mango juice, milk, sugar and tapioca pearls.

Estimated time of preparation and cooking: 20-25 minutes(plus soaking time)
Good for 3-4 servings

Ingredients:
2 sweet ripe mangoes, peel and cut into cubes
4 tablespoons tapioca pearls(sago), soak in water for 3 hours
125 ml evaporated milk
200 ml mango juice
50 ml water
3 tablespoons sugar

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a pot, boil water on medium heat then add tapioca pearls. Cook for 15 minutes.
2. Stir constantly and make sure they don’t stick together. The pearls should turn clear when they’re cooked.
3. Drain tapioca pearls and transfer to a bowl of cold water.

Part 2
1. Blended the half of mango cubes, mango juice, sugar, water and milk.
2. Transfer to mixing bowl, Add remaining mango cubes and tapioca pearls and stir until well blended.
3. Refrigerate before serving.

Ube Halaya

Filipino Style Recipe: Ube Halaya is a Filipino dessert made from purple yam. The purple yam comes boiled, peeled and grated. Cook with condensed milk and evaporated milk until thick.

Ingredients:
1 kilo purple yam(ube)
2 cans(12 ounces) condensed milk
1 can(14 ounces) evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup butter

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a pot, arrange purple yam and pour water. Bring to boil for 30 minutes or until tender.
2. Drain and let it cool. Peel and grate the purple yam.

Part 2
1. In a pan, melt butter in a low heat and add condensed milk, evaporated milk and vanilla extract. Mix well.
2. Add grated purple yam and cook for 30 minutes or until becomes really thick.
3. Transfer to shallow pan and let it cool.
4. Refrigerate for 2 hours then serve.

Notes:
1. You may also used powdered purple yam, available in grocery stores.

Ginataang Puso ng Saging

Filipino Style Recipe: ginataang puso ng saging or banana blossom in coconut milk is another easy yet healthy dish. Normally the banana bud/blossom sliced then cooked with coconut milk together with shrimps or salted dried fish, season with salt and pepper.

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

Good for 4-5 persons

Ingredients:
1 piece banana bud/blossom(puso ng saging)
100 grams pork meat, sliced into serving pieces
1 1/2 cups coconut milk
1 thumb-sized ginger, sliced thinly
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
1 tablespoon vinegar
2 pieces green chili(siling haba), chopped(optional)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
salt and pepper to taste

Procedures:
Part 1
1. Discard the outer reddish cover of the banana bud until you reached yellowish white part.
2. Slice thinly the bud lengthwise then chopped thinly across the grain.
3. In a bowl,combine salted water and banana bud. Soak for 15 minutes.
4. Drain and squeeze out all the juices. Set aside.

Part 2
1. In a pan, heat oil and saute ginger, garlic and onion.
2. Add pork and simmer until color turns to golden brown.
3. Add banana bud and cook for 2 minutes.
4. Pour vinegar, cover and simmer for 3 minutes. Do not stir.
5. Pour coconut milk, green chili and simmer until the liquid reduced. Stir occasionally.
6. Season with salt and pepper according to taste.
7. Simmer until sauce is thickens and oily.
8. Transfer to serving bowl then serve with steamed rice.

Notes:
1. You may also used shrimp or salted dried fish.

Yema

Filipino Style Recipe: Yema is another popular and easy Filipino sweet delicacy that is made up of condensed milk and egg yolks, some added flavor like jack fruit, ground nuts or just roll it into sugar.

Estimated time of preparation and cooking: 10-15 minutes

Ingredients:
1 big can condensed milk
3 egg yolks
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup white sugar(optional)

Procedures:
1. In a bowl, combine condensed milk and egg yolks. Mix well.
2. In a saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add milk mixture.
3. Keep stirring until thick. Remove from heat and let it cool.
4. Shape the mixture into balls and roll in granulated sugar.
5. Repeat until all the mixture are consumed. Wrap into cellophane or put in fluted baking cups.

Notes:
1. You may also add flavored like ground nuts or jack fruit.

Pork Kilawin

Filipino Style Recipe: pork kilawin is another popular spicy and sour appetizer that usually served as finger food(pulutan). Normally the pork meat(usually cheek and ears) comes boiled and grilled then chop into small pieces. Mix well with onions, vinegar, soy sauce, salt and pepper.

Estimated time of preparation: 10 minutes
Estimated time of cooking: 30-40 minutes
Good for 5-7 servings

Ingredients:
1 kilo pork meat(combination of cheek, ear and snout)
2 big onions, minced
2 thumb-sized gingers, minced(optional)
5 red and green hot chili(siling labuyo) chopped
1/2 cup vinegar
1/3 cup soy sauce
salt and pepper to taste

Procedures:
1. In a pot, Pour water, pork and salt. Bring to boil for 30-40 minutes or until soft and tender.
2. Drain and grill over hot charcoal until browned.
3. Let it cool then chopped into small pieces.

Part 2.
1. In a large bowl, place chopped pork and add remaining ingredients.
2. Serve! best for pulutan.

Sweet Red Bean Paste

Filipino Style Recipe: sweet red bean paste is one of the typical filling of buns like hopia and buchi. Normally the red beans soaked in water for several hours and then boiled until very soft. Mashed and cooked with sugar until it becomes a thick paste.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups red beans
4 cups water
1 cup sugar

Part 1
1. In a large bowl, pour plenty of water and then soak the red beans for atleast 8 hours or over night.

Part 2
1. In a pan, place red beans and pour water. Bring to boil over medium heat for 2 hours or until very soft.
2. Remove the foams forming in the surface and the skins as it rises. Add more water as necessary.

Part 3
1. Drain the beans and then blend it into a blender or gently mash it until become puree. Discard the skins.
2. Using a clean cloth or strainer, place the red bean puree and squeeze to remove excess moisture.
4. In a pan, place red bean puree then add sugar, cook in a low heat until it becomes a thick paste.
5. Stir well so that it does not stick to the bottom. Remove from heat and let it cool.