Kwek-Kwek

Filipino Style Recipe: Kwek-kwek is another popular Filipino meryenda(mid-afternoon snack) that is commonly sold along the streets. Kwek-kwek is a hard-boiled quail eggs wrapped in orange batter then deep fried until golden brown. This is similar to tokneneng which is made up of chicken or duck eggs instead of quail eggs.

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

Ingredients:
3 dozen quail eggs, hard-boiled
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 cup water
salt and ground pepper to taste
1 teaspoon orange food coloring
cooking oil for frying

Procedures:
1. In a mixing bowl, combine flour,salt, pepper, water and food coloring. Mix until well blended.
2. Add baking powder, stir to smooth batter and set aside for 15 minutes.
3. Place the hard-boiled eggs in the mixing bowl and coat with batter.
4. Spoon out the eggs from the batter and deep fry in hot cooking oil for a minute or until the coating is crispy.
5. Drain and serve with spicy vinegar or sweet and sour sauce. Enjoy!

Notes:
1. You may also used anatto water instead of food coloring.
2. You may used duck eggs or chicken eggs instead of quail eggs.

Dipping Sauce:
1/2 cup vinegar
2 tablespoons flour or cornstarch
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
3 tablespoons soy sauce or 2 tablespoons ketchup for coloring
hot sauce or chopped chili peppers(labuyo)(optional)

Procedures:
1. In a sauce pan, combine all the ingredients then simmer in a low heat while keep stirring until thickens.

Braised Pork in Sweet Soy Sauce

Filipino Style Recipe: Braised pork in sweet soy sauce is similar to pork adobo and pork asado. It is consists of pork marinate and cook in a blend of sweet soy sauce, garlic, onion and peppercorn. This dish has a sweeter and more flavorful taste than the usual pork adobo.

Estimated time of preparation: 10 minutes(plus marinating time)
Estimated time of cooking: 40 minutes
Good for 2-3 persons

Ingredients:
1/2 kilo pork, cut in serving pieces
1/4 cup sweet soy sauce
2 gloves garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
10 pieces peppercorns
2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon cornstarch(dissolved in 1/4 cup water),(optional)
sugar, salt to taste

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a pot, combine pork, garlic, onion, sweet soy sauce and peppercorn for 30 minutes.

Part 2
1. Pour water then simmer in a medium heat for 30 minutes or until pork is tender. Add water if necessary.
2. Adjust seasoning according to taste then pour dissolved cornstarch.
3. Simmer until the sauce has thicken and start to render oil.
4. Remove from heat then transfer to serving plate then serve with steamed rice.

Notes:
1. If sweet soy sauce is not available, you may dissolved 1/4 cup brown sugar in 1/4 cup dark soy sauce.

Stir Fried Kangkong

Filipino Style Recipe: stir fried kangkong or water spinach is an easy yet healthy dish. The procedures is very simple, normally water spinach toss oyster sauce mixture in a blend of oyster sauce, red chili, fish sauce and brown sugar then stir fry in olive oil until wilted.

Estimated time of preparation: 3-5 minutes
Estimated time of cooking: 2 minutes
Good for 1-2 persons

Ingredients:
1 bunch water spinach(kangkong), trimmed
2 gloves garlic, minced
4 pieces red chili(labuyo), sliced
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
1 tablespoon fish sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons olive oil

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a large bowl, combine garlic, red chili, oyster sauce, fish sauce and brown sugar.
2. Add kangkong then toss to coat.

Part 2
1. In a pan, heat oil then add all the ingredients.
2. Stir fry to 1-2 minutes or until wilted. Serve immediately.

Sauteed Tinapa with Salted Eggs

Filipino Style Recipe: sauteed tinapa with salted eggs is an easy and simple dish made up of smoked fish(tinapa) cut into flakes then sauteed in garlic, tomatoes and salted eggs. I used left-over tinapa in this recipe, this is usually served during breakfast with garlic rice.

Estimated time of preparation and cooking: 10-15 minutes
Good for 1-2 persons

Ingredients:
3 pieces tinapa(smoked fish), flakes and discard bones
2 salted eggs(itlog na pula), cut into cubes
3 tomatoes, cut into cubes
2 gloves garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
2 tablespoons liquid seasoning or soy sauce
ground pepper to taste
a pinch of chili flakes(optional)
spring onion, chopped(optional)

Procedures:
1. In a pan, heat oil then saute garlic, onion and tomatoes until soft.
2. Add tinapa flakes, ground pepper and chili flakes then stir cook for 3 minutes.
3. Add salted eggs, liquid seasoning and spring onion then stir cook for another minute.
4. Transfer to serving plate then serve with garlic rice.

Milkfish Steak(Bistek)

Filipino Style Recipe: milkfish steak or bistek tagalog na bangus is another variety of steak(bistek) dish. The fish marinade and fry until golden brown. Then re-cooked in marinade together with onion rings.

Estimated time of preparation and cooking: 20-30 minutes(plus marinating time)
Good for 3-4 persons

Ingredients:
4 slices milkfish(bangus) belly, deboned
1 large white onion, cut into rings
1/4 cup cooking oil

Marinade:
6 calamansi, juice
4 tablespoons soy sauce
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 thumb-sized ginger, julienned
salt and pepper to taste

Procedures:
Part 1
1. Marinate milkfish in calamansi juice, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, salt and pepper for 30 minutes.

Part 2
1. In a pan, heat oil then lightly fry onions for a minute. Drain and set aside.
2. In a same pan, fry marinated fish until crisp and golden brown. Drain and set aside.
3. In a same pan, reduce oil then saute garlic and ginger.
4. Pour marinade then adjust seasoning according to taste.
5. Put back fried fish and fried onions then simmer for a few seconds.
6. Remove from heat then transfer to serving plate. Serve with garlic rice.

Stir Fried Beef with Asparagus and Red Pepper

Filipino Style Recipe: stir fried beef with asparagus and red pepper is another easy and simple dish. Normally the beef strips marinate then stir fry until light brown then cooked with marinade, cornstarch, asparagus and red bell pepper.

Estimated time preparation and cooking: 20-25 minutes
Good for 2-3 persons

Ingredients:
1/2 kilo beef sirloin, slice thinly into strips
300 grams asparagus, cut into 1 inch
1 red bell pepper, cut into strips
1 tablespoon cornstarch(dissolved in 3 tablespoons water)
3 tablespoons olive oil

Marinade:
3 tablespoons soy sauce
3 gloves garlic, minced
1 thumb-sized ginger, julienned
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 tablespoon ground pepper
1 tablespoon salt

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a bowl, combine beef, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, sugar, salt and pepper. Marinate for 30 minutes.

Part 2
1. In a pan, heat oil and stir fry beef over low heat for 2-3 minutes. Drain and set aside.
2. In a same pan, saute ginger and garlic from marinade.
3. Add asparagus and red pepper then stir fry for a few seconds.
4. Add stir fried beef, marinade and dissolved cornstarch. Cook for 2 minutes or until sauce thickens.
5. Remove from heat then transfer to serving plate. Serve with steamed rice.

Pork Estofado

Filipino Style Recipe: Pork Estofado is another pork dish that is commonly served by Filipinos. This is similar to Adobo and Patatim. Normally the pork cooked in a blend of soy sauce and vinegar with bananas. Others add potatoes, carrots or sausages.

Estimated time of preparation: 10-15 minutes
Estimated time of cooking: 40-50 minutes
Good for 4-6 persons

Ingredients:
1 kilo pork, cut into serving pieces
5 pieces plantain bananas(saba), sliced diagonally
4 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup vinegar
3 tablespoons brown sugar
3 pieces bay leaves
1 tablespoon whole peppercorn
1 cup water
1 teaspoon cornstarch(dissolved in 1/2 cup water)
cooking oil for frying

2 pieces sausage, sliced diagonally(optional)
2 medium-sized carrots, sliced diagonally(optional)

Procedures:
Part 1(optional)
1. In a pan, heat oil and fry the sliced bananas until golden brown. Drain and set aside.

Part 2
1. In a large container, combine pork, garlic, soy sauce, sugar, bay leaf and peppercorn for 30 minutes.

Part 3
1. In a pot, heat oil then saute garlic and marinated pork. Stir fry for 3-5 minutes.
2. Pour water and marinade then simmer in a low heat for 30 minutes or until pork is tender. Add more water if necessary.
3. Add vinegar and simmer for 5 minutes. Do not stir.
4. Add dissolved cornstarch and bananas then simmer for another 3 minutes.
5. Adjust seasoning according to taste then simmer until the sauce has reduced and thicken. Serve.

Buttered Vegetables

Filipino Style Recipe: buttered vegetables is another simple yet healthy dish and usually served as side dish. It is consists of different varieties of vegetables steamed then toss with butter, salt and pepper.

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

Ingredients:
3 cups mixed vegetables(broccoli, carrots, snow peas, beans, cauliflower or any vegetables)
3 tablespoons butter, melted
salt and pepper to taste

Procedures:
1. In a steamer, steam vegetables for 3 minutes or until tender.
2. Transfer the steamed vegetables into serving bowl.
3. Add butter, salt and pepper then toss until well coated. Serve immediately.

Paksiw na Lechon Kawali

Filipino Style Recipe: paksiw na lechon kawali is a simple and easy Filipino pork dish. This is similar to lechon paksiw but instead of roasted pork we will use fried pork belly. It is consists of fried pork belly or leftover lechon kawali then re-cooked with lechon sauce, vinegar, garlic and some spices.

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

Ingredients:
1/2 kilo lechon kawali or fried pork belly, cut into serving pieces
1/4 cup lechon sauce
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 medium onion, chopped
1 teaspoon peppercorn
1 bay leaf(laurel)
2 tablespoon vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup water
salt to taste

1/4 cup liver spread(optional)

Procedures:
1. In a pan, heat lechon kawali until start to render oil.
2. Add garlic and onions then saute until translucent.
3. Pour water, peppercorn and bay leaf then bring to boil.
4. Pour vinegar and simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Add the sugar, liver spread and lechon sauce then simmer for another 5 minutes.
6. Adjust seasoning with salt according to taste.
7. Remove from heat and serve with steamed rice. Enjoy!

Glazed Mackerel with Water Spinach

Filipino Style Recipe: glazed mackerel with water spinach is a low-carbohydrate dish. It is usually consists of mackerel fillet marinade in a blend of honey, brown sugar and soy sauce. Stir fried until tender then served with wilted water spinach as side dish.

Estimated time of preparation and cooking: 50 minutes
Good for 4-6 servings

Ingredients:
2 slices mackerel(tanigue) fillets, 1 inch thick
1 lemon, juice
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
2 gloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
2 bunches fresh water spinach, trimmed
2 tablespoons white wine(optional)

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a bowl, marinate mackerel fillets in lemon juice for 10-15 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Part 2
1. In a sauce pan, melt butter then saute garlic.
2. Add brown sugar, honey and soy sauce then bring to boil until reduces in half. Keep stirring.
3. Pour the sugar mixture over the mackerel then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Set aside for 10 minutes.

Part 3
1. In a frying pan, heat olive oil and fry mackerel fillets while basting with sugar mixture.
2. Brushing the top with mixture so the fish begins to caramelize.
3. Cook until the side turns to golden brown and begins to caramelize both sides.
4. Remove from the pan and set aside.

Part 4
1. In a sauce pan, melt the butter then add spinach, salt and pepper.
2. Pour wine then cook for a minute or until the leaves begin to wilt. Drain.
3. Drain then transfer to serving plate and arrange mackerel on top. Serve immediately!