Braised Pork in Oyster Sauce

Filipino Style Recipe: Braised pork in oyster sauce is another simple yet delicious pork dish similar to adobo and estofado. I usually cooked pork in a blend of soy sauce, water, sugar, garlic and peppercorn. Then simmered in oyster sauce together with fried bananas and hard-boiled eggs.

Estimated time of preparation: 10-15 minutes(plus marinating time)
Estimated time of cooking: 40-50 minutes
Good for 3-5 persons

Ingredients:
3/4 kilo pork belly, cut into serving pieces
4 pieces plantain bananas(saba), sliced diagonally
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup oyster sauce
1/2 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon whole peppercorn
1/8 teaspoon dried chili flakes
10 pieces quail eggs, hard-boiled
1 cup water
cooking oil for frying
2 pieces star anise(optional)

Procedures:
Part 1(optional)
1. In a pan, heat oil and fry the sliced bananas until golden brown. Drain and set aside.
2. In a casserole, combine pork, garlic, soy sauce, water, sugar, star anise and peppercorn then marinate for 30 minutes.

Part 2
1. Place the casserole in a stove then cook pork for 30 minutes or until tender. Add more water if necessary.
2. Add oyster sauce, fried bananas, hard-boiled quail eggs and chili flakes then simmer for 2 minutes.
3. Adjust seasoning according to taste then continue cooking until the sauce is thicken.
4. Transfer to serving plate then serve with steamed rice.

Sinabawang Halaan

Filipino Style Recipe: Sinabawang halaan recipe or clam soup is a simple yet delicious seafood dish that’s commonly served by Filipinos. The usual way of eating clams is by using your hands then scoop the meat out of the shell using your mouth. This is usually served during rainy season and it’s a good source of energy for lactating mothers.

Estimated time of preparation: 8 minutes(plus soaking time)
Estimated time of cooking: 15 minutes
Good for 3-5 persons.

Ingredients:
1/2 kilo fresh clams(halaan), Wash thoroughly and drain
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 thumb-sized ginger, thinly sliced
1 onion, sliced
1 tomato, chopped
2 cups water or rice washing
3 tablespoon fish sauce(patis) or salt
1 teaspoon ground pepper
butter or cooking oil

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a large bowl, place clams with water and salt. Cover and set aside for several hours or overnight. (This will allow the clams to expel sand).

Part 2
1. In a wok, melt butter then saute ginger, garlic and onion until translucent.
2. Add tomatoes then continue sauteing for 3 minutes.
3. Add fish sauce and the clams then saute for another 2 minutes.
4. Pour water then cover and let boil.Adjust seasoning with salt and ground pepper.
5. Continue cooking over a high heat until clams open.
6. Transfer to serving bowl then serve with steamed rice.

Sarciadong Ampalaya

Filipino Style Recipe: Sarciadong ampalaya or bitter gourd sarciado is another healthy yet affordable dish. The bitter gourd sauteed with ground pork then cooked and simmered with tomatoes and beaten eggs.

Estimated time of preparation: 10 minutes(plus soaking time)
Estimated time of cooking: 15-20 minutes
Good for 4-6 servings

Ingredients:
2 bitter gourd(ampalaya), seeded and sliced thinly
3 medium-sized tomatoes, diced
2 pieces eggs, beaten
1 medium onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup water
250 grams ground pork(optional)

Procedures:
Part 1
1. Rub bitter gourd with salt and leave for 10 minutes then squeeze until the juice comes out. Rinse, drain and set aside.

Part 2
1. In a pan, heat oil and saute garlic, onion and tomatoes.
2. Add ground pork and cook until brown.
3. Add water and bring to boil then add bitter gourd. Cover and simmer for 3 minutes.
4. Add beaten eggs then stir cook until eggs are firm.
5. Season with salt and pepper according to taste. Remove from heat and serve hot!

Homemade Pancakes

Filipino Style Recipe: homemade pancakes or hotcakes is a thin and flat cake is consists of flour, baking powder, eggs, milk, salt and sugar. Blend together then cooked in a pan until golden brown. This is usually served during breakfast with strawberry syrup, butter and mango slices.

Estimated time of preparation: 15 minutes
Estimated time of cooking: 20-30 minutes
Good for 4-6 servings

Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup evaporated milk
2 eggs, beaten
4 tbsp melted butter

Serving:
strawberry syrup
butter
mango slices(optional)
powdered sugar(optional)

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt. Mix well.
2. Add the evaporated milk and eggs
3. Stir in the butter until well blended.

Part 2
1. Heat a non-stick pan in a low heat, grease using melted butter then scoop and pour 1/4 cup of batter.
2. Swirl the batter then cook for 20 seconds or until top starts to bubble. Flip and cook the other side until golden brown.
3. Repeat the steps for the remaining batter.
4. Transfer the pancakes to serving plates. Sprinkle with powdered sugar then serve with strawberry syrup and topped with butter and mango slices.

Spicy Salt and Pepper Tofu

Filipino Style Recipe: Spicy Salt and Pepper Tofu is another easy and simple dish inspired by Chinese cuisine. The tofu was coated in cornstarch then fried until golden brown. The sauce was made up of sauteed garlic, spring onions, dried chili flakes and other seasonings then tossed together with fried tofu. This can be serve as side dish or appetizer.

Estimated time of preparation: 5 minutes.
Estimated time of cooking: 10-15 minutes.
Good for 2-3 persons

Ingredients:
400 grams medium firm tofu
3/4 cup cornstarch
3 gloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon spring onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried chili flakes
1/2 teaspoon rosemary
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
vegetable oil for frying
salt and pepper to taste

Procedures:
Part 1
1. Pat dry tofu then cut into 1 inch cubes.
2. In another bowl, combine cornstarch, salt and pepper then toss tofu until coat evenly.

Part 2
1. In a frying pan, heat oil and fry tofu for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown.
2. Drain on paper towels and set aside.

Part 3
1. In a pan, heat oil and saute garlic, spring onions, dried rosemary and chili flakes.
2. Add soy sauce, brown sugar then cook for a few seconds.
3. Add fried tofu and dried basil then toss.
4. Remove form heat then transfer to serving plate. Serve with your favorite dip.

Nilagang Buto-buto ng Baka

Filipino Style Recipe: nilagang buto-buto ng baka is an easy yet delicious Filipino soup dish. This soup dish is so simple to prepare but time consuming. The beef simmered for an hour until tender then cooked with corn cob, potatoes, carrots and other veggies. This is so popular and can be served anytime or the best during rainy season.

Estimated time of preparation: 15 minutes
Estimated time of cooking: 60-80 minutes
Good for 3-5 persons

Ingredients:
500 grams beef ribs, cut into serving pieces
7 cups water(add more if necessary)
1 onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon peppercorn
2 potatoes, quartered
1 bundle bok choy(pechay)
1/2 small cabbage leaves(repolyo), cut into serving pieces
fish sauce or salt to taste
1 piece beef bouillon cube(optional)
1 carrots, cut into serving pieces(optional)
1/2 bundle green beans, trimmed and cut into 3-4inch(optional)
1 Japanese corn cob, cut into serving pieces

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a large casserole, place the beef and add water. Set over medium heat and bring to a boil and simmer for about 1 1/2 hours or until meat is tender. (Remove the scum as it rises.)
2. Add more water if necessary. Pressure cooker only takes 30 minutes.

Part 2
1. Add onion, peppercorn, beef bouillon cube and sprinkle some salt.
2. Add corn, potatoes, and carrots then continue cooking until cooked.
3. Add the green beans then simmer for 3-5 minutes. Adjust seasoning according to taste.
4. Add cabbage and pechay then simmer for another minute.
5. Transfer to serving bowl then serve hot with steamed rice. Enjoy

Relyenong Bangus

Filipino Style Recipe: Relyenong bangus or stuffed milkfish is one of the most delicious and popular Filipino dish. This dish is considered as special dish because it requires a lot of patience, effort and time. The fish meat sauteed and then cooked with other ingredients and seasonings. The bangus skin stuffed with meat mixture until resembled to original shape then fry until golden brown.

Estimated time of preparation: 60-70 minutes
Estimated time of cooking: 40 minutes
Good for 5-6 servings

Ingredients:
1 large-sized bangus(milkfish), scales removed
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, finely chopped
1 small sized carrot, cut into small cubes
2 tablespoons raisins
1 large-sized egg, beaten
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons calamansi or lime juice
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons flour
cooking oil for frying

Procedures:
Part 1
1. Using flat side of a knife, gently pound fish then break the spine near the head and on the tail.
2. Insert the spoon through the neck then gently scrape the meat off without breaking the skin.

Part 2
1. In a bowl, marinate the head and skin with soy sauce and calamansi juice for 30 minutes. Drain and set aside.
2. In a pot, boil fish meat in water for 5 minutes. Drain
3. Remove remaining bones then flakes the meat. Set aside.

Part 3
1. In a pan, heat oil then saute garlic, onion and carrot.
2. Add fish meat, soy sauce then season with salt and pepper according to taste.
3. Add raisins then cook for 5 minutes while keep stirring. Let it cool then add egg and mix well.

Part 4
1. Stuff the bangus with mixture until it resembles to original shape.
2. Dredge the fish with flour then fry in a low heat until golden brown.
3. Let it cool before slicing.

Note:
1. You may also cook relyenong bangus into oven by wrapping it with wilted banana leaves or aluminum foil then bake for 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 minutes.

Mongolian Shrimp Rice Toppings

Filipino Style Recipe: Mongolian shrimp rice toppings is another easy and simple dish inspired by Chinese cuisine. The shrimps coated in flour, egg, salt and pepper then fried until light brown. The sauce is consists of soy sauce, oyster sauce, wine, water, brown sugar and other seasonings. Toss in fried shrimps to coat then serve with steamed rice.

Estimated time of preparation: 5-8 minutes
Estimated time of cooking: 25-30 minutes
Good for 2-3 persons

Ingredients:
500 grams fresh shrimps, peeled and discard heads
1/4 cup flour
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ginger powder
a dash of dried chili flakes
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
2 tablespoons red wine
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup brown sugar
salt and pepper to taste
cooking oil for frying

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a bowl, combine flour, egg, salt and pepper then mix until well blended.
2. Add shrimps then toss to coat.

Part 2
1. In a frying pan, heat oil then fry shrimps for 5 minutes or until light brown. Drain on paper towels.
2. In a same pan, reduce oil then stir cook the garlic, ginger and chili flakes.
3. Add the remaining ingredients then simmer until reduce in half and start to thickens.

Part 3
1. In a bowl, combine fried shrimps and the sauce then toss to coat. Serve with steamed rice then sprinkle with spring onions.

Egg Sandwich Spread

Filipino Style Recipe: Egg sandwich spread is a very simple and easy to prepare spread that consists of chopped hard-boiled eggs, mayonnaise, onion, salt and pepper then mix until well blended. This is commonly spread into bread together with tomatoes and lettuce.

Estimated time of preparation and cooking: 20 minutes
Good for 5-6 servings

Ingredients:
3 eggs
4 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 small onion, finely chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a pot, put eggs then pour enough water then bring to boil for 2 minutes.
2. Turn off the heat then cover with lid for 10 minutes.
3. Remove the eggs then rinse with water until cooled. Remove shell.

Part 2
1. In a bowl, chop or grate the hard-boiled eggs.
2. Add onions, mayonnaise, salt and pepper then mix until well blended.
3. Spread egg mixture into loaf bread and serve. You can also add tomatoes and lettuce into the sandwich.

Sinigang na Baka

Filipino Style Recipe: Sinigang na baka is another variety of tamarind soup dish that consists of beef boiled in a low heat until tender then cooked in tamarind soup together with other vegetables. This dish has a sour taste that is usually serve as main dish specially during rainy season.

Estimated time of preparation: 15 minutes
Estimated time of cooking: 120 minutes
Good for 4-6 persons

Ingredients:
1 kilo beef, cut into serving pieces
12 tamarind(sampalok) or 2 packs sampaloc mix
1 big-sized onion, chopped
5 medium-sized tomatoes, quartered
3 medium-sized taro(gabi), peeled and cut into cubes
1 bundle of string beans(sitaw), cut into 2 inches long
1 bundle of river spinach(kangkong leaves)
3 pieces green pepper(siling haba)
salt and fish Sauce(patis)
1 1/2 liters water
1 radish, sliced(optional)

Procedures:
Part 1
1.Boil tamarind, pound and strain the juice. Set aside.

Part 2
1. In a casserole, place beef, salt then pour water.
2. Bring to boil in a low heat for 1 1/2 hours or until beef is tender. Add more water if necessary. (Pressure cooker takes less time.)
3. Add onion, tomatoes, and tamarind juice then bring to boil.
4. Add gabi then simmer until tender.
5. Add radish, okra, green pepper, and string beans then simmer for another 5 minutes.
6. Adjust seasoning with fish sauce then add kangkong.
7. Turn off the heat then let it sit for 1-2 minutes or until kangkong is cooked.
8. Transfer to serving bowl then serve hot with steamed rice.