Kalingking(Sweet Potato Fritters)

Filipino Style Recipe: Kalingking or sweet potato fritters is another typical Filipino meryenda(mid-afternoon snack). Kalingking is normally consists of sweet potato(kamote) cut into strips then dipped in a combination of flour, milk, salt and sugar then deep fried until golden brown. Kalingking is similar to maruya or banana fritters.

Estimated time of preparation and cooking: 30-40 minutes
Good for 3-4 persons

Ingredients:
1 kilo sweet potato(kamote), cut into short strips
3 cup flour
1 cup milk or water
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt(optional)
oil for frying

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt and milk. Mix well then dip sweet potato until well coated.

Part 2
1. In a pan, heat oil and deep fry the sweet potato(dipped in batter) until golden brown and crispy.
2. Drain then serve then sprinkle with sugar.

Puto Pao

Filipino Style Recipe: Puto pao is another Filipino delicacy that usually served during meryenda(mid-afternoon snack). Puto Pao is similar to plain puto stuffed with filling same as siopao. There are several versions of puto pao, in this recipe we will make asado for the filling.

Estimated time of preparation: 20 minutes
Estimated time of cooking: 30-40 minutes

Ingredients:
Batter:
500 grams all purpose flour
250 grams white sugar
1/4 cup baking powder
2-1/2 cups water
1 cup powdered milk
3 pieces whole eggs
3 tablespoons butter

Filling:
500 grams ground pork or beef
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 piece laurel leaf
1 piece star anise
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons cooking oil

Toppings:
1/2 cheddar cheese, sliced
4 salted eggs, sliced

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder then pour water, powdered milk and stir well.
2. Add eggs and butter then mix until well blended. Set aside.

Part 2
1. In a pan, heat oil and saute garlic then add ground meat and stir cook for 3 minutes.
2. Add the rest of the filling ingredients and cook until tender and the sauce thickened.
3. Discard anise and laurel. Set aside.

Part 3
1. In a muffin cups, pour a little amount of batter then add a tablespoon of filling.
2. Cover the filling with another amount of batter until cup is half full.
3. Top with salted egg and cheese then steam for 10-15 minutes or until done.(puto pao is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.)

Pork Mechado

Filipino Style Recipe: mechado recipe is a beef stew originally from Spanish that has become very popular in Filipino cuisine. A typical mechado dish consists of a beef but we will used pork in this recipe. The meat cooked in tomato sauce with potatoes, carrots and bell peppers then usually seasoned with soy sauce, bay leaves and vinegar. It is similar to several other tomato-based dishes such as kalderata, menudo and afritada.

Estimated time of preparation: 10 minutes
Estimated time of cooking: 45 minutes
Good for 3-4 persons.

Ingredients:
500 grams pork with fat, cut into chunk
2 cups tomato sauce or 1/2 cup tomato paste
1 onion, chopped
5 cloves garlic
3 bay leaves(laurel)
4 medium potatoes, quartered
1 bell pepper, sliced
2 cups beef stock or beef cubes dissolved in water
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon fish sauce
salt and pepper to taste
3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 carrot, cut into cubes(optional)
1/2 cup green peas(optional)
1/8 cup vinegar(optional)

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a pan heat oil and fry potatoes and carrots until golden brown.
2. Drain and set aside.

Part 2
1. In a pot, heat oil and saute garlic and onions.
2. Add pork and fish sauce then continue sauteing until color turns to brown.
3. Pour tomato sauce, soy sauce, bay leaves and beef stock then simmer until tender. Add water if necessary.
4. Add vinegar and boil again for 2-3 minutes. Do not stir.
5. Add carrots, potatoes, green peas and bell pepper. Simmer for 3 minutes.
6. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper according to taste.
7. Transfer to serving plate and serve with steamed rice.

Stir Fried Mushrooms, Beans Sprouts and Broccoli

Filipino Style Recipe: stir fried mushrooms, bean sprouts and broccoli is another easy and healthy low carbohydrate dish. Normally the vegetables stir cooked in a blend of soy sauce, cornstarch and other seasonings.

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

Ingredients:
1 head broccoli, cut into florets
1 cup shiitake mushrooms, sliced
100 grams bean sprouts
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
4 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoons cornstarch(dissolved in 1/4 cup water)
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt and white pepper to taste

1/2 cup green bell pepper, diced(optional)
1/2 teaspoon chili flakes(optional)

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a pan, heat oil then saute garlic and onion.
2. Pour soy sauce and bring to boil.
3. Add vegetables, chili flakes and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes.
4. Add dissolved cornstarch and simmer until thickens.
5. Adjust seasoning according to taste. Serve hot immediately.

Palitaw

Filipino Style Recipe: Palitaw or sticky rice dumplings is another popular Filipino delicacy. Palitaw is came from Filipino word “litaw” which means to float. This delicacy is made of mixing rice flour with water until dough is formed. Divided into small flatten patty then cook into the pot with boiling water until they float which meant they were done. Coated the palitaw with grated coconut then sprinkle with sugar and toasted sesame seed.

Estimated time of preparation and cooking: 40-50 minutes

Ingredients:
2 cups glutinous rice flour
1 cup water
1 cups grated coconut
sugar-sesame seed mixture(combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup toasted sesame seed)

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a bowl, combine rice flour and water. Mix well until smooth dough is formed.
2. Scoop 2 tablespoons of dough then roll into a ball and flatten into a patty.
3. Repeat until all the mixture are consumed.

Part 2
1. In a pot, boil water then drop the flatten dough.
2. Cook until they float then remove from the pot and drain.
3. Roll in grated coconut then transfer to serving plate.
4. Sprinkle with sugar-sesame seed mixture then serve.

Cabbage Soup

Filipino Style Recipe: cabbage soup is another simple and healthy soup dish that usually served during rainy season. This soup dish is good for those on diet and health conscious. Normally the cabbage and other veggies were stir cook then simmer with chicken broth until tender. If you prefer to add meat, you may include chicken breast or ground pork.

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

Ingredients:
1/2 head cabbage, chopped
1 carrot, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
2 white onions, diced
1 thumb-sized ginger, minced
4 cups chicken broth
salt and pepper to taste

2 pieces chicken breast(optional)
1/4 teaspoon chili flakes(optional)
1 chicken cube(bouillon cube),(optional)
1 cup celery, diced(optional)

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a pot, boil water then add chicken, ginger, onion, salt and pepper. Cook for 10 minutes.
2. Remove chicken and shred using fork. Set aside.

Part 2
1. In a pot, heat olive oil and saute garlic and onion.
2. Add bell pepper, celery and carrots then stir cook until slightly tender.
3. Add chicken broth, shredded chicken, bouillon cube, tomatoes and cabbage.
4. Reduce heat and bring to boil until veggies are tender.
5. Season with chili flakes, salt and pepper according to taste.
6. Transfer to serving then serve hot.

Ginisang Corned Beef

Filipino Style Recipe: Ginisang corned beef or sauteed canned corned beef is another popular breakfast by most Filipinos. This dish is simple and easy to prepared, normally the corned beef sauteed with garlic and onion then cooked with fried potatoes. Ginisang corned beef is usually served with fried rice(sinangag) and egg(itlog) also known as “Cornsilog”.

Estimated time of preparation: 10 minutes
Estimated time of cooking: 10 minutes
Good for 3-4 servings

Ingredients:
1 can(454 grams) corned beef(I prefer purefoods or delimondo)
1 large size potato, diced
2 large size onion, cut into rings
3 gloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons cooking oil
salt and pepper taste

Procedures:
1. In a pan, heat oil and stir fry onion until translucent. Remove from the pan and set aside.
2. In a same pan, stir fry potatoes until golden brown then add garlic until light brown.
3. Add corned beef and stir cook for 3 minutes. Add a little water if desired.
4. Adjust seasoning according to taste then add stir fried onion.
5. Remove from heat then serve with steamed or fried rice.

Spicy Fish Fillet with Tomatoes and Olives

Filipino Style Recipe: spicy fish fillet with tomatoes and olives is another low-carbohydrate dish. It is usually consists of fish fillets fried and cooked with tomatoes, olives, onions, garlic and peppers.

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

Ingredients:
4 pieces fish fillet(tilapia, salmon, red snapper)
2 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup black olives, chopped
1/2 cup green bell pepper, diced(optional)
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled and diced
2 tablespoons paprika
1/4 cup olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a bowl, season fillets with paprika, salt and pepper.
2. In a frying pan, heat olive oil and fry fillet for 2 minutes.

Part 2
1. In a saucepan, heat olive oil and saute onion and garlic.
2. Add the tomatoes, bell pepper, chili flakes, salt and pepper then simmer for 3 minutes or until soft. add a little water if necessary.
2. Place the fish fillets, cover and cook for another minutes.
3. Transfer salmon fillets to serving plate with the sauce.
4. Serve hot.

Beef Teriyaki Soup

Filipino Style Recipe: beef teriyaki soup is a soup dish made of cooked or left-over beef teriyaki then cooked and simmered with vegetables, uncooked rice and teriyaki sauce.

Estimated time of preparation: 15-20 minutes(plus marinating time)
Estimated time of cooking: 30-40 minutes

Good for 2-3 servings

Ingredients:
1/2 kilo beef sirloin, sliced thinly into strips
3 tablespoon teriyaki sauce
1 carrots, cut into matchstick strips
2 cups broccoli florets
1/3 cup long-grain rice
1 thumb-sized ginger, grated
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups water
1 beef cube(Bouillon cube)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cups unsweetened apple juice(optional)
1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted(optional)
spring onions for garnishing(optional)

Marinade:
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons vinegar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 tablespoon ground pepper
1 tablespoon salt

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

Part 2
1. In a saucepan, heat oil and stir fry beef over low heat until golden brown.
2. Pour the marinade and teriyaki sauce, cover and simmer for 5 minutes until tender.
3. Add water, apple juice, carrots, garlic, ginger, beef cube and uncooked rice. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
4. Adjust seasoning by adding more sugar, water or teriyaki sauce. Stir well.
5. Add broccoli and simmer for 2 more minutes.
6. Transfer to serving bowl then sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds, spring onion and red chili.

Chili Cheese Sticks(Dynamite)

Filipino Style Recipe: Chili cheese sticks AKA dynamite is a simple and popular cheese sticks in Bacolod. Chili cheese stick is made of finger chili(siling haba) stuffed with cheese strips then wrapped in spring roll wrapper, deep fried until golden brown and crisp and served with your favorite dipping sauce.

Estimated time of preparation and cooking: 20-30 minutes

Ingredients:
20 pieces finger chili(siling haba)
1 block cheddar cheese , sliced into small strips
Spring rolls or lumpia wrappers
cooking oil for deep frying

Procedures:
Part 1
1. Using a sharp knife, slit each chili vertical cut then scrape out the seeds. Rinse and drain.
2. Stuff the chili with cheese then wrap and roll the wrapper, use a bit of water to seal the edges.

Part 2
1. In a frying pan, heat enough oil then deep fry the rolls for 2-3 minutes until golden brown and crisp.
2. Drain on paper towel then serve with preferred dressing.

Notes:
1. You may also add strips of ham together with cheese if you prefer.