Ensaladang Talong

Filipino Style Recipe: ensaladang talong or eggplant salad is another easy and simple salad that usually served as side dish. It is consists of broiled eggplants then peel off the skin and stem. Toss with tomatoes and onions then serve with bagoong isda or toyo-mansi.

Estimated time of preparation and cooking: 20 minutes
Good for 4-5 servings

Ingredients:
4 large eggplants(talong)
2 onions, cubed
4 medium-sized tomatoes, cubed
2 tablespoons bagoong isda or fish sauce

Procedures:
Part 1
1. Broil eggplants until skin are charred and blister.
2. Let it cool then peel off the skin and remove the crown and the stem.

Part 2
1. In a bowl, mash lightly the eggplants with a fork then add onions and tomatoes.
2. Serve with bagoong isda or fish sauce(patis).

Notes:
1. You may also used the combination of garlic, soy sauce, vinegar, chili flakes, salt and pepper instead of bagoong isda.

Quick Spaghetti Carbonara

Filipino Style Recipe: A quick spaghetti carbonara is an easy and quick pasta dish that only takes 20 minutes or less. It is usually consist of pasta and a creamy white sauce topped with ham, mushrooms, olives, bell pepper and Parmesan cheese.

Estimated time of preparation and cooking: 15-20 minutes.
Good for 3-4 persons

Ingredients:
200 grams spaghetti pasta
3/4 cup full cream milk
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
4 gloves garlic, minced
1 small-sized onion, minced
100 grams sweet ham, diced
1/2 cup olives, sliced
1/2 cup green bell pepper, diced
1/2 cup button mushrooms, sliced
2 tablespoons olive oil

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a large pot, prepare the pasta based on cooking instructions. Drain and set aside.

Part 2
1. In a pan, heat oil and saute garlic and onion then add ham and cook for 2-3 minutes.
2. Add mushrooms, olives and bell pepper then stir cook for 3 minutes.
3. Add pasta, milk and Parmesan cheese then simmer 3 minutes or until beginning to thicken.
4. Adjust seasoning according to taste. Transfer to serving plate then top with grated Parmesan cheese.

Kangkong with Bagoong

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

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.

Chicken, Ham and Cheese Roll

Filipino Style Recipe: chicken, ham and cheese roll is another special meat roll dish that usually served during Holidays or any special occasion. Normally the meat rolls stuffed with ham and cheese then wrap in spring roll wrapper. Coated in breadcrumbs then deep fried until golden brown.

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

Ingredients:
10 pieces chicken fillet
10 slices cheddar cheese(optional)
10 slices sweet ham, sliced halves
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
10 pieces spring roll wrappers(lumpia wrapper)
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup evaporated milk(optional)
1 cup bread crumbs(optional)
canola oil for frying

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a bowl, combine beaten eggs and milk. Mix well.

Part 2
1. Pound the meat using meat pounder, season with salt and pepper.
2. Arrange ham and cheese strips over the meat and roll the meat.
3. Dip meat in egg mixture then dredge in flour and then dip again in egg mixture.
4. Brush the spring roll wrapper with egg mixture then place chicken roll on top.
5. Wrap and roll the wrapper then seal the edges with a bit of water.
6. Dip again each roll in egg mixture then roll in bread crumbs. Set aside.
7. Repeat the procedures for remaining pieces.

Part 3
1. In a pan, heat oil then fry each roll for 3 minutes or until golden brown.
2. Drain on paper towel then serve with dip.

Patatim

Filipino Style Recipe: Patatim is a special Filipino dish, basically pork leg boiled until very tender then cooked in a blend of soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar and cornstarch. This recipe has a sweet and thick sauce and the meat is almost separates from the bone. The soda gives an extraordinary sweetness to this dish. This is another mouth-watering main dish that is truly enjoyed by most Filipinos.

Estimated time of preparation: 15 minutes
Estimated time of cooking: 1-2 hours
Good for 5 persons

Ingredients:
1 pork leg(pata)
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup oyster sauce
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 head garlic, chopped
6 cups pork broth
2 tablespoons cornstarch(dissolved in 1/2 cup water)
1/2 small cabbage, cut into quarter
salt to taste
2 bay leaves(laurel)(optional)
2 cups soda(sprite or lemonade) or root beer(optional)
1 bundle bok choy(Pechay)(optional)
100 grams baby corn, sliced in half(optional)

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a pot or pressure cooker, place pata then pour enough water to cover the meat.
2. Bring to boil for 1 hour or until tender. Add more water if necessary then drain and reserve the broth.

Part 2
1. In a pan, heat oil then fry pork pata until golden brown. Drain on paper towel.

Part 3
1. In a pot, heat oil and saute garlic then add fried pata, broth, soda, soy sauce, oyster sauce, bay leaves, star anise and brown sugar.
2. Simmer for 30 minutes or until the meat is very tender. Add water if necessary.
3. Add dissolved cornstarch and vegetables then adjust seasoning according to taste.
4. Simmer until the sauce thickens and a few sauce is remaining.
5. Transfer to serving plate then served with steamed rice.

Sinigang na Bilong-Bilong

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

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.

Bulalo

Filipino Style Recipe: bulalo or bone marrow stew is another easy yet delicious Filipino soup dish. Bulalo is similar to beef stew(nilagang baka) instead we use beef shank or bone marrow. This is considered as one of the favorite dish of most Filipinos. Preparing this dish is so simple but time consuming because the beef simmered for at least an hour until tender then cooked with corn cobs, potatoes, bananas and veggies. This is so popular and can be served anytime or the best during rainy season.

Estimated time of preparation: 10 minutes
Estimated time of cooking: 70 – 90 minutes

Ingredients:
1 kilo of beef shank/bone marrow(bulalo), cut into serving pieces
3 medium-sized potatoes, cut into quarter
1 small bundle green beans(baguio beans), trimmed
1 bundle bok choy(Pechay), cut the 2 pieces
1 onion, chopped
1 tablespoon peppercorn
fish sauce(patis) or salt to taste
1 liter of water

3 Japanese corn cobs, cut into 3-4 pieces(optional)
1/2 small cabbage, cut into quarter(optional)
5 pieces cardava banana(saging na saba), sliced(optional)
2 thumb-sized ginger, chopped(optional)

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a large casserole, place the meat, ginger and add water. Set over medium heat and bring to a boil and simmer for at least about 1 hour or until meat is tender. Remove the scum as it rises. Add more water if necessary. Pressure cooker takes less time.

Part 2
1. Add corn and onion. then season with fish sauce and sprinkle some salt. Simmer for another 10 minutes or until the corn is tender.
2. Add potatoes and continue cooking until potatoes are cooked.
3. Add cardava banana and all the vegetables. Do not cover and simmer for about 5 minutes or until vegetables are done.(Do not overcooked the vegetables)
5. Adjust seasoning with fish sauce and salt according to taste.
6. Serve hot with fish sauce and birds eye chili(siling labuyo) for condiments.

Notes:
1. You may also add anise or cinnamon powder if you prefer.

Sinigang na Ulo ng Maya-Maya

Filipino Style Recipe: sinigang na ulo ng maya-maya or snappers head tamarind soup is another simple and easy Filipino dish. This is similar to other sinigang that has a sour broth. Normally the head cooked in a combination of rice washing, onions, tomatoes, vegetables and tamarind which gives a sour taste.

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

Ingredients:
2 pieces snappers head(ulo ng maya-maya)
1 pack sinigang sa sampaloc mix
6 cups water or rice washing
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, sliced
1 thumb-sized ginger, sliced thinly
3 tomatoes, diced
a bunch petchay or kangkong
1 radish, sliced(optional)
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. Add maya-maya, radish and pour water. Cover and simmer for about 10 minutes.
3. Add tamarind juice or sampaloc mix. Simmer for 5 minutes.
4. Season with salt or fish sauce according to taste.
3. Add petchay and simmer for another 1 minute.
4. Transfer to serving bowl and serve hot.