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.

Spaghetti Filipino Style

Filipino Style Recipe: Spaghetti is originally from Italian cuisine that has become very popular in the Philippines. The Filipino style spaghetti sauce is usually sweet and creamy, the ground meat sauteed and cooked in a blend of tomato sauce, tomato paste, ketchup, hot dogs, cheese and sugar. This is commonly prepared over pasta with grated cheese and usually served in any occasion specially during holidays and birthdays. Definitely the kids love this!

Ingredients:
1 pack(500 grams) spaghetti noodles
1/2 kilo ground meat (beef/pork/combined)
10 regular hot dogs, sliced diagonally
5 cloves garlic, minced
4 medium-sized onions, minced
2 cups tomato sauce
1/2 cup tomato paste
1 1/2 cups banana ketchup
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cooking oil
salt and pepper to taste
cheddar cheese, grated
1 small can evaporated milk(optional)
1 pork cube(optional)

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

Part 2
1. In a large saucepan, heat oil and saute garlic and onion.
2. Add ground meat and cook until brown.
3. Add hot dogs, tomato sauce, tomato paste, ketchup, pork cubes and water.
5. Simmer for 20 minutes. Stir occasionally.
6. Add evaporated milk, sugar salt and pepper. Simmer a few more minutes. Stir occasionally.
7. Arrange pasta into serving plate, top with spaghetti sauce and grated cheese. Enjoy!

Crema de Fruta

Filipino Style Recipe: Crema de Fruta is another popular Filipino dessert. It is usually consist of sponge cake topped in succeeding layers of custard cream, fruits and gelatin. This dessert is usually served during Holidays.

Ingredients:
sponge cake
1 can slices of peaches, well drained
1 can slices of pineapple, well drained
1 small bottle cherries, well drained

Cake Syrup:
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup water

Custard Cream:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
3 cups evaporated milk
4 egg yolks
1/4 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Gelatin:
1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin
2 cups pineapple juice
2 cups water
1/4 cup sugar

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a rectangular container, arrange sponge cake.

Part 2: Cake Syrup:
1. In a saucepan, pour water and add sugar, cook until sugar has dissolved. Pour over the sponge cake.

Part 3: Custard Cream:
1. In a saucepan, combine flour, milk, water and sugar then cook in a medium heat. Stir constantly until thickens.
2. Add egg yolks, butter and vanilla extract, cook for another 2-3 minutes or until well blended. Stir well.
3. Pour over the cake syrup and let it cool. Set aside.

Part 4: Gelatin:
1. In a saucepan, boil water and add unflavored gelatin, pineapple juice and sugar.
2. Simmer until gelatin is dissolved.
3. Arrange fruits over custard and pour the gelatin syrup on top.
4. Refrigerate over night or until gelatin is firm. Serve chilled.

Notes:
1. You may also also fruit cocktail as alternative fruits.
2. Sponge cake is available in grocery and bakery stores. But if you prefer to do it by yourself, here’s the recipe on how to make the sponge cake.

Sponge Cake:
Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 large egg yolks
1 cup sugar
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Procedures:
1. In a bowl, sift flour and baking powder together. Set aside.
2. In another bowl, put egg yolks and sugar. Stir until light and fluffy.
3. Add sifted flour and baking powder into egg mixture. Stir until well blended.
4. In a saucepan, combine milk, butter and vanilla extract. Cook until well blended.
5. Pour milk mixture into egg mixture. Stir until well blended.
6. Pour the mixture into baking pan and bake in 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 25 minutes or until done. Let it cool.

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.

Buchi or Butsi

Filipino Style Recipe: Buchi is another typical Filipino meryenda(mid-afternoon snack). It is usually made up of sticky rice balls filled with sweet red bean paste. Rolled in sesame seeds then deep fried until golden brown.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups sweet rice flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup sweet red bean paste
1/2 cup sesame seeds
cooking oil for frying

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a bowl, combine flour, salt and water. Mix well until dough like.

Part 2
1. Divide a dough into small pieces and make a ball shape.
2. Flatten the center of the dough using your thumb and scoop in at least 1 tablespoon of sweet red bean paste.
3. Fill in the center of dough, seal and roll it until the shape is round.
4. Roll the dough over sesame seeds.

Part 3
1. In a pan, heat oil and deep fry the dough for 3 minutes or until golden brown.
2. Drain on paper towel then serve.

Notes:
1. Sweet red bean paste is available in grocery stores. But if you prefer to do it by yourself, here’s the recipe on how to make a sweet red bean paste.

Bagnet

Filipino Style Recipe: Bagnet is the Ilocano version of lechon kawali. This dish is the delicacy in Ilocos region. Normally the pork belly boiled and deep fried until crispy and blister on skin then serve with vinegar.

Ingredients:
1 kilo pork belly(liempo), slice into 2 inch thick
5 gloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon peppercorns
2 tablespoon salt
1 bay leaves
1/2 liter water
cooking oil for frying
2 tablespoon flour(optional)

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a pot, arrange pork belly and pour water, garlic, peppercorns, bay leaves and salt.
2. Bring to boil for 45-60 minutes or until tender. (Cook in pressure cooker takes 25 minutes).
3. Drain on paper towel and let it cool. Refrigerate over night.

Part 2
1. Sprinkle the pork belly with a small amount of flour to prevent it from drying.
2. In a frying pan, heat enough oil and deep fry pork belly in low heat for 30 minutes or until brown.
3. Drain on paper towel and let it cool.
4. Reheat the same oil and deep fry the pork belly once more for 10 minutes.
5. Sprinkle with cold water, this will help blister the pork skin.
6. Repeat the procedure until crisp and blisters on the skin.
7. Drain on paper towels and slice to serving pieces.
8. Serve with spicy vinegar.

Fiesta Float Graham

Filipino Style Recipe: Fiesta Float Graham is another variety float graham. It is usually made with a layer of graham crackers, condensed milk, cream and different fruits. This dish is one of the easiest and favorite dessert of Filipinos specially during Holidays.

Estimated time of preparation: 10 minutes(plus draining time)
Good for 5-7 persons

Ingredients:
1 can(850 grams) fruit cocktail(add more fruits if desired)
200 grams graham crackers
50 grams crushed graham crackers
1 big can condensed milk
1 big can all purpose cream

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In the strainer, drain the fruits thoroughly for at least 30 minutes.
2. In bowl, combine all purpose cream and condensed milk. Mix well.

Part 2
1. Prepare a rectangular container.
2. Dip the graham cracker into cold water and arrange a layer at the bottom.
3. Spread a layer of cream mixture.
4. Arrange fruits over cream.
5. Repeat layering using remaining ingredients up to the desired thickness.
6. Add a final layer of cream and fruits mixture then sprinkle with crushed graham crackers on top.
7. Store in refrigerator for 3 hours or overnight. Served cold.

Pinaputok na Tilapia

Filipino Style Recipe: pinaputok na tilapia is a grilled/fried stuffed fish, popular on every occasion served as finger food(pulutan). Like Grilled Stuffed Milkfish, tilapia comes grilled or fried with onions and tomatoes inside then wrapped with banana leaves or aluminum foil.

Estimated time of preparation: 10 minutes
Estimated time of cooking: 20-30 minutes
Good for 1-2 persons

Ingredients:
1 large tilapia
4 tomatoes, diced
2 onions, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
butter(optional)
banana leaves or aluminum foil for wrapping

Procedures:
Part 1
1. Scale and clean the fish.
2. With a sharp knife, slits the fish both side.
3. Rub the skin with salt. Set aside.

Part 2
1. In a bowl, combine tomatoes, onions, salt and pepper. Mix well.
2. Stuff the mixture inside the fish.
3. Grease the banana leaf with butter then wrap the fish tightly.
4. Grill or fry the fish for about 10 minutes each side or until fish is tender.
5. Serve with soy sauce and calamansi.

Lengua Estofada

Filipino Style Recipe: lengua estofada or lengua estofado is originally from Spanish that has become very popular in Filipino cuisine. Lengua estofada is a stewed ox tongue cooked in tomato sauce then serve with fried potatoes.

Estimated time of preparation: 15 minutes
Estimated time of cooking: 2 hours and 10 minutes

Good for 8 persons

Ingredients:
1 kilo ox tongue
2 large potato, peeled and sliced crosswise
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
1 cup tomato paste
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon peppercorns
1/4 cup oyster sauce
1 cup brown sugar
3 cups water
1/4 cooking oil
salt to taste
1/2 cup white wine(optional)
1 piece beef cube(optional)

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a bowl, mix vinegar and salt. Rub tongue with mixture to remove the shiny substance then rinse well.
2. In a pot, pour water and arrange tongue. Bring to boil for 10 minutes.
3. Drain the tongue and scrape the white surface using knife. Rinse well.

Part 2
1. In a frying pan, heat oil and fry tongue until brown. Drain and set aside.
2. Fry potatoes. Drain and set aside.

Part 3
1. In a sauce pan, heat oil and saute garlic and onion.
2. Add tongue, 2 cups water, tomato paste, bay leaf, white wine, oyster sauce, sugar, peppercorns and salt.
3. Simmer for 2 hours or until tongue is tender. Add more water if necessary.
4. Adjust seasoning according to taste.
5. Take out the tongue and slice 1/2 inch diagonally.
6. Transfer to serving plate with fried potatoes. Pour the sauce on top. Serve