Pinakbet or Pakbet

Pinakbet or Pakbet (Meat and Vegetable Stew with Shrimp Paste) is a tasty vegetable dish consisting of different fresh vegetables, pork, and shrimp paste. One of my favorite when it comes to vegetables dishes as long as not overcooked. I’m not a fan of bitter melon, so I sliced it into small pieces that I can swallow directly. This recipe is a variation from Ilocos Region called “Pakbet Ilokano”. Happy cooking.

Estimated Preparation and Cooking Time: 40-50 minutes. Good for 3-5 person.

Ingredients:
1/4 kilo pork belly, cut into small cubes
1/4 lbs. shrimp, peeled and deveined(optional)
1/2 squash, chopped into 2×1 inch cubes
1 large eggplant, cut in halves and sliced diagonally
1 bunch string beans(sitaw), cut in 2-inch length
6 pieces okra, cut diagonally
1 medium-sized bitter melon(ampalaya), cut in half seeded and slice diagonally
3 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
1 piece onion, chopped
1 tablespoon ginger, sliced in strips
3 large tomato, diced
4 tablespoon shrimp paste(bagoong alamang)
1 cup of water
3 tablespoon cooking oil
salt, sugar and pepper to balance the taste

Procedures:
1. In a pan, heat cooking oil over medium heat.
2. Saute the garlic, ginger, onion and tomato
3. Add the pork and cook for about 5-8 minutes or until color turns light brown.
4. Put-in the shrimp and shrimp paste and cook for 2 minutes.
5. Add water and increase the heat to bring it to a boil. Simmer for 10-15 minutes or until pork is tender
6. Add the squash and cook for another 5-8 minutes or until texture becomes soft
7. Add in all the remaining vegetables, mix with the other ingredients.
8. Simmer for 5 minutes or until all the vegetables are cooked.(Do not overcook the vegetables)
9. Serve with rice. Share and Enjoy!

Notes:
1. Some is allergic to shrimp paste, you may substitute with fish sauce(patis) instead.

Adobong Sitaw

Filipino Style Recipe: Adobong sitaw is another variant of classic Filipino adobo. It consist of string beans and meat braised in soy sauce, vinegar and spices. It can be cooked with chicken, pork or both, with liver or without. Some used crispy pork(liempo), mushrooms and tofu cubes as alternative protein base. Ideally, sauce should be naturally thick and oily but this is very delicious. This recipe is so easy to cook.

Estimated cooking time: 40-50 minutes.
Good for 2-3 person.

Ingredients:
1/4 kilo pork belly or ground pork, cut into small cubes or strips
1 bunch string beans(sitaw), cut into 2-inch lengths and ends discarded
1 head garlic; minced
1 medium onion; sliced
3 tablespoons of soy sauce
3 tablespoons of vinegar
1/4 cup water
1 bay leaf
black pepper
cooking oil
sugar and salt to taste
1-2 hard boiled eggs, cut into slices(optional)

Procedures:
1. In a pan, stir cook pork until brown and start to render oil.
2. Add garlic and onion then saute until translucent.
3. Pour water, soy sauce, vinegar, bay leaf and pepper then simmer for 5 minutes.
4. Add string beans, stir and simmer for another 8-10 minutes or until string beans in tender.
5. Season with sugar and salt according to taste.
6. Garnish with hard boiled eggs, serve hot and enjoy!