Latik (Sweetened Coconut Sauce)

Filipino Style Recipe: Latik or sweetened coconut sauce is another variety of latik made from coconut milk and panocha made of sugar cane. This version of latik is popular in Visayas region. The sauce has a sweet and oily taste that usually serve together with suman or biko as dipping sauce.

Ingredients:
1 cup coconut milk
1/2 cup panocha, cut into small pieces
200 grams Muscovado sugar

Procedures:
1. In a sauce pan, pour coconut milk and bring to boil.
2. Add panocha and sugar then cook in a low heat while keep stirring until melts and thickens.
3. Remove from heat then transfer into bottle. Serve with suman or biko.

Braised Pork in Sweet Soy Sauce

Filipino Style Recipe: Braised pork in sweet soy sauce is similar to pork adobo and pork asado. It is consists of pork marinate and cook in a blend of sweet soy sauce, garlic, onion and peppercorn. This dish has a sweeter and more flavorful taste than the usual pork adobo.

Estimated time of preparation: 10 minutes(plus marinating time)
Estimated time of cooking: 40 minutes
Good for 2-3 persons

Ingredients:
1/2 kilo pork, cut in serving pieces
1/4 cup sweet soy sauce
2 gloves garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
10 pieces peppercorns
2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon cornstarch(dissolved in 1/4 cup water),(optional)
sugar, salt to taste

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a pot, combine pork, garlic, onion, sweet soy sauce and peppercorn for 30 minutes.

Part 2
1. Pour water then simmer in a medium heat for 30 minutes or until pork is tender. Add water if necessary.
2. Adjust seasoning according to taste then pour dissolved cornstarch.
3. Simmer until the sauce has thicken and start to render oil.
4. Remove from heat then transfer to serving plate then serve with steamed rice.

Notes:
1. If sweet soy sauce is not available, you may dissolved 1/4 cup brown sugar in 1/4 cup dark soy sauce.

Sweet and Spicy Calamares

Filipino Style Recipe: Sweet and spicy calamares is comprises a squid as main ingredient. Normally the squid cut into rings then mix with batter then deep fried for a minute. Mix to coat in a sweet and spicy sauce made of honey, hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce.

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

Ingredients:
500 grams squid, clean and cut into rings
1 egg, beaten
3/4 cup flour
1 cup breadcrumbs(optional)
salt and pepper to taste
vegetable oil for frying
1/2 cup liquid honey
3 tablespoons hot sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a small bowl, combine honey, hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Mix well and set aside.

Part 2
1. In a bowl, combine flour, salt and pepper. Mix well.
2. Add squid then dip in beaten egg then roll in breadcrumbs. Set aside.

Part 3
1. In a frying pan, heat oil and fry the squid for 1 minute or until golden brown. Do not overcooked.
2. Remove squids and drain on paper towels.
3. Transfer the fried calamares in serving plate and pour the sauce on top. Mix to coat then serve.

Sweet Corn Soup

Filipino Style Recipe: sweet corn soup is an easy soup dish consists of sweet corns as main ingredients. Grind and cooked in evaporated milk and cornstarch then season with salt and pepper. This soup is usually served during rainy season.

Estimated time of preparation and cooking: 15-20 minutes

Ingredients:
1 Japanese sweet corn
2 cups water
1 tablespoon cornstarch(dissolved in 1/2 cup corn water)
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon chopped spring onions(optional)
1 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves(optional)
1/2 cup evaporated milk

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a pot, boil water with salt then cook Japanese corn until done.
2. Let it cool then removed from cob. Reserve the water.
3. Reserve 1/4 cup corns for garnishing.

Part 2
1. In a blender, process the corns with 1/2 cup corn water until smooth puree.
2. In a pot, pour milk and coriander leaves then bring to boil.
3. Add dissolved cornstarch and simmer until thicken.
4. Season with salt and pepper according to taste.
5. Add corns and spring onions then transfer to serving bowl. Serve hot with garlic sticks.

Notes:
1. You may also used corn kernels if you desired.

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.

Sweet and Sour Sauce

Filipino Style Recipe: sweet and sour sauce is a quick and easy recipe. It can be poured over a dish or used as a dipping sauce. Normally it’s a combination of sugar, vinegar, soy sauce and catsup. Simmer over low heat then pour cornstarch or flour mixture.

Estimated time of cooking: 5 minutes

Ingredients:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons catsup
2 tablespoons cornstarch(dissolved in 2 tablespoons water)

Procedures:
1. In a saucepan, combine sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, catsup and water. Bring to boil over low heat.
2. Pour cornstarch mixture and stir until thickened.
3. Transfer the sauce to bowl. Done.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

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Filipino Style Recipe: sweet and sour meatballs(bola-bola) recipe is another Filipino dish. Normally the meatballs comes fried and the sauce is a blend of tomato sauce, vinegar, sugar, carrots, bell pepper, pineapple and cornstarch which thickens the sauce.

Estimated time of preparation: 20 minutes
Estimated time of cooking: 15-20 minutes
Good for 4-5 servings

Ingredients:

Meatballs:
500 grams ground pork or ground beef
1 tablespoon cornstarch or 1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 raw egg
1/2 small onion, finely chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon soy sauce(optional)
1/2 teaspoon worcestershire sauce(optional)
1 small carrot, finely chopped(optional)
2 tablespoons cilantro, finely chopped(optional)

Sauce:
1/2 small onion, diced
1 teaspoon garlic, chopped
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup brown sugar
6 tablespoons vinegar
1/4 cup tomato sauce
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon cornstarch(dissolved in 1 tablespoon water)
1 small carrot, sliced thinly
1 cup green and red bell pepper, sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 cup pineapple chunks, juice drained(optional)

Procedures:

Part 1(Skip this procedure if you are using premade meatballs from the market)
1. In a bowl, combine all the meatballs ingredients and mix thoroughly.
2. Scoop and form the mixture into 1 tablespoons ball shaped.
3. In a frying pan, heat oil and deep fry until golden brown. Drain and set aside.

Part 2
1. In a sauce pan, heat vegetable oil over medium heat and saute garlic and onions.
2. Add carrots and bell pepper then stir fry for 2 minutes.
3. Add pineapple chunks and stir fry for 1 minute.
4. Add tomato sauce, vinegar, water, brown sugar and a dash of salt. Mix well and let it boil.
5. Add cornstarch mixture and cook until desired thickness is reached.
6. Add fried meatballs and simmer for 2 minutes.
7. Adjust seasoning according to taste.
8. Serve with steamed rice.

Sweet and Sour Fish Recipe

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Filipino Style Recipe: sweet and sour fish recipe is popular among Chinese restaurants. Normally the fish comes fried and the sauce is a blend of pineapple, vinegar, ketchup, sugar and cornstarch which thickens the sauce.

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

Ingredients:
500 grams tilapia or any fish, washed and cleaned
1 medium bell pepper, diced
1 cup pineapple chunks
1 small onion, diced
2 tablespoon ginger, minced
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
salt to taste
cooking or vegetable oil for frying
1 small carrot, peeled and sliced diagonally(optional)

Sweet and Sour Sauce
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup vinegar
1/4 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup ketchup
2 1/2 Tablespoon soy sauce
2 tablespoon sesame oil
1 1/2 Tablespoon cornstarch(dissolved in 1 1/2 tablespoon water)

Procedures:
Part 1
1. Season fish with salt.
2. In a frying pan, heat oil and fry fish until golden brown each side.
3. Transfer to serving plate and set aside.

Part 2
1. In a sauce pan, combine water, sugar, vinegar, pineapple juice, ketchup, soy sauce and sesame oil. Mix well.
2. Let sauce boil over medium heat.
3. When boiling, add dissolved cornstarch and continue stirring until thickens.
4. Remove from heat.

Part 3
1. In a wok, heat oil and saute ginger, garlic, onion, bell peppers, pineapple chunks and carrots until done.
2. Add the sauce then let it boil. Remove from heat.
3. Pour the sauce with veggies over fried fish.
4. Serve with steamed rice.