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filipino food pinakbet

Pinakbet Recipe

Pinakbet is a hearty Filipino vegetable stew made of an assortment of vegetables and root crops in the Philippines, with pork as the meat of choice. This healthy dish is best served as the main entree, with steamed rice, or as a side to grilled meat or fish.
5 from 3 votes
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Filipino
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups water
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 2 cloves garlic peeled, minced
  • 15 g shrimp paste
  • 0.5 pound pork belly cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 onion peeled, chopped
  • 2 Roma tomatoes chopped
  • ½ small kalabasa peeled, cut into pieces
  • 8 okra ends trimmed
  • 1 large eggplant ends trimmed, cut into 1-inch thick
  • ½ bunch long beans ends trimmed, cut into 3-inch lengths
  • 1 medium ampalaya bitter gourd (seeded, halved, cut into 1-inch thick)
  • salt
  • pepper

Instructions
 

  • Heat oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and constantly stir until they are cooked and softened.
    1 tablespoon canola oil, 1 onion, 2 cloves garlic
  • Add the pork and stir occasionally until it reaches a light-brown color.
    0.5 pound pork belly
  • Continue to cook and add shrimp paste until it browns. Then, add tomatoes to soften and cook. Use the back of a spoon to mash the tomatoes and extract the juice.
    15 g shrimp paste, 2 Roma tomatoes
  • Add water into the mix. Once it boils, lower the heat and cover the pot for about 15 to 20 minutes. Using a spoon or fork, poke or cut the meat occasionally to check if it’s tender. If it’s tender, add more water in half increments to maintain the one-cup liquid level in the pot.
    2 cups water
  • Add the squash until almost tender. It takes about two minutes, but you can also check if the squash has started to soften.
    ½ small kalabasa
  • Add the long beans and continue cooking until it’s tender and crispy.
    ½ bunch long beans
  • Add the okra, ampalaya, and eggplant and continue cooking for about four to five minutes.
    8 okra, 1 large eggplant, 1 medium ampalaya
  • Check if the vegetables are tender and crispy.
  • Finally, add salt and pepper to taste. Serve while hot and enjoy.
    salt, pepper

Notes

Regularly check if your vegetables are not overcooked and mushy. They should maintain a crispy yet tender feel.
Keyword pinoy food, pinoy recipe
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