Munggo Guisado (Sautéed Mung Beans)

Ingredients :

• 1 cup munggo (mung beans)
• 3 cups water
• 1 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 1/2 lb. pork, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 2 pcs. Chinese sausage, cubed (optional)
• 2 cups water or broth
• 1 tbsp. patis (fish sauce)
• salt to taste
• 1 cup ampalaya leaves or substitute spinach or watercress

Cooking Procedures :

1. Boil mung beans in water until soft and easily mashed. Set aside.
2. In a pan, heat oil. Cook pork until it turns slightly brown.
3. Add garlic, onions and tomatoes. Sauté for a few seconds until tomatoes wilted.
4. Stir in Chinese sausage (if using) and continue cooking for another 1-2 minutes.
5. Pour in water or broth and add boiled mung beans.
6. Season with patis and salt to taste. Bring to boil and let it simmer until thick.
7. Add ampalaya leaves or substitute. Cover and remove from heat. Serve hot.

Helpful Tips
Soak munggo (mung beans) in water at least 1 to 2 hours before boiling for faster cooking.

Tinolang Manok (Chicken Ginger Stew with Vegetables)

Ingredients :

• 1 lb. chicken, cut into serving pieces (or any choice cuts of your liking like thighs, drumsticks or wings)
• 1 thumb-sized fresh ginger root, cut into strips
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 tbsp. patis (fish sauce)
• salt, to taste
• 4 to 5 cups water (or rice water – 2nd washing)
• 2 to 3 sayote (chayote squash), quartered (or green, unripe papaya or potatoes)
• 1 cup sili (chili) leaves or malunggay or substitute 1/2 lb. spinach
• vegetable oil

Cooking Procedures :

1. In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Sauté ginger and garlic until fragrant. Add onions, stir-fry until softened and translucent.
2. Add chicken cuts. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes until chicken colors slightly. Season with patis and salt.
3. Pour in water (or rice water, if using). Bring to a boil. Lower the heat and let it simmer until chicken is half-done. Add in chayote (or papaya or potatoes, if using). Continue simmering until chicken and vegetable are tender. Correct seasonings and then addsili leaves or malunggay or substitute. Stir to combine until well blended. Remove from heat.
4. Let stand for a few minutes to cook the green vegetables. Transfer to a serving dish and serve hot.

Pinakbet or Pakbet (Meat Vegetable Stew with Shrimp Paste)

Ingredients :

• 1/2 lb. pork, sliced
• 2 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 1/2 squash, cubed
• 2 cups sliced okra
• 2 cups 1-1/2 inch long cut sitaw (yard long beans)
• 2 eggplants, sliced
• 1 ampalaya (bitter gourd and/or bitter melon), sliced
• 1 to 1-1/2 cup water
• 2 to 3 tbsp. bagoong alamang (salted shrimp paste)

Cooking Procedures :

1. In a large, deep skillet (or casserole), heat oil over medium heat. Cook pork until it turns slightly brown.
2. Stir in garlic, onions and tomatoes. Sauté for a few minutes until tomatoes wilted.
3. Add squash and okra, stir-fry for a minute or two and then add the rest of the vegetables. Gently stir to combine.
4. Pour in water and add the bagoong alamang, and bring to a boil.
5. Lower the heat and simmer covered over low heat until vegetables are tender. Be sure not to overcook it. You may wish to correct the taste by adding a little bit of bagoong alamang. Gently stir to blend.
6. Immediately remove from heat. Transfer to a serving dish. Serve hot.

Chayote Guisado / Sayote Guisado (Sautéed Chayote)

Ingredients :

• 2 to 4 pieces chayote squash, pared, seeded and sliced
• 1 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 1/2 lb. pork, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 1 tbsp. patis (fish sauce)
• salt and pepper, to taste
• water

Cooking Procedures :

1. In a pan, heat oil over medium heat. Cook pork until it turns slightly brown.
2. Add garlic, onions and tomatoes. Sauté for a few minutes until tomatoes wilted.
3. Add chayote slices. Season with patis, salt and pepper. Stir-fry for few minutes until well blended.
4. Pour in water and bring to boil. Cover, lower the heat and let it simmer until chayote is tender.
5. Correct the seasonings according to your style and liking.
6. Remove from heat. Transfer to a serving dish. Serve hot.