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.

Nilagang Baboy (Boiled Pork with Vegetables)

Ingredients :

• 1 lb. pork (choices of belly, hocks, neck or any bony parts of pork), cut into serving pieces
• 5-6 cups water
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 onion, quartered
• 2 green onions (scallions), sliced into 1” long
• 1/4 tsp. peppercorn
• salt to taste
• 2 eddoes- also known as taro or gabi, quartered (optional)
• 2 potatoes, quartered
• 1 can pork and beans
• pechay (bok choy) or cabbage leaves

Cooking Procedures :

1. Place pork in a big pot and let it covered with water. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat and let it simmer until pork is tender for about an hour.
2. Remove all the resulting scum that will rise to the top of the pot.
3. Add crushed garlic, sliced onions, scallions, peppercorn and season with salt.
4. Add quartered eddoes (if using) and potatoes. Cook until tender.
5. Add the pork and beans. Simmer for 5 minutes. Correct the seasoning.
6. Add pechay or cabbage leaves. Do not overcook the green vegetables.
7. Remove from heat. Serve hot.