Meat-Vegetable Stew or Pinakbet

Pinakbet is a very popular dish in the Philippines, especially in the Ilocos region. The Tagalog version of this dish includes calabaza (or squash), but originally the basic vegetables only include string beans (sitao), ampalaya, eggplants, tomato and okra.

Ingredients:

3 pcs large eggplants, halved then cut into 4
2 pcs large ampalaya (bitter gourd or bitter melon), halved then cut into 6
1 cup string beans, cut into 1-inch long
1 cup okra (gumbo or lady’s finger), sliced diagonally
1/2 cup tomatoes, sliced
1/4 kilo pork liempo, cut into big strips
4 pcs shallots, sliced fine
1 tbsp ginger, sliced thinly
1 cup squash, diced
1/2 cup taro (gabi), cut into halves
3 tbsps bagoong isda (fish paste)
1/2 cup water

Procedure:

1. In a nonstick fryng pan, stir fry liempo until done and oil has come out. Set aside both meat and oil.
2. Boil water in a casserole.
3. Once water is boiling, scoop 3 tbsps and pour into the bowl containing the bagoong isda.
4. Extract bagoong flavor and strain. Discard the pulp.
5. Pour the extracted bagoong into the boiling water. Set aside.
6. In another casserole, heat oil (the one yielded from the pork belly).
7. Saute the ginger, shallots, and tomatoes.
8. Add all the vegetables. Do not stir.
9. Add the bagoong mixture and cover.
10. Cook until the vegetables are cooked.
11. Once vegetables are done, turn off fire and put the fried pork on top of the vegetables.

(Makes 7 to 8 servings.)