Chicken Afritada (Filipino Chicken Stew)

Afritada is an authentic Filipino recipe which can be made in two different versions - Chicken Afritada or Pork Afritada. This Filipino dish is prepared with an interesting blend of ingredients, from soy sauce, tomato sauce and some vegetables. It is a Chicken stew that we  undoubtedly adapted from Spanish cuisine. The Spanish have a similar version of this dish called Pollo Guisado. Here is my version of Chicken Afritada - a very easy to make dish , very tasty and economical.

Chicken Afritada Recipe:

 

Ingredients:

2-3 lbs of chicken, cut into pieces

2 pieces of potatoes,peeled and halved

2 pieces of carrots, peeled and cut into wedges

3 large pieces of fresh tomato ( you can use tomato sauce)

1 medium onions, diced

1 head garlic, minced

1 green and red bell pepper, sliced into strips

2 cups of chicken broth

2 tablespoon of tomato paste

2 tablespoon of fish sauce

1 tablespoon of soy sauce

3 tablespoon of cooking oil

½ cup of frozen green peas

salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Directions:

• Heat pan, add 2 tablespoon of cooking oil and brown the chicken. Set aside.

• In another pan, heat up 1 tablespoon of cooking oil. Sauté  the onions and garlic. Add the tomatoes and continue to cook until tomatoes has caramelized and mushy.  Add the tomato paste and fish sauce. Cook for 1 minute.
• Add the bell pepper, carrots and potatoes. Stir fry for 1 minute before adding the browned chicken.

• Add the chicken broth and season with soy sauce. Continue to simmer on low heat until meat and veggies are fork tender. Add the frozen peas. Cook for 1 more minute. Adjust the seasoning. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve hot with white steam rice. Enjoy!

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Semi-Homemade Tahô ( Taho/Tahu)

Tahô ( Soybean Custard) is a common breakfast in the Philippines. Tahô is made of fresh soft/silken tofu, pearl sago ( Tapioca Pearl )  and  brown sugar syrup (arnibal ).This is usually sold by the Magtatahô (taho vendor) in the morning. The Tahô vendor carries two large aluminum buckets hanging from each end of yoke. It is hard not to notice the vendors calling out "Tahoooooô!" while they are passing by your street. In other Asian countries like Indonesia and Malaysia, this food is called Tahu.

For those that are living abroad where there is no Magtatahô vendor -- Here's an easy Semi-Homemade Tahô Recipe for you. I really do not know who to credit on this one because I have seen so many Filipino Taho posting in Youtube.

Semi-Homemade Tahô Recipe

Ingredients:

1 pkg (12 0z)   Silken/Soft Tofu
1 bag of Tapioca Pearl
1 cup brown sugar ( I used palm sugar )
1 cup water

Cooking Directions:

• Cook Tapioca Pearls as per package directions. Set aside.
• For the sugar syrup ( arnibal), the ratio is 1 part water and 1 part sugar. Bring water to boil. Add sugar and mix well. Let it simmer for 1 minute. Set aside.
• Transfer the Silken tofu on a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 1  minute.
• In a glass, combine Silken tofu, cooked tapioca pearl and sugar syrup. Voila! Instant Homemade Tahô.
• Enjoy and Share!

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Filipino Pork Barbecue ( Pinoy BBQ)

Filipino Pork Barbecue is a favorite appetizer (pulutan ) and street food in the Philippines. This authentic Filipino recipe is a very popular and a requested dish during parties or potlucks. This is a very delicious and easy to prepare dish. There are many variations of this Pinoy recipe but this is basically made with pork, marinated in a sweet and sour sauce, skewered and grilled. Give it a try and do not forget to share with others.

Filipino Pork Barbecue Recipe

Ingredients:

2 pounds of pork cut into cubes ( I prefer combination of pork butt and pork belly)
1 small onions, minced
1 cup soy sauce
1 whole garlic, peeled and smashed
¼ cup of calamansi juice or lemon juice
½ cup of 7Up or Sprite soda/pop
1 cup of Banana Sauce (Ketchup)
5 tablespoon of dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon of ground black pepper
1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
1 tablespoon of sesame oil

bamboo skewers- soaked overnight

Directions:

• In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients except pork and cooking oil. Mix thoroughly.
• Add the pork cubes, make sure that it is well coated. Marinade for a minimum of an hour, preferably overnight on the fridge.
• Pre-heat grill. Skewer the marinated pork.
• Bring the marinade mixture to boil. Let it simmer until it is reduced to half. Transfer into a bowl and add oil. Mix well. This would be used as a glazed for the barbecue.
• Grill pork barbecue for about 5 minutes each side. Brush both sides with the prepared barbecue glaze.
• Serve hot with Green Papaya Pickle ( Atsara ) or your favorite Dipping Sauce.
• Share and Enjoy!

Note:

• Easy Dipping sauce would be a mixture of crushed garlic,minced onions, red chili pepper and sugar cane vinegar. Pinch of sugar, salt and pepper to taste.
• Use charcoal grill for best authentic taste.

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Bistek Tagalog (Filipino Beef Steak)

Bistek Tagalog or Filipino Beef Steak is one of my husbands favorite Filipino dish next to Chicken Adobo. It is made with thinly sliced beef marinated in calamansi or lemon juice, soy sauce and garnished with caramelized onion rings. It is truly amazing how so few ingredients can make something so very good. Give this a try because this is definitely a winner.

Ingredients:

1 lb of beef sirloin, thinly sliced and tenderized
¼ cup of soy sauce
1 tablespoon of oyster sauce (optional)
1 large onion (sliced into rings)
1 lemon (zest and juice) or 4 pieces of calamansi juice
1 teaspoon of black pepper
3 cloves garlic (crushed)
3 tablespoon cooking oil
salt and pepper to taste


Cooking Directions:

• Marinade the beef in soy sauce, oyster sauce, calamansi or lemon juice and crushed garlic  for several hours or overnight.
• Heat pan with  vegetable oil. Add the onion rings and fry for 1 minute. Drain in a paper towel and set aside.
• Remove beef from marinade. Using the same pan, under medium high heat, fry the marinated beef until brown about 3 minutes each side. Set aside.
• Pour the marinade mixture on the pan. Allow to simmer until reduced. Then add the fried beef. Cook for 1 more minute.
• Serve over white steam rice. Garnished with caramelized onion rings. Enjoy !

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Spring Rolls ( Lumpiang Shanghai)

Lumpia is a traditional Filipino dish normally served as appetizer or side dish. It is considered the egg roll of Filipinos. The main ingredient for this recipe is ground pork mix with vegetables and spices, rolled in lumpia or spring roll wrapper. The Filipino cook this by deep frying in vegetable oil and serving with sweet and sour sauce. If you want to taste this out of this world spring rolls, i suggest that you have to attend a Filipino event or party, i bet Lumpia is one of their planned menu to serve.

Ingredients

• 1/2 kg small shrimps (minced)
• 1/2 kg ground pork
• 1/4 chopped green onions
• 1/4 chopped carrots
• 2 eggs
• 2 tbsp of soy sauce
• 1 tsp of sesame oil
• 1 tsp of garlic powder
• dash of salt & pepper
• 2-3 pkg. of Spring Roll Wrapper
• Vegetable oil for frying

Cooking Instructions:

• Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl.
• Put 1-2 tablespoon of the mixture onto the spring roll wrapper.
• Seal the seam with water or egg wash.
• Deep fry on medium high heat until golden brown and meat is no longer pink.
• Drain in a paper towel and transfer into a serving tray.
• Serve with a Chili Sauce or Sweet and Sour Sauce. Enjoy!
  

Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup water
• 2 tbsp white vinegar
• 6 tbsp. sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp tomato ketchup
• 1 tsp oyster sauce
• 1 tbsp cornstarch dissolve in 3 tbsp water

Cooking Instructions :

• In a small saucepan, mix all the first 6 ingredients.
• Bring the mixture to boil under medium high heat.
• Lower the heat and then ass dissolved cornstarch. Stir vigorously until thickened.
• Remove from heat and transfer to a sauce dish and serve. Enjoy!

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Ginisang Munggo ( Sauted Mung Beans )

Ginisang Munggo is an authentic Filipino dish often serve with Pan Fried Fish or Tinapa. While this is consider as an easy recipe, the way other Filipino prepares their Mung beans varies. Some soak in water for several hours, some boils them. The way i prepare this dish is like the way my mom used to do. I boil the beans first so that it will come out creamy and delicious. Then saute it with garlic, onion, tomatoes and pork.

Ingredients :

• 1 cup mung beans ( munggo )
• 1 small onion, sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 medium tomatoes, diced
• 1 cup pork, cubed
• 1 cup shrimp (optional )
• 2 teaspoon fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil or vegetable oil
• spinach leaves

Cooking Instructions:

1. In a medium saucepan, cover the mung beans with water and bring to boil. Cook beans until tender around 30-40 minutes.


2. In a separate pan, saute garlic in an olive oil or vegetable oil until golden brown.


3. Add onion, tomatoes and pork. Let it simmer until pork is tender. If you are adding shrimp, you may add at this point.


4. Season with the fish sauce.


5. Add the cooked Mung(munggo) beans and simmer for 5-10 minutes.


6. Add the spinach and season well with salt and pepper to taste.


7. Serve with steamed rice. Enjoy!

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