Fettuccine Alfredo

Fettuccine Alfredo is a pasta dish similar to that of pasta alla carbonara and traditionally made from fettuccine pasta, tossed with parmesan cheese, and butter. Since its debut in the US, several variations were made that almost deviated from the original recipe. Eggs, flour, olive oil, and asiago cheese were sometimes added for a twist in flavor and a much richer texture.

This particular recipe is inspired by Olive Gardens special alfredo sauce. You might notice that there is no butter involved in this recipe but the texture and taste is really rich and flavorful. I also added some bacon bits to push this up to the next level.

Try this Fettuccine Alfredo recipe.

Liver Steak

Liver Steak is marinated fried liver in soy sauce, lemon, and onion sauce. The method of cooking this dish is similar to that of Bistek tagalog.

Some of us do not want to eat liver because of its gamy taste (that includes me when I was younger). I guess that the gamy taste that I experienced during my first try haunts me every time I see a liver dish. It was just only a few years ago that I learned to enjoy eating this because I learned some method that could reduce the unpleasant taste (just reduce, not eliminate). I also forced myself to eat liver for health reasons.

This recipe could reduce the gamy taste that would help you enjoy the dish better.

Try this delicious Liver Steak recipe.

Ginisang Ampalaya

Ginisang Ampalaya is transalated as Sautéed Bitter Melon. This Filipino vegetable recipe is one of the healthiest recipe around.

Bitter melon is best known for antidiabetic effects. It contains a chemical known as insulin-like peptide that is similar in shape and function to animal-produced insulin. Other chemicals, including vicine, in bitter melon may also have blood-sugar lowering effects.

Try this healthy vegetable dish: Ginisang Ampalaya.

Pork Sinigang

Pork Sinigang or Sinigang na Baboy is a sour soup native to the Philippines. This particular soup dish uses pork as the main ingredient though beef, shrimp, fish, and even chicken (this is known as sinampalukang manok) can be used. Bony parts of the pig known as “buto-buto” are usually preferred for this dish. These parts can be either of the following: pork neck bone, chopped spare ribs, chopped baby back ribs, and pork belly. Sometimes pork kasim and pigue (pork ham) are also used.

There are several ingredients that can be used as souring agent. The most common and widely used is the tamarind fruit (known as sampaloc). Other fruits such as guava, tomato, bilimbi (known as kamias), green mango, pineapple, and wild mangosteen (santol) can also be used to make the sinigang taste sour.

I grew-up eating pork sinigang at least once a week with a saucer of patis (fish sauce) and crushed siling labuyo (chili) on the side as my “sawsawan” (sauce). During rainy days, I want my sinigang complimented with a few pieces of crunchy fried tuyo or daing (salted dried fish).

How about you? Do you want your sinigang the same way or are there other side dishes or appetizers that you prefer?

Let me know what you think. We can share ideas and let our opinions be heard by posting a comment.

Try this Filipino soup dish recipe: Pork Sinigang.

Chicharon Bituka

Chicharon Bituka are deep fried pig or cow intestine prepared similar to that of Chicharones or Pork Cracklings (Pork Rinds). This dish is usually served as an appetizer or “pulutan” and is best when accompanied with beer. Another popular chicharon intestine is the Chicharon Bulaklak.

Instead of just having canned tuna mixed with crushed sky flakes (a very easy to prepare pulutan know as dog food) , why don’t you try to make some Chicharon Bituka ? This can be quite time consuming to prepare but this will surely make your barkada and the rest of the drinking buddies happy.

Try this Chicharon Bituka Recipe.

Macaroni Salad

Macaroni Salad or Chicken Macaroni Salad is a simple salad made from macaroni (usually elbow macaroni). This salad is prepared with a generous amount of mayonnaise and boiled chicken meat (sometimes ham is used). A regular side dish during picnics and family outings, macaroni salad is best if combined with grilled foods and barbeque.

Try this Macaroni Salad recipe.

Pork Afritada

Pork Afritada is simply “Stewed pork in tomato sauce”. This dish is similar to Menudo and Kaldereta (or Caldereta) and is usually cooked with wedges of carrots and potatoes. Bay leaves are also added for extra flavor and aroma.

Because of the similarity of Afritada to other tomato based dishes, identifying this dish is quite confusing to some. I was asked by some people (who are still puzzled on this topic) to differentiate one from the other. I felt like standing in their shoes for a while. After some time pondering, I figured out that the visual difference can obviously be seen on the cut of the meat and the additional ingredients used. As for the taste, each dish is unique even if the base ingredients are similar. I guess changing the cut of the meat and adding a few more ingredients to it gives me the right to call it “Pork Vanjito” (just kidding).

Some Pinoy Foods might look the same but inside them lays a truly unique taste capable of spelling their own name.

Tell me what you think.

Try this appetizing Filipino Pork Recipe: Pork Afritada.

Burger and Bratwurst, anyone?

Care for some burger and bratwurst?

Ginisang Pechay (Sautéed Bok Choy)

Ginisang Pechay is simply Sautéed Bok Choy. This healthy vegetable is classified as a cabbage.

Despite the popularity of this vegetable in Asia, people in Europe and parts of North America seem to have a hard time holding-on to it. In the Philippines, Chinese immigrants during the Spanish era introduced Bok Choy. After that , this vegetable spread faster than Swine Flu (H1N1) across the islands.

Try this healthy Vegetable Recipe : Ginisang Pechay (Sautéed Bok Choy).

Beef Nilaga

Beef Nilaga or Nilagang Baka is literally translated as “Boiled Beef”. This is a simple soup dish best served during rainy and cold weather. Have you noticed the similarity of this dish to that of the Bulalo and Beef Pochero?

I highly recommend this dish to those who are learning how to cook because it takes almost no effort at all to prepare (just have patience in tenderizing the meat). This was actually the first dish that I’ve tried after fried egg .

Try this simple Filipino food: Beef Nilaga

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