Pinakbet

Native vegetables such as eggplant, okra, string beans, and squash, among others are cooked together in shrimp paste (bagoong) to come up with this exquisite recipe.

• 1/4 kilo pork belly, cut into small pieces
• 3 tablespoons oil
• 1 1/2 cup water
• 2 medium ampalaya, cut into serving pieces
• 2 medium eggplants, cut into serving pieces
• 1/4 medium squash, cut into serving pieces
• 5 pieces string beans, cut into serving pieces
• 6 pieces okra, halved
• 6 pieces tomatoes, sliced
• 1 head garlic, minced
• 1 big onion, diced
• 1 small ginger, juliened
• 4 tablespoons sauteed shrimp bagoong
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon monosodium glutamate (MSG)

PROCEDURE :1. In a skillet, saute the pork in oil until lightly browned, set aside.
2. Saute ginger, garlic, onion, and tomatoes in the skillet and mix in the pork.
3. Add the water and shrimp bagoong and let boil.
4. Add the ampalaya, eggplant, okra, squash, and string beans and simmer until cooked.
5. Season with pepper and MSG to taste.