pinakbet

we've been eating pinakbet in a restaurant here in al ain and we love it. it's one of our favorite evrytime we go in golden gate (a chinese restaurant that is serving chinese and filipino dishes). i even asked kim to simulate that pinakbet because ir's really good.

well today, i decided to make pinakbet at home. it's not the same as the golden gate but it passed the taste test of kim. hehehe...

ingredients:
1/4 kl. pork belly, cut in 1" pieces
3+3 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 onion, sliced
1/2 tomato, sliced
1 thumb-sized ginger, sliced
1 siling haba
1 large eggplant, sliced
2 handfuls squash, cut into large cubes
1 handful string beans, sliced into 2" length
1 small ampalaya, sliced and rinsed in water with salt
2 tbsp. bagoong
1 cup water
2 tsp. patis
salt and pepper

procedure:
boil the pork belly slices in water with salt and 3 cloves garlic until tender. drain excess water and air dry for a few minutes. deep-fry the pork belly until golden brown. drain on paper towel and set aside.

saute the remaining garlic and onion until fragrant. add the ginger, tomato and the siling haba and mix for a minute.

add the bagoong, water, patis and the vegetables. mix well until fully blended. let boil. lower the heat and simmer covered until vegetables are cooked.

add the pork slices and season with salt and pepper according to your taste. turn off the heat and serve.