How to cook Pakbet or Pinakbet

Pinakbet or Pakbet is a popular Ilocano dish, and one of the authentic Filipino food. The word Pinakbet or Pakbet is the contracted form of the Ilocano word pinakebbet, meaning “shrunk” or “shriveled”.

The original Ilocano Pinakbet or Pakbet uses bagoong (“bugguong” in Ilokano), of fermented monamon or other fish, while further south, bagoong alamang is used. The basic vegetables used in this dish include native bitter melon, eggplant, tomato, okra, string beans, chili peppers, parda, winged beans, and others.

The Tagalog version of Pinakbet or Pakbet usually includes kalabasa. Most of these vegetables are easily accessible, and are grown in backyards and gardens of most Filipino households. As its name suggests, it is usually cooked until almost dry and shriveled; the flavors of the vegetables are accentuated with shrimp paste. In some cases, lechon, chicharon, or other meats (most commonly pork) are added.

Pinakbet or Pakbet is considered a very healthy Filipino dish.

• 1/4 kilo pork with fat, cut into small pieces
• 2 Ampalaya (bitter melons ) sliced to bite size pieces
• 1/8 kilo shrimp, shell removed
• 2 eggplants, sliced to bite size pieces
• 5 pieces of okra, cut in two
• 1 head garlic, minced
• 2 onions, diced
• 5 tomatoes, sliced
• 1 tablespoon of ginger, crushed and sliced
• 4 tablespoons bagoong isda or bagoong alamang
• 3 tablespoons of oil
• 1 1/2 cup water
• Salt and pepper to taste

• In a cooking pan, heat oil and fry the pork until brown, remove the pork from the pan and set aside.
• On the same pan, saute garlic, onion, ginger and tomatoes.
• In a casserole, boil water and add bagoong.
• Add the pork and shrimp in the casserole and mix in the saute’ garlic, onion, ginger and tomatoes.
• Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Add in all the vegetables and cook until the vegetables are done, careful not to overcook.
• Salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve hot with plain rice.

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