Asian cooking, culture and stories of recipes
Puto Maya is a classic Filipino rice cake enjoyed for snacks or dessert, with origins from Cebu, a Visayan province. The easy recipe consists of glutinous rice cooked in coconut cream, then steamed. The round-shaped rice cakes are sprinkled with fresh coconut meat slivers and served with fresh, ripe mangoes in season and cups of piping-hot cocoa, called Sikwate in Cebu.
These Filipino Lenguas de Gato Butter Cookies are slim yet decadent buttery treats for desserts or snacks. Lenguas de Gato in Spanish translates to ‘cat’s tongues’. Thus, the cookies are shaped like a tiny tongue. These bake quickly and the rich butter aroma surrounds the kitchen during the process.
What is a typical American Thanksgiving like in a Filipino home here in the States? Food is a journey from the appetizers to the end of the meal, and desserts are as scrumptious as the entrees. The chilly air fills the outdoors. Autumn leaves in monochromatic hues are strewn on the ground. The tree branches are stark and bare. But inside the house, music, laughter and chatter is loud and lively.
Even on Thanksgiving, an American holiday, we feast with Filipino dishes like lechon (roast pig) here in the States. My favorite meal was always the day after the holiday. That’s when Paksiw na Lechon – Stewed Pork Belly was cooked. All the chunks of leftover lechon (roast pork) were chopped up and dropped…
Puto Maya is a classic Filipino rice cake enjoyed for snacks or dessert, with origins from Cebu, a Visayan province. The easy recipe consists of glutinous rice cooked in coconut cream, then steamed. The round-shaped rice cakes are sprinkled with fresh coconut meat slivers and served with fresh, ripe mangoes in season and cups of piping-hot cocoa, called Sikwate in Cebu.
My mother’s Spanish-style Filipino Cocido was a dish from my childhood in the Philippines. Mom cooked this for our Sunday family meal. What looks like a multi-course meal is actually easy to cook by simmering all the meats: ham, chicken, beef, pork, Spanish chorizos and vegetables together. Serve the clear broth as soup with sides of garlicky eggplant hash, homemade tomato sauce and sweet plantains.
My version of Instant Pot Filipino Pork Chops Asado are pork cutlets cooked in plenty of fresh tomatoes, tomato sauce and paste, with seasonings. The thick pork chops are simmered in the rich sauce. The results are tender, juicy pork chops swirling in sweet-savory sauces. I also share how to cook these stove-top.
