Title: Filipino Cuisine Tips, 1 of 2
Categories: Filipino Tips Sauce
Yield: 1 Servings

		E-mail dialogue between
		Manny Rothstein
		Dennis Santiago and

MR> Got your recipes and most of them look great (though I think I may MR> on the Pork Livers in Pigs Blood, I'm trying to cut down, but I am MR> that it is there), a great blend of exotic and easy to prepare. Th MR> for sharing them with me.

Most people pass on the pigs blood. Try it sometime though. If your palate is onto the more exotic forms of cuisine, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

MR> I have already formatted your recipes into Meal-Master format, but MR> before I post them onto the Cooking Echo, I would like to impose o MR> a little bit more for some clarification about ingredients and som MR> background on Filipino cuisine. I also intend to post the entire MR> collection as a file on your board and the Salata board. After I d MR> that, it should take on a life of its own and propagate itself MR> throughout cyber space.

Great. I'll try to clarify as much as I can.

MR> What is bagoong, and how is it prepared?

Bagoong is a salty mixture made from shrimp. It's packaged in 1/2 pin jars and sold in the refrigerated foods section in oriental stores. It also an easily available import from the Philippines item these days. Unfortunately, I do not know of any substitutes.

MR> What is patis (fish sauce? Is it like Vietnamese fish sauce?

Patis and Vietnamese fish sauce are one and the same. It's a brine ma with fish ingredients. If unavailable, salt can be used as a substitu for the brine component.

MR> Is rice or bagoong the traditional side dishes for all of the reci MR> or are there other side dishes that you recommend.

Some tidbits about the Filipino table:

1. Rice is always served with the meal. One of the healthy aspects o Filipino diet is that rice makes up the bulk of the meal while the mea dish is used as a flavor enhancement. You can see how this combinatio naturally fulfills the heart and cholesterol meal plans.

2. One of my favorite side dishes to go along with a Filipino meal is actually the simplest of fare. The ingredients are:

Tomatoes 2-3 Medium, sliced or diced Onion 1/2 Medium, chopped Cilantro a little for flavor and color Patis 3-4 Tablespoons Vinegar 2-3 Tablespoons

Mix the whole mess in a bowl and serve alongside rice and the main dis

3. It's not unusual for a typical Filipino meal to have several main dishes served together at one sitting. That's much the same as a Chin table where a variety of courses help to spread the palate around.

MR> In Pasiw Na Isda you recommend in dir. #1 "...add all other MR> ingredients", should it be "...add all other ingredients except bi MR> melon and eggplant".

You are correct.

(continued in part 2)

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