Pinakbet Tagalog

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1/2 pound pork belly (- cut into strips)
• 1 small onion (- chopped)
• 2 cloves garlic (- minced)
• 2-3 tablespoons shrimp paste
• 3 medium tomatoes (- chopped)
• 1/2 small squash (- peeled and cut into cubes)
• 1 cup water
• 5-7 young okras (- ends trimmed, cut into halves diagonally)
• 1/2 bunch yard-long beans (sitaw) (- ends trimmed and cut into 3-inch lengths)
• 1 medium bitter gourd (- seeded then halved and cut into slices)
• 1 large eggplant (- ends trimmed and cut into cubes)
• salt

Instructions

1. 1

   In a wok or pan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add pork and cook until browned and fat rendered.

2. 2

   Lower heat to medium and add the onion and garlic and cook until tender and aromatic. Add tomatoes and cook for about 3-5 minutes or until it becomes soft and the skins peel off the flesh

3. 3

   Add shrimp paste and continue to cook for about a minute.

4. 4

   Add squash and water. Cover the pan and let it simmer for about 2 minutes.

5. 5

   Add yard-long beans, bitter gourd, and eggplant. Season with salt if needed. Cook for about 2 minutes. Add the okra and cook for another 2 minutes or until vegetables are tender yet still a bit crisp.

6. 6

   Transfer to a serving plate and serve with rice and your favorite fried meat.