Pinakbet Recipe – There are many vegetable dishes in Filipino cuisine. Most often than not vegetables are cooked into stews and soups. Among the many stew dishes that feature vegetable, Pinakbet is considered one of the classics. It is a stew that features indigenous produce, root crops, and beans that are accessible and plentiful in the area, plus a protein. What makes it distinct is that it’s flavored with bagoong monamon, a type of seasoning made of fermented fish.
Pinakbet got its name from the Ilocano term “pinakebbet,” which translates to “shriveled.” This name refers to when the vegetables are slowly sweated in the pot over low heat until they become “shrunken.”
Depending on the area, there are different version of the dish. One version uses bagoong alamang or shrimp paste instead of bagoong isda. It also typically includes kalabasa, which adds a touch of sweetness to the dish.
Whatever way you decide to make the dish, you’ll still end with a dish with spoonfuls of deliciously complementary vegetables, crispy meat and a savory, clement soup. Among the many recipes you can try, here’s one Pinakbet recipe you can use to get started.
Tips and Other Options for a Pinakbet Recipe
There are different tips and tricks to making this vegetable stew. When cooking the vegetables, make sure to add the vegetables in the pot according to how long they cook. Sturdier ones such as kalabasa and sitaw go in first followed by eggplant, bittermelon, and okra which take less time to soften. It also helps to make sure that all the ingredients are evenly cut for an easier and quicker cooking time.
If you want to explore other vegetable stew options, you should try “Vegan Kare Kare” it is another classic stew dish that vegetable lovers can enjoy. There is also other vegetable stews/soups like “Ginataang Gulay” and “Ginisang Sayote“. For those that want to try something more exotic, there is “Callos,” which features ox tripe. Another option is a vegetable soup with something different like “Dinengdeng.”
Aside from these stew dishes, you can enjoy other vegetable dishes like “Poqui Poqui“, a delicious omelette made of eggplant that can be enjoyed for any meal. There are also vegan alternative dishes like “Eggplant Adobo.”
