Pro Tips

**Chef's Tips & Troubleshooting:**

- Let the stew rest for 10 minutes after cooking — the flavors deepen noticeably as it sits.

- Cook tomato-based stews until the oil separates and rises to the surface for maximum flavor concentration.

- For grilled fish, oil the grates well and do not flip until the skin releases naturally.

- Squeeze calamansi or lemon over seafood just before serving for a bright, fresh finish.

Cooking Tips

Seafood cooks quickly — remove it from heat the moment it turns opaque and flakes easily with a fork. Overcooking makes it tough and rubbery. Pat shellfish dry before adding to the pan so they sear rather than steam. A hot, quick cook preserves their natural sweetness.

Ingredient Substitutions

Short on time? A pressure cooker (Instant Pot) can reduce cooking time by roughly half for most braised and stewed Filipino dishes. Reduce liquid slightly since less evaporates.

Storage & Reheating

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. The flavors often deepen overnight, making leftovers even more delicious. Seafood dishes are best consumed within 1–2 days. Reheat gently — microwave on low power or warm in a covered skillet over low heat to avoid overcooking. Do not refreeze thawed seafood dishes. Once reheated, consume immediately and do not re-refrigerate. Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water or broth if the sauce has thickened during storage. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each.

Chili Crab with String Beans

Chili Crab with String Beans

Manila, NCR

Chili crab stir-fried with crisp string beans — the sweet-spicy sauce coats both the crab and the crunchy greens.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 20 min Total: 35 min Medium Serves 19

Instructions

  1. Combine chicken broth, soy sauce, ketchup, and cornstarch in a bowl. Stir to mix. Set aside.
  2. Heat the oil in a wok or large pan. Once the oil gets hot, saute the garlic, onion, and ginger.
  3. Once the onion gets soft, add the chili and snake beans. Stir fry in high heat for 2 to 3 minutes.
  4. Add the crab. Continue to stir fry for 5 minutes.
  5. Sprinkle salt and ground black pepper. Pour-in the chicken broth mixture and then toss to coat. Cook for 1 minute.
  6. Pour the beaten egg and stir fry for 3 minutes.
  7. Transfer to a serving plate. Serve with warm white rice.

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Pro Tips & Troubleshooting

**Chef's Tips & Troubleshooting:**
- Let the stew rest for 10 minutes after cooking — the flavors deepen noticeably as it sits.
- Cook tomato-based stews until the oil separates and rises to the surface for maximum flavor concentration.
- For grilled fish, oil the grates well and do not flip until the skin releases naturally.
- Squeeze calamansi or lemon over seafood just before serving for a bright, fresh finish.

Cooking Tips

Seafood cooks quickly — remove it from heat the moment it turns opaque and flakes easily with a fork. Overcooking makes it tough and rubbery.
Pat shellfish dry before adding to the pan so they sear rather than steam. A hot, quick cook preserves their natural sweetness.

Substitutions

Short on time? A pressure cooker (Instant Pot) can reduce cooking time by roughly half for most braised and stewed Filipino dishes. Reduce liquid slightly since less evaporates.

Storage & Reheating

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. The flavors often deepen overnight, making leftovers even more delicious.
Seafood dishes are best consumed within 1–2 days. Reheat gently — microwave on low power or warm in a covered skillet over low heat to avoid overcooking.
Do not refreeze thawed seafood dishes. Once reheated, consume immediately and do not re-refrigerate.
Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water or broth if the sauce has thickened during storage. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each.
E

Nanay Elena

Comfort Food

Every recipe Nanay Elena shares is a piece of family history from her kitchen in Iloilo.

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