Pro Tips
**Chef's Tips & Troubleshooting:**
- Pat all salad ingredients completely dry so the dressing clings evenly.
- Add the dressing just before serving to keep the greens crisp.
- Cook shrimp and squid quickly over high heat — they turn rubbery in under 3 minutes.
- For salads, pat greens completely dry so the dressing clings instead of sliding off.
Cooking Tips
Blanch leafy vegetables in boiling salted water for 30–60 seconds, then plunge into ice water. This locks in their bright color and crisp texture. Add vegetables in stages — hard vegetables (carrots, potatoes) go in first, tender ones (leafy greens, beansprouts) at the very end.
Ingredient Substitutions
Out of cane vinegar? White vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or rice vinegar all work — each brings its own subtle character. Avoid balsamic (too sweet) or distilled white (too harsh). Lemon or calamansi juice can replace vinegar in most marinades and braises. Add a pinch of sugar to balance the acidity. 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. 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.
Ensaladang Filipino
Ensaladang Filipino — fresh vegetables prepared Filipino-style with garlic and shrimp paste. A light and flavorful side dish.
Instructions
- Heat-up the grill. Grill the eggplant, onion, and tomato. The onion and tomato should only be grilled for 3 minutes per side, while the eggplant should be grilled longer until the inner part is fully cooked and soft. This should take around 10 to 12 minutes per side or more.
- Once the eggplant, tomato, and onion are done, peel the skin from the eggplant and slice. Slice the tomato and onion, as well. Arrange in a serving plate.
- Combine vinegar, sugar, salt, and ground black pepper in a bowl. Stir. Make sure that the salt and sugar dissolves completely. Pour over the tomato, eggplant, and onion.
- Serve with shrimp paste on the side.
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Pro Tips & Troubleshooting
- Pat all salad ingredients completely dry so the dressing clings evenly.
- Add the dressing just before serving to keep the greens crisp.
- Cook shrimp and squid quickly over high heat — they turn rubbery in under 3 minutes.
- For salads, pat greens completely dry so the dressing clings instead of sliding off.
Cooking Tips
Add vegetables in stages — hard vegetables (carrots, potatoes) go in first, tender ones (leafy greens, beansprouts) at the very end.
Substitutions
Lemon or calamansi juice can replace vinegar in most marinades and braises. Add a pinch of sugar to balance the acidity.
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
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.
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