Pro Tips
**Chef's Tips & Troubleshooting:**
- Make sure the pan and oil are hot before adding ingredients for the best sear.
- Fry in batches to avoid overcrowding — lowering the temperature makes food greasy.
- Cook shrimp and squid quickly over high heat — they turn rubbery in under 3 minutes.
- Trim excess fat from the pork belly but leave a thin layer to keep the meat moist during cooking.
Cooking Tips
Pat the meat completely dry with paper towels before frying — moisture is the enemy of crispiness. Use a thermometer to maintain oil temperature at 350–375°F (175–190°C). If the oil is too cool, the food absorbs grease; too hot and it burns on the outside before cooking through.
Ingredient Substitutions
Pork alternatives: Chicken thighs work well in most pork recipes (they stay moist like pork does). For a leaner option, use turkey breast or firm tofu. 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. Crispy dishes are best enjoyed fresh — they lose their crunch when stored. If you must store leftovers, reheat in an air fryer or oven at 375°F (190°C) for 5–7 minutes to restore crispiness. Avoid microwaving crispy dishes — the steam makes the coating soggy. Use a toaster oven or stovetop skillet instead. 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.
Shrimp Monggo with Lechon Kawali
Lechon kawali — crispy deep-fried pork belly with crackling skin. Dip in vinegar with garlic and chili.
Instructions
- Start to prepare the lechon kawali by boiling water in a pot. Add the pork belly. Boil in medium heat for 30 to 40 minutes.
- While the pork belly is being boiled, prepare the shrimp monggo by heating oil in a second cooking pot. Add shrimp. Stir-fry for 3 minutes. Remove from the pan. Set aside.
- Using the remaining oil, saute garlic, onion, and tomato. Add the mung beans and pour water into the pot. Let boil. Add Knorr Shrimp cube. Stir. cover and cook in medium heat until the mung beans becomes soft. Note: add more water if needed.
- Meanwhile, remove the pork belly from the first pot. Let it cool down. Coat with Knorr Liquid Seasoning. Let it stay for 10 to 20 minutes.
- Check the second pot with mung beans. Once the mung beans are tender, add spinach. Cook for 3 minutes. Add the shrimp back and season with salt and ground black pepper. Transfer to a serving bowl.
- Start to fry the lechon kawali by heating oil in a clean pot. Once the oil gets hot, gently lower the pork belly. Cover the pot with a splatter screen. Cook one side in medium heat until it gets golden brown and crispy. Turn it over and do the same to the other side. Remove from the pot. Let it cool down. Slice and transfer to a serving plate.
- Serve the lechon kawali and shrimp monggo with rice.
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Pro Tips & Troubleshooting
- Make sure the pan and oil are hot before adding ingredients for the best sear.
- Fry in batches to avoid overcrowding — lowering the temperature makes food greasy.
- Cook shrimp and squid quickly over high heat — they turn rubbery in under 3 minutes.
- Trim excess fat from the pork belly but leave a thin layer to keep the meat moist during cooking.
Cooking Tips
Use a thermometer to maintain oil temperature at 350–375°F (175–190°C). If the oil is too cool, the food absorbs grease; too hot and it burns on the outside before cooking through.
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
Crispy dishes are best enjoyed fresh — they lose their crunch when stored. If you must store leftovers, reheat in an air fryer or oven at 375°F (190°C) for 5–7 minutes to restore crispiness.
Avoid microwaving crispy dishes — the steam makes the coating soggy. Use a toaster oven or stovetop skillet instead.
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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