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.

- Use day-old refrigerated rice for fried rice — fresh rice turns mushy in the pan.

- For salads, pat greens completely dry so the dressing clings instead of sliding off.

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. Have all your ingredients prepped and measured before you start cooking — quick dishes leave no time for chopping mid-recipe.

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. 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.

Taco Fried Rice

Taco Fried Rice

Metro Manila, International

Taco Fried Rice — a refreshing Filipino shaved ice dessert with sweet syrup and toppings. Perfect for hot days.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 15 min Total: 25 min Medium Serves 4

Instructions

  1. Sprinkle the salt over the cooked white rice. Using a large spoon, gently toss the rice to distribute the salt equally and to avoid the rice from forming.Set aside.
  2. Meanwhile, heat the cooking oil in a pan.
  3. Once the oil becomes hot, put-in the ground beef and cook until it turns light to medium brown (3 to 5 minutes).
  4. Pour-in the water and then mix-in the taco seasoning. Stir and continue to cook for 5 minutes or until the liquid evaporates.
  5. Add-in the rice. Toss once in a while using a flat spatula. Make sure that you DO NOT press the rice with the spatula as the rice can stick with each other -- we want out rice to be as loose as possible.Continue to cook for 5 to 8 minutes in medium heat.
  6. Transfer to a serving plate. Top with chopped parsley.
  7. Serve.

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Pro Tips & Troubleshooting

**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.
- Use day-old refrigerated rice for fried rice — fresh rice turns mushy in the pan.
- For salads, pat greens completely dry so the dressing clings instead of sliding off.

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.
Have all your ingredients prepped and measured before you start cooking — quick dishes leave no time for chopping mid-recipe.

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.
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.
G

Lola Nena Guerrero

Ilocano & Visayan Regional Specialties

Lola Nena Guerrero is a contributor to the UlamDaily editorial team. Born in Laoag and raised in Cebu, she brings decades of home cooking experience preserving Ilocano and Visayan regional recipes that have been passed down through her family.

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