Powdered Ube

I always associate Christmas with Haleyang Ube
[ha-leh-yang ooh-beh], a sweetened dessert of purple yam
(Dioscorea alata). We always make it from scratch.
Mashing the boiled ube, adding milk and sugar and stirring,
stirring, stirring over low heat. This could take an hour
so be sure to have a partner in stirring.

Ube is used in most Filipino desserts. Halo halo,
ube ice cream, ube silvanas, hopiang ube and ube cake.

In a recent trip to Bohol with friends, our host family
served us a delicious ube cake. I was not able to get
the cake recipe but I was able to watch the process
of making powdered ube which they supply in stores
around Tagbiliran City.

Ube is steamed, grinded and dried

Ube Cake

Catsup Packets and Shrimps

I was surprised to see the jar of catsup packets in the kitchen.

I didn't know we had accumulated so much. We got these
from take out orders from our favorite fastfoods. Jollibee,
McDonald's, Greenwich, Pizza Hut. I like McDonald's catsup
packets since they serve Heinz, my favorite catsup.

What to do with these packets? We usually use them when
cooking tomato based dishes like afritada and kaldereta.
This time, I used them with shrimps.

The usual way to cook shrimps at home is "halabos" style.
That is, to cook the shrimps in its own juice and stir fry
in oil for a few minutes. Others would put a little sprite
or seven-up to add sweetness. I tweak it a little by adding
catsup and basil.

Shrimps with Basil

                1/2 k shrimps
1 cup basil leaves
6-10 catsup packets
5 cloves garlic, crushed
3 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Clean shrimps but do not removed shells. Saute garlic in oil
and add shrimps. Stir fry until shrimps changes color.
Add catsup  and  little water. Stir for about 2 minutes.
Add basil and stir until it changes color about 10 seconds.
Serve hot.

WHB #311: Kulawo

I was introduced to Kulawo here in Pila. It’s an eggplant dish
with a smoky coconut flavor. Coconut meat is grilled before
squeezing out the milk to get that smoky taste.  You can
split the nuts first before grilling or grate the coconut
and grill it by placing hot coals on it. . Either way, you’ll get
that rich smoky flavor.

Dad says my grandmother, Lola Angge sometimes use banana heart (puso ng saging ) instead of eggplant.

puso ng saging / bana heart bud

I was able to try it out the other day when Dad harvested
a few puso ng saging. I knew I had to share this recipe to
Weekend Herb Blogging. This week's host is Brii of Briiblog.

kulawo

Grate coconut meat and place in a bowl. Make a well in
the center and place a live coal. Cover with coconut meat to grill.
Repeat the process until the meat turns brownish and smells
burnt. Squeezed the milk from the meat and set aside.

           Slice the puso ng saging into 4 and boil to cook.
Remove water and quickly shred using a fork. Add vinegar,
chopped garlic and minced onion. Season with salt and pepper.
Add coconut milk and mix well.  Serve with fried or grilled fish.