LUTONG PINOY

LUTONG PINOY

Milkfish or bangus as it is locally called here in the Philippines is our national fish. Bangus is one of the many staple fish diets by Filipinos although milkfish is widespread in Southeast Asia. Countries like Indonesia and Taiwan have milkfish also in their diet. There are many ways to cook the milkfish or bangus. Preparation of the bangus for relleno is equally tedious. After selecting the right size of bangus, it is then scaled, gutted, and the intestines removed. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 large size bangus
1 onion, chopped finely
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 small size carrot, small cubes
1 box raisins (optional)
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 raw egg, large
1 teaspoon vetsin
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 green bell pepper, chopped finely
2 tablespoon flour
2 pieces lemon
cooking oil for frying

Procedure:

1. Remove and clean fish scales. Gently pound fish to loosen meat from the skin. Use flat side of a knife in pounding. Break the big bone at the nape and on the tail. Insert the end of the handle of an aluminum kitchen turner (sandok) through the fish neck. Gently scrape down the handle between the meat and the skin. Scrape down to the tail, going around and on the other side of the fish. If you feel the meat is entirely separated from the skin, remove the handle, squeeze and push out meat (with the big bone), starting from the tail going out through the head. This way, you will be able to push out the whole meat without cutting an opening on the skin. 
2. Marinate skin and head of the fish with soy sauce and lemon juice. Set aside. Boil fish meat in a little water. Drain. Pick out bones. Flake meat. 
3. Saute garlic until brown. Add onion and tomatoes. Stir in fish meat, carrot, and pepper. Season with salt, vetsin, ground pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Add raisins. 
4. Transfer cooked mixture to a plate. Cook, then, add raw egg and flour. Fill in mixture in bangus skin. Wrap bangus in wilted banana leaves or aluminum foil. Fry. Cool before slicing. 
5. Garnish with sliced fresh tomato, spring onions or parsley. Serve with catsup.

Bulalo

2 lbs marrow bones cut to expose marrow on one end
1 lb beef shank with meat
1 onion quartered
3 cloves of garlic
1 tsp black peppercorns
2 Tbs patis (fish sauce)
salt to taste
2 cobs of corn cut into 1.5″ segments
1 sayote (chayote) peeled and cubed
3 baby bok choy, leaves separated

Boil a large pot of water. Add the marrow bones and beef shank and return to a boil. Continue boiling until you don’t see any more red blood coming from the meat or bones (about 10 minutes), then remove the meat and bones with tongs and scrub under cold water to remove any scum. Dump the water in the pot out and rinse the pot. This process rids the meat of excess blood and will ensure your soup is nice and clear.

Return the cleaned meat and bones to the pot then add the onion, garlic, peppercorns and patis. Cover with water then bring it to a rolling boil and skim off any scum that accumulates.

Reduce the heat to medium low. If you are using a pressure cooker, afix the lid and let it cook for 1 1/2 hours. If you’re not using a pressure cooker, simmer until the meat on the shank is fork tender (4-5 hours). Skim off any excessive fat from the top but do not remove it all (remember, fat=flavour). Transfer the meat and bones to a bowl, then strain the stock through a fine mesh sieve, discard the solids then return the meat and bones to the strained stock.

Add the corn and chayote and simmer for another 20 minutes or until the chayote is tender. Salt to taste, then add the bok choy at the last minute. Serve with rice.

- See more at: http://norecipes.com/blog/bulalo-recipe/#sthash.vhwtvCs3.dpuf

Mynn o. masinsin presentation from mynn18