Panlasang Pinoy shares home-style recipes perfect for Noche Buena

Narrowing down the food options for Noche Buena is a hard task but it’s even harder to cook the meals you’ve chosen.  Thanks to the internet, however, there is now a wellspring of resources for everyday and seasonal Pinoy recipes—wherever in the world you may be.  For Pinoys here and abroad, they get a taste of home from Panlasang Pinoy, a food blog that features “tried and tested” Filipino recipes. The blog also highlights Asian recipes, nutritional information, and cooking videos. Over the years, it has become the virtual pit stop of Pinoys online for being a source of favorite home-style recipes.

“I think that Panlasang Pinoy empowers the readers by getting them interested in cooking, encouraging them to start cooking Filipino food in particular, and inspire them to develop their cooking skills,” said Vanjo Merano, owner of the food blog.

Merano is an IT professional based in Chicago, USA.  He created the blog in 2009 after coming to a conclusion that Filipino cuisine is not represented well in America.  “It is either misrepresented or not prepared the way it should be, based on what I know,” says the seasoned blogger.

To help enlighten people on preparing Filipino food, Merano began posting articles about his favorite dishes including their recipes. As his audience grew, he gave followers the power to suggest recipes to feature on his blog.   Soon, he was filming the process and posting cooking videos.

“My favorite feedback goes like this: ‘Salamat talaga kuya, dahil sa iyo, lalo akong minahal ng mister/misis ko,’” shares Merano. He added that he also received comments from people who have used his recipes for livelihood like selling food around their neighborhood and setting up small eateries.  “I am happy to learn that business is thriving for most of them,” the foodie says.

Merano’s kitchen training began when he was 10 years old and still living in the Philippines. He often watched his mother cook.  “Of course, this comes with a price. I was the errand boy who gets sought to purchase last minute items from the nearby talipapa (wet market). It was located just by the entrance of our subdivision, so it’s no big deal. In fact, I enjoyed buying ingredients for her because I am learning,” recounts Merano.

All the time spent in his mother’s kitchen was worth it.  PanlasangPinoy.com is now one of the go-to food blogs of many Filipinos for a variety of recipes.  For special occasions, like Christmas and New Year, the blog has sections that feature dishes fit for the celebration.  Majority of the recipes come from the owner’s family Christmas recipe collection.

This holiday season, Merano shares his top three dishes that are perfect for Noche Buena:

Fiesta Menudo

“Menudo is my favorite dish. I can describe Fiesta menudo as a better version of my favorite menudo dish.”  Moreno uses this recipe for special events like reunions and Christmas dinners.  See the recipe below:

Fiesta Menudo is Panlasang Pinoy's favorite dish. PHOTO COURTESY OF PANLASANGPINOY.COM.

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 80 minutes

Total time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 lb. pork, sliced into small pieces
• ¼ lb. pork liver, diced
• 4 pieces hotdogs, sliced crosswise
• 1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
• ¼ cup raisins
• 1 Knorr pork cube
• 1 medium carrot, cubed
• 1 medium potato, cubed
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 ½ cups water
• 4 tablespoons cooking oil
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• Salt and ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

• Heat 2 tablespoons of cooking oil in a pot.
• Once the oil gets hot, sauté half of the onion until it gets soft. Add the liver. Continue to cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the pot and set aside.
• On the same pot, heat the remaining oil. Sauté the onion and garlic; add the sliced pork. Continue to cook in medium heat while stirring for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Add the hotdogs. Cook for 2 minutes
• Pour the tomato sauce in the pot. Stir. Add water. Let boil.
• Put the raisins and Knorr pork cube in the pot. Stir. Cover and cook in low heat for 40 to 45 minutes.
• Add the sautéed liver. Cover and cook for 5 minutes.
• Add the carrot and potato. Stir, cover, and cook for 10 to 12 minutes in medium heat.
• Add sugar and season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer to a serving plate.
• Serve. Share and enjoy!

Serves: 4

Recipe from PanlasangPinoy.com

Noche Buena Lumpiang Shanghai

“Lumpiang Shanghai is the family's favorite. This version is tastier, to the point that you won't need any dipping sauce around.” This dish is perfect for kids.  Check out the recipe below: 

Noche Buena Lumpiang Shanghai is tasty enough that you don't even need to dip it in sauce. PHOTO COURTESY OF PANLASANGPINOY.COM.

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 7 minutes

Total time: 22 minutes

Ingredients

• 3½ lbs. ground pork
• 1 Knorr pork cube
• 1 cup minced Jicama (singkamas)
• 1½ cup minced carrot
• 2 medium yellow onion, minced
• ¼ cup coarsely chopped flat leaf parsley
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2½ teaspoons salt
• 2 eggs
• 40 to 50 pieces lumpia (egg roll) wrapper
• 3 to 4 cups cooking oil

Instructions

• In a large bowl, combine ground pork, carrot, onion, singkamas, parsley, garlic powder, salt, ground black pepper, eggs, and Knorr pork cube. Mix well until all ingredients are well blended.
• Start to wrap the mixture by laying a piece of lumpia wrapper flat in a clean surface. Scoop 1 to 2 tablespoons of meat mixture and place it towards the lower end of the wrapper. Compress the mixture using your clean fingers and mold it into a cylinder. Pull the lower end of the wrapper to cover the mixture and then fold the left and right ends inwards. Roll until the mixture is fully covered. Apply a little bit of water to the far and of the wrapper and press it against the rolled lumpia to seal it. Perform this step until the meat mixture is fully consumed. Note: See the video below or the execution.
• Heat oil in a deep pot. Once the oil starts to heat-up, start to fry the lumpia into batches of 7 to 8 pieces. Continue to deep fry in medium heat until the lumpia starts to float
• Once the color turns light to medium brown, remove the lumpia from the cooking pot and arrange in a plate with a cooling rack or paper towel. Let it cool down. Continue to fry the other batches
• Transfer to a serving plate. Serve with Sweet and sour sauce.
• Share and enjoy!

Serves: 10

Recipe from PanlasangPinoy.com

Pork Mechado

“This dish is as festive as it can be in terms of taste and appearance.”  This colorful dish is simple to follow.  Check the recipe below:

Pork Mechado is a colorful dish to celebrate Christmas. PHOTO COURTESY OF PANLASANGPINOY.COM.

Prep time: 12 minutes

Cook time: 60 minutes

Total time: 1 hour 12 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 ½ lb. pork shoulder, sliced into cubes
• 1 large potato, cubed
• 1 medium red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 medium green bell pepper, sliced
• 1 cup frozen green peas
• 1 Knorr Pork Cube
• 1 lime (or calamansi)
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 can (6 oz.) tomato sauce
• 1 ½ cups water
• 5 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped
• 1 medium onion, diced
• Salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 3 tablespoons cooking oil

Instructions

• Combine pork, soy sauce, and juice of 1 lime in a bowl. Mix well and let it stay for 10 minutes.
• Heat the oil in a cooking pot.
• Saute the garlic and onion until the onion gets soft.
• Add the marinated pork (include the remaining marinade). Cook until it pork turns light brown.
• Pour tomato sauce and water. Let boil.
• Add the Knorr Pork Cube. Stir. Cover and cook in low heat for 35 to 40 minutes.
• Add the potato and green peas. Cook for 10 minutes.
• Stir-in the bell peppers. Continue to cook for 5 minutes.
• Add salt and ground black pepper to taste.
• Transfer to a serving plate.
• Serve. Share and enjoy!

Serves: 5

Recipe from PanlasangPinoy.com

Pinoy Spaghetti

This Filipino favorite is always served during Christmas dinners, including Merano’s home.  His version is no different from the spaghetti Pinoys love.  Just in case you still need help, here’s the recipe for a feast of Pinoy spaghetti:

Pinoy Spaghetti is a Noche Buena staple dish. PHOTO COURTESY OF PANLASANGPINOY.COM.

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 50 minutes

Total time: 1 hour

Ingredients

• 1 lb. Spaghetti
• 1 Knorr Pork Cube
• 1 (29 oz.) can tomato sauce
• ½ lb. ground pork
• 3 hotdogs sliced into pieces crosswise
• 3 ounces ham, chopped
• 4 tablespoons tomato paste
• 3 tablespoons liver spread
• 1 small red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 small green bell pepper, chopped
• 4 ounces cheddar cheese, grated
• 2 medium yellow onions, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• ? cup granulated white sugar
• 3 tablespoons cooking oil
• 1½ cups water
• Salt and ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

• Prepare the spaghetti according to package instructions. Drain the water. Set the spaghetti aside.
• Make the sauce by heating oil in a cooking pot.
• Saute garlic and onions until the onions starts to soften.
• Add ground pork. Cook until light brown.
• Add ham and hotdogs. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Pour the tomato sauce into the pot. Stir. Add water and let boil.
• Add Knorr Pork Cube. Stir. Cover the pot and continue to cook for 30 to 35 minutes.
• Put the liver spread into the pot. Stir.
• Add the bell peppers and sugar. Stir.
• Add the tomato paste. Stir and continue cook until the desired consistency is achieved.
• Add salt and ground black pepper. Cook for 1 minute.
• Arrange the spaghetti in a plate. Top with spaghetti sauce and grated cheese.
• Serve. Share and enjoy!

Serves: 4

Recipe from PanlasangPinoy.com

To make the dishes taste better, Moreno adds Knorr Pork Cubes “to bring out the flavors that should stand out.” Made with select herbs, seasoning, and meat, Knorr Pork Cubes enhance a dish’s natural flavors. It comes in fish, beef, pork, shrimp, and chicken flavors.

This holiday season, serve a hearty meal from the recipes of PanlasangPinoy.com to your family.  Level up your dishes and make them Christmas-sarap with Knorr Pork Cubes.

Cover photo courtesy of Vanjo Merano