Tuesday's Cupful: Pork Ribs Adobo w/ Spinach

The Mixed Stew is going on hiatus from June 15th thru June 19th.  We hope everyone enjoys a week of Guam faves. The Mixed Stew will be back on June 22nd with even more yummy posts. 

Post originally from April 1, 2013

A healthier serving

There are many different versions of adobo.  This one includes spinach so expect more nutrition in every bite.  Here’s the recipe:

What you will need:

1 large stock pot w/ lid

1 wooden spoon

2 and ½ lbs pork riblets, cut into pieces

1 medium-sized yellow onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

3 tbspns soy paste

2 tbspns canola oil

1 cup water

1 bunch spinach, chopped
1 zuchinni, chopped small

Pinch of salt and pepper

Cooking & Directions:

Heat pot at medium-high heat.  Add cooking oil, onion, and garlic.  Let ingredients sautee.  Stir well until onion turns translucent.  Pour in pork riblets and let them brown for 10 minutes.  Pour in water and reduce heat to medium-low.  Let pork braise for 25 minutes in covered pot.  Mix in soy paste and add veggies to braising ingredients.  Mix well.  Throw in pinch of salt and pepper.  Let ingredients braise for another 15 to 20 minutes.  Serve with steamed rice or brown rice.

Monday's Bread Bowl: Chamorro Sausage

The Mixed Stew is going on hiatus from June 15th thru June 19th.  We hope everyone enjoys a week of Guam faves. The Mixed Stew will be back on June 22nd with even more yummy posts. 

Post originally from November 30, 2009

A homemade link to Guam

Many ethnic cuisines have their own variety of sausage. There is German bratwurst and Portuguese linguica. At nearby supermarkets we can find Mexican, Salvadoran, and Argentinian chorizos. And so, it comes as no surprise that a Pacific island where European seafarers landed has a sausage of its own. The explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, "discovered" Guam and its Chamorro people in 1521. The island was occupied by Spain until 1898. Chamorro sausage has a milder flavor than Spanish chorizo. Additionally, there are no minty or green herbs in Chamorro sausage. Less is more with garlic, paprika, and annatto (achiote) seasoning this yummy sausage. Katsons makes and sells packaged links. Look for Chamorro sausage in the freezer aisle at most of Guam’s grocery stores. Local restaurants may serve a loose meat Chamorro sausage. These restaurants usually serve Chamorro sausage with fried eggs and steamed rice. Here is our recipe for homemade Chamorro sausage:

What you will need:

1 medium-sized bowl
1 wooden spoon
2/3 cup datu puti (Filipino cane vinegar)*
3 lbs ground pork
5 garlic cloves, minced
1 small yellow onion, minced
3 teaspoons paprika
3 tablespoons annatto (achiote) seasoning
2 tablespoons red pepper flakes
3 teaspoons garlic powder
3 teaspoons onion powder
3 teaspoons salt
Pinch of black pepper

Preparation:

Place all ingredients in bowl. Mix well. Next, chill seasoned meat in fridge for at least 48 hours. To prepare, heat frying pan on medium heat and coat with a bit of cooking oil, add sausage mixture and brown well. Otherwise, freeze in Ziploc bags for later use.

*Helpful hint: We get datu puti at a nearby Asian supermarket. Palm vinegar also is good for this recipe. In a pinch, apple cider vinegar would be better to use than regular, clear distilled vinegar.

Tuesday's Cupful: Spicy Vietnamese Fried Chicken Drumsticks

The Mixed Stew is going on hiatus from May 4th thru May 8th.  We hope everyone enjoys a week of hot and spicy repeats. The Mixed Stew will be back on May 11th with even more yummy posts. 

Post from December 2nd, 2013

A lips’ smacking hot and crispy treat

The flavors of soy-sauce and sweetened chili sauce make this a worthwhile and succulent dish.  Here’s the recipe:

What you will need:

1 fry-pan or cast-iron skillet

2 ½ cups canola oil

1 metal tablespoon

1 serving plate

1 pair metal thongs

1 large bowl w/ lid

1 small bowl, glass

8 – 12 chicken drumsticks, thawed

2 cups rice flour

1 large plastic bag, Ziploc

¼ cup soy sauce

1 large shallot, finely diced

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

Juice of ½ lime

3 tablespoons hot chili paste

2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons fish sauce

Cooking & Directions:

Place chicken drumsticks in large bowl.  Add soy sauce and toss pieces.  Cover with lid and let marinade for at least 3 hours (turn at least once).  

Pour rice flour into plastic bag.  Add drumsticks to bag and toss well.  Therefore, dredging and coating the chicken pieces in rice flour.  Set aside.   

Heat pan on medium-high heat.  Add cooking oil.  Let pan reach adequate frying temperature.  Carefully place chicken in hot oil to fry until done.  Cooking should take roughly 10 – 12 minutes on each side (depending on the mass and size of the drumsticks).  The chicken should turn golden brown and crispy.  Set aside on serving plate to rest.

Once chicken is done frying, remove all except roughly ¼ cup frying oil from pan.  Return pan to heat.  Sautee shallot and garlic until translucent in pan drippings then add chili sauce, brown sugar, lime juice, and fish sauce.  The sugar should dissolve forming a glaze sauce.

Monday's Bread Bowl: Spicy Hot Tuna Salad

The Mixed Stew is going on hiatus from May 4th thru May 8th.  We hope everyone enjoys a week of hot and spicy repeats. The Mixed Stew will be back on May 11th with even more yummy posts. 

Post from October 17,2011

The Mixed Stew crew loves spicy foods. We tweaked traditional tuna salad and added pepper, cilantro, and garlic to make a tuna salad that’s sizzling. Anyone eating a serving will forget that its served chilled. Here’s the recipe:

What you will need:

1 wooden spoon
1 medium-sized bowl
Plastic wrap
1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, minced (or 1/2 teaspoon dried cilantro)
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/2 garlic clove, minced
1/2 small yellow onion, chopped small
2 (5 oz.) portions of canned tuna, drained
1 tablespoon sriracha
1 green jalapeno, diced small
Pinch of salt

Preparation and Directions:

Combine all ingredients in bowl. Mix well. Cover with plastic wrap and chill in fridge for 1 to 3 hours before serving.

Wednesday’s Helping: Alternative Ingredients for Chamorro-Style Flank Steak

Steaks done better

We recommend using sirloin, minute, or chuck steak instead of flank.  Remember that leaner cuts should not be cooked until well-done if you desire more appetizing and tender servings.  Meanwhile, substitute the soy sauce with a solid rubbing of plain sea salt or coarse salt.  Wanna kick it up a notch in terms of pungent spices?  Use fish sauce instead of soy sauce for a more fragrant but tasty steak.     

Tuesday’s Cupful: Background on Chamorro-Style Flank Steak

Island steak on-the-fly

The Mixed Stew crew enjoyed this menu item growing up in Guam.  Grilled flank steak, sliced butterfly-style, was always a yummy site to see and eat.  The Chamorro cooks also piled oodles and oodles of onion rings piled on top for good measure.  The reliable combination soy sauce and lemon juice forms a potent sauce that complements this mean cut’s natural juices and flavors.   

   

Monday’s Bread Bowl: Chamorro-Style Flank Steak

Island-style grilled steak

The tougher steak cut becomes more palatable with simple seasoning and searing.  Here’s the recipe: 

What you will need:

1 large serving plate

1 cast-iron skillet

3 tablespoons canola oil

2 ½ lbs flank steak

3 garlic toes, pilled

1 large yellow onion, sliced into rings

3 tablespoons soy sauce

Juice of 1 lemon

Salt and black pepper to taste

Cooking and Directions: 

Cut into the flank steak in a sideways motion in “butterfly-style” as shown.  Season and rub steak with black pepper and salt.  Heat skillet on medium-high heat.  Grease pan with canola oil.  Throw in garlic toes and repeatedly slide across bottom of pan.  Next, place steak in hot pan.  Let steak sear on both sides for 5 to 7 minutes.  Repeat for all steak pieces.  Place steaks on serving plate.  Keep pan on heat.  Add onion rings and let them sautee until softer.  Toss well.  Pour in lemon juice and soy sauce.  Toss onions again.  Pile onions and pour sauce over steaks.  Serve immediately.