Sari Sari: A Filipino Medley of Flavors

Ingredients

Cooking oil

2 tablespoons

Pork belly

1/2 pound, cut into 1-inch pieces

Garlic

4 cloves, minced

Onion

1 large, chopped

Tomato

1 large, chopped

Shrimp

1/2 pound, peeled and deveined

Eggplant

1 medium, chopped

Okra

1 cup, trimmed

String beans

1 cup, cut into 2-inch pieces

Bitter melon

1 medium, seeded and sliced

Squash

1 cup, cubed

Water

4 cups

Fish sauce

2 tablespoons

Salt

to taste

Pepper

to taste

Instructions

1. Heat the cooking oil in a large pot over medium heat.
2. Add the pork belly and cook until it is browned and crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the pork belly from the pot and set it aside.
3. In the same pot, sauté the minced garlic, chopped onion, and chopped tomato until they are softened and aromatic, about 3-4 minutes.
4. Add the shrimp to the pot and cook until they turn pink, about 2-3 minutes.
5. Add the chopped eggplant, trimmed okra, cut string beans, sliced bitter melon, and cubed squash to the pot. Stir to combine all the ingredients.
6. Pour in the water and fish sauce. Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste.
7. Cover the pot and let it simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
8. Add the cooked pork belly back into the pot and stir to combine. Allow the stew to simmer for an additional 5 minutes so that the flavors can meld together.
9. Serve the Sari Sari hot, accompanied by steamed rice. Enjoy this heartwarming, nutritious, and flavorful Filipino dish!