Dumanjug, Cebu -- Family will always be the highest priority for us Filipinos. Family is one of the precious things we have. We stick together with our families in anything that come along in our daily lives. As the saying goes “We could not live without our Family”, That is why in a typical Filipino family; we always love, and care for our relatives. And one of the ways to make the family happy is by the togetherness of eating around the dinner table no matter the family size.

And as we celebrated National Family Month this September here in the Philippines; here are five nutritious dinners we can dine together with our family and loved ones.

Chopsuey

The most famous Filipino dish that Filipinos mostly eat during dinner. This dish is designed to be nutritious, affordable, and easy to prepare. 

Here are the ingredients:

(Serving size: good for 4 people)

• shrimp cut to small pieces (7 pieces)
• sliced pork (3 ounces)
• boneless chicken breast sliced to pieces (3 ounces)
• cauliflower florets (1 ½ cup)
• sliced carrot (1 piece)
• baby corn (8 pieces)
• sliced red bell pepper (1 piece)
• sliced green bell pepper (1 piece)
• chopped cabbage (1 ½ cups)
• boiled quail eggs (12 pieces)
• sliced onion (1 piece)
• soy sauce (¼ cup)
• oyster sauce (1 ½ tablespoon)
• water
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch diluted in water
• ground black pepper (¼ teaspoon)
• cooking oil to cook (3 tablespoons)

Here is how to cook it:

Heat oil in a frying pan then fry the shrimp for 1 minute per side until golden orange. Next is to sauté the onion then add garlic and continue to sauté until it becomes soft. Add the pork and chicken to the pan. Stir fry until light brown in color. Add soy sauce and oyster sauce then stir. Pour water then let it boil. Cover pan then cook in medium heat for 15 minutes. Add vegetables to the pan then stir. Then add ground black pepper and iodized salt to taste. Then add the boiled quail eggs and cornstarch diluted in water. Lastly, transfer to a serving plate. Serve, share with the family members and enjoy.

Ginisang Munggo

Munggo beans and ampalaya leaves are usually prepared in this cuisine. This nutritious dinner is packed with magnesium, phosphorus, iron, folate, and thiamine.

Ingredients (Serving size: good for 4 people)

• 1 1/2 cups Mung beans
• 1 tbsp garlic
• ½ lb thinly sliced pork
• 2 cups alugbati or spinach
• 1 piece chopped tomato
• 1 piece chopped onion
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 24 ounces water for boiling
• 1 piece beef cube for flavoring
• 1/2 cup crushed chicharon
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Here is how cook it:

Put in the water in a pan and bring to a boil then put in the Mung beans and simmer until becomes soft for about 35 to 50 minutes. Sauté the garlic, onion, and tomato in a separate pan, add the pork and cook for 5 minutes. Put in the beef cube and fish sauce for taste and flavor. For 10 minutes simmer until the meat is tender. If necessary, you may add water to help make the meat tender but make sure to add more time in simmering then pour in the cooked Mung beans. Stir and simmer for 10 minutes. Second to the last step is to add the alugbati and chicharron. Lastly sprinkle the black pepper. Serve it hot, share with the family members and enjoy.

Tortang Talong

A classic, delicious, go-to dish in most Filipino households. Eggplant is the main ingredient in this dish which contains rich levels of vitamins B6, C, and K. Don’t forget to pair the ketchup when having this dish with the family.

Ingredients (Serving size: good for 4 people)

• 4 pieces eggplants
• 2 pieces raw eggs
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 6 tablespoons cooking oil to cook

Here is how to cook it:

Grill the eggplant until the color turns almost black, let the eggplant cool for a while then peel off the eggplant’s skin then set aside afterward. Crack the eggs and place them in a bowl then add salt and beat. Place the eggplant on a flat surface and flatten it out using a fork. Dip the flattened eggplant in the beaten egg mixture then heat the frying pan and pour in the cooking oil. Fry the eggplant that was dipped in the beaten mixture. Flip both sides to make sure that both sides are cooked. Fry for about 3 to 4 minutes per side on medium heat. Lastly, transfer to a serving plate. Serve, share with the family members and enjoy.

Adobong kangkong

The healthy version of the typical pork or chicken Adobo is inexpensive and easily accessible. Kangkong is the best source of several nutrients, including Vitamin A, copper, calcium, and zinc.

Ingredients (Serving size: good for 4 people)

• 1 bunch kangkong leaves, stalks are separated. 
• Stalks are cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 piece chopped onion
• 1 head crushed and chopped garlic
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/8 cup vinegar
• 1/2 cup water (optional)
• 3 tablespoons of cooking oil
• Ground black pepper for taste and flavor

Here is how to cook it:

Heat the oil in a pan then add the garlic then sauté until the color turns golden brown. Add chopped onion and sauté until it softens. Pour the soy sauce and vinegar into the pan, let the liquid boil then add the Kangkong stalks and cook for 2 minutes after adding the Kangkong leaves and stir. Continue cooking for about 30 minutes to 1 hour. Then cover the pan. Season with black pepper. You may also add salt if needed for taste. Transfer to a serving bowl and top with browned garlic. Serve, share with family members and enjoy.

Utan Bisaya

Also known as the Law-uy. The famous dish that is widely spread in the Visayas. It is made with different varieties of vegetables making it an insanely nutritious meal for the family.

Ingredients (Serving size: good for 4 people)

• 3/4 lb squash
• 2 pieces taro
• 1 piece shrimp cube
• 4 thumbs ginger
• 2 stalks lemongrass
• 1 piece sliced eggplant
• 10 pieces string beans cut into small pieces
• 12 pieces okra
• 2 cups alugbati or spinach
• 3 1/2 cups water for soup
• Salt and ground black pepper for taste

Here is how to cook it:

Boil water in a cooking pot. Add the ginger and lemongrass, cook for 5 minutes. Then add the taro and squash. Cover and continue to boil for about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the lemongrass from the pot. Add okra, string beans, and eggplant then stir. Next, cover and continue cooking for about 7 minutes. Add in the shrimp cube. Stir and cook for about 3 minutes. Then add the alugbati. Cook for 2 minutes. Lastly, season with salt and ground black pepper for taste and flavor. Transfer to a serving bowl. Serve, share with the family members and enjoy. // ND II James Aaron S. Perez, RND