Pinakbet

Pinakbet is a Filipino vegetable stew associated with Ilocos. Ilocano preparations use fermented fish seasoning, while the Tagalog version uses shrimp paste and commonly includes squash. Lalaine Manalo’s Tagalog recipe combines pork belly with squash, long beans, bitter melon, eggplant and okra.^[1]

The pork cooks with onion, garlic, shrimp paste and tomatoes before the vegetables are added in stages. Squash and long beans enter first, followed by the quicker-cooking vegetables. Pinakbet accompanies steamed rice and may be served with fried fish or grilled meat.^[1]