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Funny memories I had with long beans. Back home in the Philippines, we have this open food market we call “palengke” where vendors converge to sell food items like fish, meat, and vegetables. Customers would walk by stall after stall to bargain and to buy all the ingredients they needed to cook for lunch or [...]
Sour soup or stew if you will is a type of soup that is a staple in our family and I’m sure in many Filipino families as well. Almost all types of meat and seafood can be added to this dish. If you tried Thailand’s delicious Tom Yum then this is similar except the Filipino [...]
Call it pickles or call it salad — the call is yours. All I know is that this is perfect either as a side dish for fried fish, grilled meat OR by itself. It is refreshing, and very easy to make. Can’t finish it in one sitting? No problem, just refrigerate it in a sealed [...]
I remember my Mom used to say, and I am translating — “this is our to-get-by food.” It is simple to prepare and it is a cheap dish to relieve hunger! Okay, I mean frugal dish! A pound of ground meat, few cups of chopped chayote, some seasoning and there you go — supper is [...]
Oh my goodness! Has it been than three weeks since my last post? My daughter started a business, and I have been helping her get it off the ground. That is what’s keeping me super busy, and away from my kitchen. Well, busy is a good thing, right? It keeps most of us out of [...]
Last time I posted ribs plate, it was the Sweet & Spicy Pork Ribs. It is a Thai-style barbecue ribs that is a bit fiery because of the sriracha mixed with the glazing. This time, we are cooking another fiery ribs dish but in a form of a stew called “Bicol Express.” Bicol Express is [...]
A few days ago, I posted Sweet & Spicy Pork Ribs — Thai style BBQ Ribs. Today, we will be making Thai Iced Tea to go with those yummy ribs. Thai iced tea is a simple and easy beverage to make, and of course, very flavorful. Thai tea mix like “Traditional Restaurant Style” is available [...]
This dish is part of the “Barbecue Lover” menu from one of our favorite Thai Restaurants here where we live. It is a huge family-sized plate of barbecue chicken, shrimp, and of course these ribs — front and center. I’ve been searching and trying other recipes but they were just okay. Then I found one [...]
When we were strolling in and around downtown San Diego a couple of years ago, I couldn’t help but drop by one of my favorite stores — “World Market.” This little cookbook titled “Spanish” by Margaret Barca caught my eyes. It is packed with a lot of good . . . guess what? You got [...]
Adobong Pusit simply means squid stew. Just like most stew, this dish has to be cooked for a longer time. Of course, there are squid dishes that only require the squid to be cooked for just a few minutes. Traditionally, this Filipino dish is cooked with all the basic ingredients of adobo without the coconut [...]
This weekend was a very good weekend not just because of the Super Bowl but also because my sisters and their families came over and watched the game with us – it was fun. While I was grilling in the backyard, I could hear the continuous-loud cheers coming from the inside of the house. Why? [...]
Kalbi Kui or Galbi Gui is one of our family’s favorite dishes to cook from Korea’s lineup of mouthwatering barbecues. “Kalbi or Galbi” literally means ribs and “Kui or Gui” refers to a type of cooking which is grilling. Of course, the ribs can be beef, pork, or chicken. But the one I always use [...]
Pancit or Pansit (without “h” please :=P) is a noodle dish introduced to Filipinos by part of our ancestry – the Chinese. Now there are many variations of pancit like Pancit Bihon, Pancit Canton, Pancit Sotanghon, Pancit Miki, etc. But on top of these variations, there are combinations too, like Pancit Canton/Sotanghon, Pancit Bihon/Canton. And [...]
Every time I cook a dish with shrimp, I always set aside the shells, and heads and keep them in the freezer to make shrimp oil. Shrimp oil is very simple to make and it adds a flavorful punch to a stir fried dish. If you just want the hint of shrimp flavor and don’t [...]
Question: Why couldn’t I move after I ate wonton soup? Answer: Because I just ate a Won-Ton Soup! Okay enough of the corny jokes, I mean wonton jokes. This dish is very easy to make and perfect for the cold and rainy days that we are having these last few days. As I mentioned, it [...]
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Sawsawan (dipping sauce) is something many Filipinos can’t dine without. Spiced Vinegar or Sukang Maanghang as we call it is a type of condiment that can be seen in all types of casual dining and that include street food settings. It is a very popular dipping sauce for any meat and seafood that are deep [...]
Oh no another Mapo Tofu post! I know I’m sure you have seen a gazillion of great posts about Mapo Tofu recipes, and stories out there. Well, I have two good news on this post. Good news number one: I’m not going to repeat the story about the legend of this dish where it says: [...]
Ginger Tea or as many Filipinos refer to as “Salabat” is mostly served during cold weather. It has a soothing flavor that is believed to relieve ailing vocal pipes. One of the biggest fan of medicinal benefits of Salabat was my father. I remember he used to make us drink this tea flavored with Ovaltine. [...]
Regardless of our cultural background, every single one of us has a “nanay.” It is the name or term most Filipinos use to call their mothers. “Nanay” or mom is the first comforting word we uttered when we were sick, and when we were hurt both physically and emotionally. In my opinion, by nature our [...]
Pork Menudo is one of the easiest Filipino dish to prepare. The meat is slowly stewed in tomato sauce, spices, and other vegetables. Some other version of this delicious dish is cooked with pork liver, but we are going to omit it. I know I’m going to get lovely emails from some of the traditionalists [...]
I love sharing dishes, recipes, cooking techniques, and other related stories from blogger and foodie friends. Today, I am very excited to have this young gentleman cooking with us here at “Wok with Ray” and it’s my buddy, Raymund of Ang Sarap. I’m sure most of you who know Raymund would agree that he is [...]
I love coconut milk! I think it is one of the best culinary ingredients nature have given us. Coconut milk is widely used in Asian countries and on a variety of dishes. It adds this richness to the flavor of any dish whether it’s savory or sweet. Well of course, all coconut milk are not [...]
We have an exciting day today because we have a couple of friends cooking with us and I’m sure most of you know them — they are Mark and Reese of “Season with Spice.” I have been following their blog since it started early last year and let me tell you – just like what [...]
This savory-sweet and succulent Cantonese-style roasted pork is one of the easiest to make. Well, that is if you have the time and patience. The secret is the amount of time marinating and the process of making sure that the marinade will penetrate the meat. Check out what I am doing to the ribs below. [...]
Every time we go to one of our favorite Japanese joints, I always make sure to order a Teriyaki item from the menu, and it doesn’t matter if it is beef, chicken, or fish because I love the savory-sweet flavor of the dish. Now, once in a while, I would venture into making my own [...]
Purple yam or Ube is one of my favorite flavors when it comes to Filipino desserts, and many of these desserts are baked goods like cakes, and breads. Well, as many of you know, I am still learning how to bake, but I’m getting there. That means we are going to have to settle for [...]
I love cooking fried rice. To me fried rice is one of the most practical and frugal dish ever invented. Why? Imagine you get to re-use most of the left over rice and other meat to end up in a family dining table as another dish. You can also be as creative as you can [...]
To me, cooking is not only an art but also a reflection of one’s passion, attributes, pride, and culture. These beautiful reflections are the reasons why I run an ongoing series of friends sharing their favorite dish that has a story, memorable events, and inspiration. I have invited one of my foodie friends to cook [...]
The last few weeks, the weather was just terribly hot! I mean, like NASTY hot! Did the awful weather stop me from cooking? Nope! What can I do, the family has to eat, you know? It took about two and half hours under low-medium heat to cook these ribs. Just let it simmer in tomato [...]
Like most summer barbecue parties, potato salad is a side dish that is always present at ours. This fresh and simple potato salad is perfect paired with anything grilled like chicken, beef, and pork. I added pineapple tidbits to give it a little kick on the sweet side of the palate, but if you are [...]
Sorry about no postings for the last week or so. We were in New York as a tag along on my daughter’s business-related trip and yay we were FOB’s! Okay, that stands for “Filipinos on Bacation.” You see, when I go out of town, I focus on the purpose of the trip, and I don’t [...]
Okay, this is another quick and easy recipe but this time we will be using ready-made-pre-packaged Ingredients. I seldom use these products unless they are practical to use and delicious and it is. I’m talking about the Japanese style curry mix sauce. Now, there is Golden Curry®, Vermont Curry®, Java Curry® and I’m sure there [...]
Now that the scorching summer is here, why don’t we kick it off by making an ice cream and not just an ice cream but something with a twist? I know this particular flavor will sure raise some eyebrows, and for some, it will be a refreshing familiar treat. In many Asian countries, avocado is [...]
To me, cooking is not only an art but also a reflection of someone’s passion, attributes, pride, and culture. These beautiful reflections are the reasons why I run an ongoing series of “friends sharing” their favorite dish that has a story, memorable events, and inspiration. Today, I am very excited and proud to have MJ [...]
To me, Lime and cilantro are the perfect combination as a base for chicken marinade; it adds a distinct accent of flavor to the meat. In this particular recipe, I glazed the wings with sweet chili sauce as a finishing touch. Just to add a little complication to counter the sweetness and sourness, I used [...]
I am very excited and proud to have a good friend cooking with us today. I’m sure most of you know her. She is Nami of Just One Cookbook. This young lady never ceases to amaze not only me, but I’m sure most of you who have been following her blog. Her delicious Japanese cooking, [...]
Summer is always a good season especially living here in Southern California. One of the good reasons to enjoy summer is the fun outdoor activities otherwise not permissive during colder days. However, when the temperature rises beyond the norm, that is when I start uttering the S and the F words — “Spring”, and “Fall” that [...]
My foodie buddy – Raymund of Ang Sarap invited me to guest post on his very popular blog. I got very excited but at the same time I got worried. Why? Because I can’t think of any Filipino or any other Asian dish that Raymund hasn’t cooked and posted. Now, you see my dilemma? Then [...]
Banana ketchup is widely used as condiments in the Philippines and abroad by many Filipinos. It pairs well with fried dishes like fried pork, fried fish, fried chicken, and fried rice. Okay, I kinda like got carried away there on the fried things so, ahem I’m just… kidding about the fried rice. I am using [...]
If you have been following my last three posts, I’ve been talking about coconut and coconut products like coconut milk. I know I’m on a roll on the coconut posts and you might even think that I am a nut for coconuts (no fun intended). I promise that this will be the last time I [...]
Creaking sound from a passing Kalesa (horse pulled carriage), footsteps of pedestrians walking though pebble covered sidewalk, voices of chatting ladies cooking in the kitchen below and the smell of food and lots of food being prepared. I can still vividly remember these things that used to awaken me in the morning and those were [...]
Asian countries, particularly in Southeast Asia, produce many dishes with the use of coconut milk. From the delicious “Nasi Lemak” of Malaysia to the savory “Phanaeng or Panang curry” of Thailand, coconut milk plays a big part on its traditional ingredients. It can also be often used as an ingredient to a marinade like beef [...]
Of the few foreign governments that occupied, colonized, and indoctrinated the Philippines, Spain was the one that effectively changed the cultural landscape of the country and part of that includes the culinary tradition. Empanada is what we will be making today, and It is just one of many delicious dishes we inherited from the Spaniards. [...]
I am no expert when it comes to gardening but one thing I know about water spinach AKA kangkong — It grows wild and it thrives on the presence of water and lots of it. You know how I figured that out? Because the name says “water spinach.” Gosh, I’m such a genius! I’m brilliant! [...]
“Life is short, so eat your dessert first!” A gentleman named Rick told me this the other day and my reaction was just laughter. I thought it was funny coming from someone who said he loves to cook and eat. I got home still thinking about the phrase and still smiling about it. But I [...]
I have been invited by my good friend Nami to guest post at her blog — Just One Cookbook. I am very honored to be posting for her great readers so it took me a while to come up with this theme. It is a quick and easy recipe — Stir Fried Shrimp & [...]
Okay, this is your typical and not so typical adobo. Like any other adobo, it is typical because we are adding the same good ingredients like vinegar, soy sauce, and a truck-load of garlic. However, it is not so typical because we are double dipping these guys. I mean, we are pan frying the chicken [...]
I am very excited about this blog today and it’s because I am having another friend cooking with us today and that is Malou of Skip to Malou. I met Malou more than a year ago when I joined the Kulinarya Club — a Filipino cooking club. She was one of the nice [...]
March is the start of summer in the Philippines and the weather is hot and humid. Kulinarya Club’s Jun of Junblog and Arnold of Inuyaki came up with a cool challenge for the month of March and that would be a frozen treat. It can be an ice candy or popsicle for as long [...]
