It’s all in the way you spin it.
There are those who manage to maintain a sunny outlook no
matter what life throws in their path.
There are those that push forward, guns blazing and devilish grin at the
ready, even in the face of insurmountable odds and surly weather. There are those whose feathers are never
ruffled or out of place.
matter what life throws in their path.
There are those that push forward, guns blazing and devilish grin at the
ready, even in the face of insurmountable odds and surly weather. There are those whose feathers are never
ruffled or out of place.
And there’s me, and those like me (and we are quite a few
I firmly believe) – spin doctors.
I firmly believe) – spin doctors.
Most of the time, I plant myself resolutely on the sunny
side of the street. I like being
positive and I like being surrounded by positive people. I try to inject positivity into my life at
every opportunity. It’s the best drug in
the world…and totally free, with only the very best side effects. Overdose on it, share it, push it, gulp it
down in large doses 3 times a day.
side of the street. I like being
positive and I like being surrounded by positive people. I try to inject positivity into my life at
every opportunity. It’s the best drug in
the world…and totally free, with only the very best side effects. Overdose on it, share it, push it, gulp it
down in large doses 3 times a day.
Admittedly, it is not always as easy as it seems. To those for whom it comes naturally, well,
lucky ducks you all. Sometimes, as most
of those who inhabit the real world know, it takes effort. And that’s when you need to spin it.
lucky ducks you all. Sometimes, as most
of those who inhabit the real world know, it takes effort. And that’s when you need to spin it.
A traffic jam becomes the perfect time to call your best
friend. Working the night shift leaves
you free to watch cheesy noontime shows.
Rainy weather means less people at the market and hot chocolate at night
(yay!). Summer’s blistering heat means
extra ice in your gin and tonic. Bread
going stale means French toast. Too busy
with work to even go to the grocery?
Nutella for dinner!
friend. Working the night shift leaves
you free to watch cheesy noontime shows.
Rainy weather means less people at the market and hot chocolate at night
(yay!). Summer’s blistering heat means
extra ice in your gin and tonic. Bread
going stale means French toast. Too busy
with work to even go to the grocery?
Nutella for dinner!
You get the general idea.
And speaking of being too busy. I have been and will be all throughout this week. But that will only
make my Holy Week break (or Easter break) that more gratifying. Between work now, and beach holiday after,
I’m afraid I won’t be able to be around until the week after next. I don’t want to leave you empty-handed nor empty-stomached though….so I’m leaving you with these, hopefully, comforting
words, and a dish which I find equally comforting.
make my Holy Week break (or Easter break) that more gratifying. Between work now, and beach holiday after,
I’m afraid I won’t be able to be around until the week after next. I don’t want to leave you empty-handed nor empty-stomached though….so I’m leaving you with these, hopefully, comforting
words, and a dish which I find equally comforting.
Coconut Braised Wing Beans with Pork Belly
- 150-200 grams pork belly
- 1/2 tablespoon fish sauce (patis)
- Canola or other vegetable oil
- 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 white onion, chopped
- 250 grams wing beans (sigarillas)
- 4 long green chilis (sili pang-sigang)
- 2 tablespoons shrimp paste (bagoong), more or less
depending on how salty your shrimp paste is - 400 ml coconut milk
- Freshly cracked black pepper
– Cut the pork belly into 1/2-inch pieces. Place in a bowl with the fish sauce and a
generous cracking of black pepper and set aside to marinate for at least 30
minutes.
generous cracking of black pepper and set aside to marinate for at least 30
minutes.
– Heat a wok (kawali) or a regular pan over medium high
heat. Once hot, add a couple of swirls of
oil. When the oil is hot add the garlic
and onion and sauté until the onion is soft and translucent.
heat. Once hot, add a couple of swirls of
oil. When the oil is hot add the garlic
and onion and sauté until the onion is soft and translucent.
– When the onion
is soft add the pork to the pan and fry, stirring once in a while, until brown
on all sides.
is soft add the pork to the pan and fry, stirring once in a while, until brown
on all sides.
– Add the wing beans, chili, and shrimp paste, tossing
and sautéing until the wing beans just start to get soft and the shrimp paste
is evenly distributed.
and sautéing until the wing beans just start to get soft and the shrimp paste
is evenly distributed.
– Add the coconut milk and mix well. Cook, stirring occasionally so nothing sticks,
until both the wing beans and pork belly are soft.
until both the wing beans and pork belly are soft.
Coconut milk, pork belly, braising, and looking on the
bright side are all things I find comforting.
I’ve thrown in the wing beans to make us feel virtuous as well. Not a bad deal I think. Usually wing beans are not cooked too long,
leaving them still fresh with a vibrant bite, but here I like them, as with the
pork belly, soft and yielding and infused with coconut milk and shrimp
paste. Very Filipino in flavor, and
familiarly Asian too. Pile it on top of
a steaming bowl of rice and let it be your silver lining…even if you have to
eat it in front of a computer screen.
bright side are all things I find comforting.
I’ve thrown in the wing beans to make us feel virtuous as well. Not a bad deal I think. Usually wing beans are not cooked too long,
leaving them still fresh with a vibrant bite, but here I like them, as with the
pork belly, soft and yielding and infused with coconut milk and shrimp
paste. Very Filipino in flavor, and
familiarly Asian too. Pile it on top of
a steaming bowl of rice and let it be your silver lining…even if you have to
eat it in front of a computer screen.
So smile when the sun shines and things go your way. And when they don’t…spin it. You might be pleasantly surprised how easy it is to do…and how real it can become 😉
That is a fabulous dish! The flavors are wonderful.
Cheers,
Rosa
I was just saying to the hubby that I miss eating bicol express, but this is something that's gonna be on the menu this week! Will have to sub another kind of green bean for the wing beans though! Thanks!!
Ling
It is very comforting reading your blog that promotes on being a positive thinker. No matter what happens always look at it on the bright side. Then sharing a very yummy dish. Thanks =)
Oh my goodness…I love this dish, we also make it at home the same way except that we add fish/shrimp to it instead of pork. Have a great easter break!
nice idea.. thanks for sharing....
I always cook wing beans with sambal and dried shrimps. This recipe is really special. Cook with coconut and pork belly, very interesting, and it looks yummy. 🙂
Whewww, that looks really good.
Thanks Rosa!
Hi Ling! I love Bicol Express and this dish was definitely inspired by it 🙂 This would be good with another type of green bean too I am sure!
Hi Raquel! Glad you enjoyed the post 🙂
Hi Chef D! I can imagine this going really well with shrimp! Enjoy your Easter as well!
Thanks Anonymous person 🙂
Hi Love Cooking! Sambal! That's genius…next time! 🙂
Hi Dexie! I love it 🙂 Nice homey flavors!
I like wing beans and i love pork. this is something i can do 🙂
Wow – this recipe looks amazing! I'm excited to give it a try. 😉
Happy Easter!
Taking advantage of being in HK to open your blog and dropping a quick note.
Hugs!
Mila
I've never tried this before but it looks like a tasty dish! Of course, anything with coconut milk, for me, is a winner!
I have never heard of anything like this before which makes me want to try this even more!!
What a twist on classic Bicol Express! Despite the sultry weather we've been having of late, I'll not say no to a generous helping of this on rice!
Great blog! 🙂
Hi Lee! Same here, plus gata! 🙂
Hi Robert! Hope you like it 🙂
Hi Mila! So nice to hear from you!! A big happy Easter to you as well!!
Hi Jen! Me too! I love anything with coconut milk…and chilis! 🙂
Hi David! It’s just some of the flavors from our group of islands!
Hi Midge! It is that…I love Bicol Express so it’s no surprise I whip up something like this 🙂
Thanks Take a Taste 🙂
I'm a positive person too. At least I always try to be.. Look on the bright side of life, right? 😉
And this dish is definitely part of that bright side. Looks lovely!
That looks like one intense dish. Like many others, I bet it would be really good with shrimp, or maybe even chicken!
I wish you the best on this busy week, but I imagine you won't need well wishes. You are already so sunny and sweet. I love pork belly, but I've never made it myself. So good!
Hi Simone! It’s always sunnier on the bright side so I try my best to stay there 🙂
Hi Normal Food For Normal People! It is quite intense 🙂 And yes, this would work with chicken and would be awesome with shrimp!
Hi Redmenace! Thank you for your nice comment 🙂 I love pork belly too…it is such a versatile and easy cut to play around with…I encourage you to give it a go!
It's in the way you spin it… I love how you put it. There are day when this is exactly what i need, being the pessimist that i am… Thanks for sharing!
Kwala
thanks for sharing.