Stew or nilaga is one of Filipinos favorite comfort foods. It can be beef or pork and is very easy to cook. All you have to do is throw everything in the pot and let it cook. For a tastier stew, it is best to use bony parts like limbs (less the skin) and ribs. I used pork limbs for this recipe.
Ingredients:
1 kg pork or beef (your choice parts)
8 cups water
1 big onion (sliced)
a handful of string beans or more
2 pc potatoes (peeled and quartered)
4 ripe baking bananas or saging na saba (peeled)
cabbage or Chinese pechay
1 tsp peppercorns
3 tbsp fish sauce
1 tsp salt
Procedure:
Place pork and water in a big pot, cover and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and let it simmer for 30 minutes. Remove all the scum or brown bubbles that will form on top of the soup. Add the onions, peppercorn and salt and let it boil again for 15 minutes or until meat is tender. Add the potatoes and bananas. Let simmer again for 3 minutes. Add the cabbage or Chinese pechay then cover. Remove from heat. Serve hot. Best dip for this is fish sauce with red chili (labuyo) and drops of lime juice.
*Do not overcook vegetables.