Exotic Dishes

"In a country where over ninety per cent of the population live below the poverty line, it helps to be both frugal and creative when it comes to food." Pinoys are quite known for their exotic and street foods. However, others are not into these kinds of foods because of its taste, smell and "not so good" look. It may not look or smell good but these foods are Filipinos’ alternative to high priced foods in supermarkets. Exotic foods like balut, isaw, ginataang kuhol and dinuguan are delicious and inexpensive.

Pork blood stew or simply dinuguan is considered exotic because its main ingredient is pig blood, meat and pig intestines. Dinuguan is popularly served with Filipino rice cakes, puto. From simple gatherings to weddings, you can find this popular Filipino dish.

Dinuguan (Pork blood stew)

Ingredients:
•    1/2 kilo pork (diced)

•    1/8 kilo pork liver (diced)
•    1 small head of garlic (minced)
•    1 small onion (minced)
•    2 pieces laurel leaves
•    3 tablespoons oil
•    1/2 cup vinegar
•    3 tablespoons patis (fish sauce)

•    2 cups stock
•    1 cup pig blood (frozen)
•    4 long green peppers
•    1 teaspoon salt
•    2 teaspoons sugar
•    1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Procedure:
In a pot, simmer pork for 30 minutes and remove scum that rises to the surface. Keep stock. In a casserole, heat oil and saute garlic and onion. Add in pork, pork liver, laurel leaves, patis, salt & pepper and saute for another 5 minutes. Add in vinegar and bring to a boil without stirring. Lower heat and allow simmering uncovered until most of the liquid has evaporated. Add in stock and simmer for 5 minutes. Add in blood, sugar and long green peppers. Cook for 10 minutes more or until consistency thickens, stirring occasionally to avoid curdling.
Recipe source: http://www.pinoymix.com/recipes/Dinuguan_Pork_Blood_Stew/

Baboy damo tapa (cured wild pig)

Ingredients:
•    1 kilo baboy damo (wild pig)
•    ¼ cup sugar
•    1 head garlic, minced
•    ¾ cup cane vinegar
•    1 tablespoon salt
•    1 tablespoon ground black pepper
Procedure:
Mix all ingredients well in a bowl and refrigerate for hours or overnight for meat to absorb mixture. Simply heat cooking oil in a pan and fry marinated baboy damo. Serve with plain rice and vinegar or sauce with chili.