Month: April 2022
Just like anywhere else, Filipino has its own list of unusual food. Food that are common among us Filipino but for some find the food unusual or exotic. Here is my list for some Filipino exotic food.
Balot: Balot is not only a popular food in the Philippines, as Filipino eats Balot for a very long time. Balot is a hard boiled fertilized duck egg eaten from the shell. For some, Balot is so unusual as it was featured in popular TV show as one of the most unusual food in the world. Balot is so popular in the Philippines because of the believe for its aphrodisiac effect and for being high in protein. Now a days, balot is usually sell in the street fried wrap with batter known as Balot Tokneneng. It is also eaten in other Asian nation such as in Vietnam, China has also a similar preparation known as Maodan.
Bayawak : Bayawak (variety of large lizard) is another unusual meat consume by Filipino, before you could always find Bayawak in some Restaurant in Manila specialized with exotic food but now a days you could rarely seen some as the number of Bayawak started to decline.
Dagang Bukid (Rice field rat): For some, rat might be a pest on their rice field farm, but for some farmer it turns to be a favorite appetizer during drinking session. They usually cook rice field rat as dry adobo and Ive heard that it taste like a chicken.
Frog (Rice field Frog): For some people, eating frog might be look so unusual but I heard that some people fom other nation also eat Frog as part of their culinary cuisine. There are some variety of frog that are poisonous ,so be careful when choosing one. Frog is usually cook the way chicken cook in the Philippines as they have the same taste, personally frog is one of my favorite food.
Kinilaw or Kilawin : Kinilaw is a popular fish recipe in the Philippines, it is a fresh and raw fish marinated using vinegar, onion, ginger, salt, and chili. For some it might be look so unusual eating raw fish but there is also other county eat raw fish same as we do.
Dog Meat: Now a days, a lot of Filipino still eat dog meat as a day to day recipe or for just for pulutan. Eating dog meat is not allowed in our country and it is punishable by law but some of my hard headed countrymen still find a way taking dog as a food. I think, authority should implement a harder penalty for violator.
It is just a partial list of some Filipino unusual food, some of this food are my personal favorite especially balot and frog meat. For some it might be an unusual kind of food but for us, some of this food is part of culture and tradition.
Searching for healthy, inexpensive and versatile ways to add more protein into your diet? Why not think about dried beans? Dried beans, also recognized as legumes and pulses, aren’t only an excellent source of protein, but are low in fat, packed with vitamins, minerals and both soluble and insoluble fiber. Ask any vegetarian how they get sufficient protein in their diet plan and they most likely will say “I eat a lot of beans”.
I decided to become a vegetarian as a tiny child and my parents (who were not vegetarians by the way) worried that I could be lacking inside the protein essential for growth. So, following consulting with my pediatrician and many books on raising vegetarian kids, they added beans and lentils to the family table. Not only did I grow, but I am the tallest woman in my family, an enormous 5 feet five inches tall. Yea, nicely, my family is not famous for its tall women?
Protein, Fiber, Vitamins and Minerals
Ok, ok, back to the beans. Beans are an superb, non-fat source of protein. Just one cup of beans has about 16 grams, about the exact same as 3 ounces (audio cassette size) piece of chicken, fish or beef.
Simply because they’re a plant, they contain fiber, vitamins and minerals like vegetables. Nutritionists refer to them as “crossover foods” which means they can be employed in a meal as a protein or vegetable item. Take a take a look at the cuisines of various countries and cultures. You will notice that most cultures contain beans, prepared in numerous different ways. Such a versatile food!
Yet another distinctive top quality of beans is the fiber. Beans contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. Huh? What does this mean?
Insoluble fiber is the technical term for what my Mom often referred to as “roughage”. You know.. the stuff that makes food move via your body a lot more easily. Insoluble fiber has received plenty of publicity in recent years because of the link to a high fiber diet and lowered risk of numerous forms of cancer.
Soluble fiber forms a “gooey” substance in the digestive procedure that helps with processing of fats, cholesterol and slows the release of carbohydrates into the bloodstream. The American Diabetic Association loves beans!
Beans are rich in antioxidants, folic acid, vitamin B-6 and magnesium. Folic Acid and B-6 are identified for their ability to lower homocysteine levels inside the blood.
Elevated blood levels of homocysteine inside the blood are related to risk for heart attack, stroke and peripheral vascular illness. 20-40 percent of patients with heart disease have elevated homocysteine levels.
So, whats the downside of this wonderful food? In case you are not utilized to a high fiber diet flatulence. As with the introduction of any high fiber food, go easy with the amounts the first few days until your body adjusts. Then any uncomfortable feeling will possibly pass.
The best way to Cook
You can use canned beans which are nutritionally similar to dried ones. It is a great thought to rinse the beans just before eating them to get rid of the salt and preservatives used in canning.
I tend to attempt and stay away from processed foods where achievable so I buy dried beans and cook them following the directions on the package. Typically, beans are not complicated to cook, but need time. Most beans, except lentils, need an overnight soak in water to soften them up. Then they could be simmered until soft on the stove or in a slow cooker. Generally, the larger the bean, the longer they take to cook. One factor to note: following soaking, rinse the beans and cook them in new water. This will aid prevent flatulence!
Beans could be frozen right after cooking and employed in sauces, soups, salads or anywhere your imagination takes you. Where I live, red bean ice cream is well-liked. Delicious!
Whereas a few years ago, hot air fryers were rare on the domestic marketplace, today, there are few individuals who haven’t heard of low fat air fryers. Tefal had been probably the first to create out their own version and this has become incredibly popular despite its high price in comparison with conventional deep fryers. However, the challenge has begun and Philips has launched their model that features a completely different look to the Tefal. So what are the main considerations you must think about when reaching your choice.
Areas you should consider are who’s going to use the air fryer, where you are going to use it, what you actually want it for, dependability and of course the purchase price. Let’s look at these factors in turn, but first, a short summary on how they work.
With a traditional deep fat fryer the food is submerged in hot fat, air fryers work by moving very hot air to heat and crisp up the outside layer of the food. Exactly how the air is circulated differs according to the air fryer product, but food is prepared quickly and without the need for anywhere near the amount of oil needed for a deep fat fryer. With the low fat air fryers, this may be absolutely no oil if you are using frozen chips that are already coated with oil, or perhaps a tablespoon regarding 800 to 1000gm of fresh food.
Please be aware I said ‘low fat’ air fryers as a few models that are sold as air fryers work in another way and will routinely dip the food in and out of the oil (e.g. the De’Longhi Rotofry). Even though this utilizes approximately half the oil of a traditional fryer, it is far removed from that used by the low fat air fryers manufactured by Philips and also Tefal.
Moving on to who’s going to use the fryer – The majority of adults will be able to use the air fryers and this is especially relevant to anyone who has difficulty gripping things as there is much less danger when handling deep fat fryers. You wont have to deal with a couple of litres of boiling oil and worry about burning yourself.
Your kitchen is obviously the right spot to use your air fryer. Nevertheless, because it doesn’t have to contain a couple of litres of oil or fat, it really is much easier to take it away with you to show it off to friends, or use within a caravan or a vacation home.
As for what you want it for, many people are thrilled to be able to consume chips that actually taste like they have been deep fried but without having all the calories. Potato chips are certainly one of the primary urges people have when you are attempting to lose weight thus, making this a good way to have exactly what your brain craves! Another thing to mention would be that the two main low fat air fryers cook different types of food items. They both cook fries and meats, but one will work with stir fries, currys etc., while the other will even bake cakes and part-baked bread! Unfortunately, they both dont do everything so you have to choose where your preferences are.
The reliability of low fat air fryers has come into question of late, and it is too soon to judge given this is quite fresh technology. The Tefal has had some issues however the Philips is far too new to touch upon. Users however, mostly seem very happy using their purchase.
Price is going to be a consideration and you must shop around to get the best value. Although the Philips currently has got the highest RRP, you can get this air fryer for around the same price as the Tefal. If price is your primary consideration, the DeLonghi is definitely the cheapest but is only going to cook food suitable for deep frying and also uses more fat.