FOODlog #214: Filipino Monggo Pork Stew

I'm always excited when my Filipino colleague cooks lunch for everyone. He makes really yummy Filipino dishes which I've always wanted to try. How much more authentic can it get when it's someone cooking his childhood home cooked food.

This time he cooked something called 'Mongo' which is mung beans that's cooked with various aromatics like lemongrass, ginger, and chili, together with pork trotters.

He first cooks the mung beans separately to soften them which takes around 20-30 minutes on low heat after bringing it up to a boil.

The pork trotters are also cooked separately with water for about 20 minutes and then it's rinsed and washed again.

Next the 2 ingredients that were cooked separately are combined into a clean pot together and fried with the aromatics until they are fragrant. Next, water is added the pot and its stewed for an hour or so.

Its then seasoned to taste with salt and pepper and you're done. The end result is a thick and rich creamy stew that's so hearty and delicious. It's especially delicious and comforting on a cold and rainy day.

According to him, he said this is one of his comfort foods back home and what a privilege it was to get to try it. Super yummy and delicious!

He also cooked another dish which was bitter gourd that has been sliced and stir fried with some eggs to make an omelet.