Ensaladang Ampalaya

Mga Sangkap:

1 pirasong Ampalaya
2 kutsarang asin
3 pirasong sibuyas Tagalog, hiniwa ng manipis
2 pirasong kamatis, hiniwa ng pabilog at maninipis

Pagluluto:

1. Hatiin ng pahaba ang ampalaya, tanggalin ang buto at hiwain ng maninipis.
2. Asinan ang Ampalaya at itabi.
3. Pagkaraan ng 20 minuto, pigain ang Ampalaya at banlawan ng dalawang beses at patuluin.
4. Sa isang bowl o mangkok, pagsama-samahin ang Ampalaya, kamatis at sibuyas. Palamigin kasama ng sarsa o dressing.

Sarsa o Dressing:

4 kutsarang sukang tuba (Coconut Nectar Vinegar)
4 kutsarang tubig
4 kutsarang asukal
1 kurot ng pamintang durog

1. Sa isang maliit na kaserola, paghaluin ang suka at tubig, pakuluan ng 2 minuto.
2. Hinaan ang apoy, idagdag ang asukal at pamintang durog.
3. Haluin ng 3 minuto. Alisin sa apoy, palamigin at ihain kasama ng Ampalaya salad.

AMPALAYA GUISADO

Ampalaya is one of my favorite veggies. If it's present in a dish, Ampalaya is the first that I usually eat. It's bitter that's why others don't like it but I love the bitterness of Ampalaya to bits. I can't remember how it became my favorite vegetable but I could remember my father grows Ampalaya in the backyard when I still a kid so we had Ampalaya almost everyday. One of the dishes that I love with this bitter gourd is Ampalaya Guisado. For the recipe of this dish, read on...

You will need:

5     cloves garlic, crushed
2     medium (100 g) onions, chopped
200 g ground pork
1     cup water
1     pouch (200 g) DEL MONTE Tomato Sauce
2     medium (300 g) ampalaya, seeds removed then cut into squares
2     stalks celery, sliced
2     tbsp salted black beans (tausi)
3     squares tokwa, cut into cubes then fried
2     eggs, beaten

Here's how:

1. Saute garlic, onions and pork.
2. Add water, DEL MONTE Tomato Sauce, ampalaya celery and tokwa.
3. Simmer for 3 minutes.
4. Add black beans and egg. Simmer once.