Pandan Leaves are long and slender, blade-like green leaves of the pandanus palm. They impart a fresh floral fragrance and are used as an air freshener across Asia as well as to perfume desserts and rice dishes. Their intense green colour is also used as a natural food colouring. It is also used as…
Pinoy Ingredients
Shortening
Shortening is any fat that is solid at room temperature and used to make crumbly pastry. The reason it is called shortening is that it prevents cross-linkage between gluten molecules. Cross linking gives dough elasticity. In pastries such as cake, which should not be elastic, shortening is used. Originally, Shortening was synonymous with Lard,…
Coconuts
Grated Coconut is obtained by grating fresh coconut flesh. To make your own, first open the coconut by tapping firmly on the center with a blunt end of clever until it cracks. Crack to separate the coconut and drain the coconut juice. Place the coconut halves in moderate oven for about 15 minutes until…
Taro
Taro is a perennial, tropical plant primarily grown as a root crop vegetable for its edible starchy corm. It has a brown and hairy outer skin that must be removed before cooking. Its flesh may be light purple, beige or white, with a texture of a potato but has a unique taste. It is…
Banana Leaves
Banana leaves are large, flexible, and waterproof. They are often used as ecologically friendly disposable food containers, wrappers or as “plates” and often used in Asian cuisine to wrap for or line trays before cooking, much as waxed paper or aluminium foil are. The leaves contain the juices, to protect food from burning and…
Mung Beans (Monggo)
Mung Beans (Monggo) are small yellow beans with a bright green seed coat. They are shelled and dried often sold in local markets by kilo or packs. Before using, wash the beans in water, drain and boil until tender. Â Sweetened mung beans are commonly used in Filipino desserts as a filling in breads and…