Ginataang Sitaw at Kalabasa & Porkchop Combinacion

Daddy Mark VS Sitaw, Kalabasa, & Porkchop
Season 1 Episode 2


This was the second time I cooked over the span of my lifetime. I am a rookie in the field of cooking and with all the help of people around me I will explore all corners of my wife’s kitchen, and exploit their secret recipes!

Today’s recipe is my very own version of Ginataang Sitaw & Kalabasa, partnered with Fried Porkchop.

The ingredients:

• 1/4 kalabasa, chopped
• 4 strings sitaw, cut to how it was shown in the picture
• 1 porkchop, diced, pang-lahok
• Luya, chopped
• 1 med onion, sliced
• 5 pcs garlic, minced
• 1 coconut milk
• 1/2 knorr pork cubes
• 1 siling berder (pang sigang)
• 2 tbsp cooking oil
• pepper
• 1/2 cup water
• 5 pcs porkchop, patis & kalamansi for marinate

Cooking Procedure:

1. Marinate the porkchops to patis and kalamansi combo for 30 minutes, this will give the the porkchop some flavor.
2. While marinating the porkchops, prepare the ginataang kalabasa dish, but if you are laking aircon and have a 2 burner stove, you can cook the porkchops and the veggies at the same time. but marinate the porkies before you fry them.
3. Heat the pan, put the oil, then saute ginger, garlic, and onions - Error #1 this was what I did but my wife have a better way of doing it! See notes below.
4. Put the meat and give it a good stir, when it's already golden brown, it's time to put on the veggies. Add kalabasa and sitaw.
5. Add pepper and patis
6. Add water and leave it for about 3 minutes to boil
7. Then add the gata or coconut milk then give another 3 minutes then add the sili
8. Savor the aroma, taste it, if a little short on flavor add pepper and patis.
9. Now, the veggies are done.
10. Get another pan, heat it, put cooking oil, then start frying the porkchops. Observe the color, i like it a little toasted that's why I waited until it gets a little dark brown. I really don't have tricks in frying the porkchop so i just flipped from side to side whenever i want.

The porkchop and veggie combo did a good job in our dining table. Serve it with steamed rice and you should be all set.

Now for the the things that you should not do!

• I saute the luya, garlic and onion before putting the veggies - WRONG! said the wife. I should have done it her way by putting the onions, luya, garlic and the veggies all at the same time.
• I forgot to include vinegar. Vinegar is a must for all dish with gata. 
• Dilute a portion of coconut milk to water instead of just using water to simmer. Error on step # 6. By using the actual gata, it will give more flavor.

I will give this combo another try, and I will add shrimps & crabs to shake it up a little!

Not bad for my second dish, my wife gave it 7 out of 10 stars because for the lack of vinegar. Comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Until next time...