Dinengdeng

Dinengdeng is a Filipino vegetable dish that originated from the Ilocos Region in the Philippines.

A recipe that composed of different vegetables that are usually grown in one’s family backyard. This dish is almost similar with bulanglang and pakbet.  Adding to it's distinct taste is the use of fried or grilled fish and “bagoong na isda” which is also a popular product made in the Ilocos Region.  It is basically a combination of different boiled vegetables with grilled or fried fish in anchovy sauce.

For anchovy sauce or "bagoong na isda"  it is recommended to use in moderation because of it salty content.  Saltiness may vary depending on how it is prepared.

For fish, you can use milk fish, galunggong or even tilapia.  But the most popular fish ingredient is the milk fish.

If you are going to grill the fish instead of frying, make sure not to remove the scale.  The advantage of grilling the fish is that it add additional taste to the dish.

Since this dish consists mostly of vegetables this may be unpopular for kids. But the nutritional content of this dish cannot be taken for granted.

I too had similar experience when I was little kid.  My siblings and I had a hard time swallowing vegetables.  And it has always been a nighmare for us if we know that it is the dish served in the family table.  But our parents did not stopped for us to understand the importance of eating vegetables.  And as we grow old now, we started appreciating this dish.

You can also try this dish in your family table.  It is a healthy food recipe good for your family.

Prep Time:        10 minutes

Cooking Time:  30 minutes

Total Time:        40 minutes

Serving:              6

Ingredients:

• 4 small tomato 
• 1 or 2 medium onion chopped
• 2 cups squash 
• 5 to 10 pieces small to medium sized okra
• 2 medium eggplat cut into cubes
• 2 medium sweet camote cut into cubes
• 1 whole milk fish (bangus) sliced into four.  Can be fried or grilled.
• 1 bundle malunggay stalk, removed the outer parts
• 1 bundle string beans sliced into 3 inch
• 1 piece bitter gourd (ampalaya) sliced diagonally
• 2 to 3 tablespoons bagoong isda unprocessed fish sauce

• 3 cups water

How to Cook:

1. In a pan, add cooking oil.
2. Fry the sliced bangus until light brown.
3. Remove from pan.
4. In another cooking pot, add water to boil.
5. Add tomato, onion and bagoong na isda.  Let it boil for 1 minute.
6. Put camote, string beans, squash.  Cook in medium heat.
7. Add ampalaya, eggplant, malunggay stalk and okra.
8. Add fried bangus.
9. Serve to taste.

Enjoy this nutritious recipe with the whole family and do not forget to share it with your favorite kapitbahay!

Have you tried cooking Dinendeng?  What can you say on the taste? Let me know how you like it by commenting on below.  And please don't forget to tag me a photo in my Fb and Instagram account.

Related post you may want to read:

Filipino Ulam Tips

Happy cooking and eating!

Arlene