Dinengdeng is a traditional dish that is packed with flavor, and is one of the most popular dishes in the Philippines.
It is made with a combination of vegetables, like eggplant, okra, and squash , and is cooked in a savory broth that is both tangy and spicy .
This dish is sure to satisfy the whole family , and will leave everyone asking for more !
What ingredients are needed to make dinengdeng ?
Dinengdeng is made with a combination of vegetables and a savory broth.
It is cooked in an earthenware pot that is covered with banana leaves.
The ingredients are:
- Eggplant or squash (unripe)
- Okra (unripe)
- Salt , to taste
- Pepper (optional)
The ingredients are mixed together in the earthenware pot and cooked in a hot broth for about 2 hours.
How long does it take to prepare dinengdeng ?
Dinengdeng can be prepared in a matter of minutes , if you have all the necessary ingredients at hand.
It is usually cooked in a large pot, with vegetables like eggplant and okra.
To start, the vegetables should be cut into small pieces, so the entire mixture of vegetables will be evenly cooked throughout .
Since the ingredients are seasonal and available at different times of the year , it is best to buy them in season.
This will help ensure that dinengdeng is a delicious dish to make .
For dinengdeng to be served properly , it must be served as soon as possible after cooking; for example, the dish can be served warm .
If guests arrive early in the day, or have to leave later than anticipated, dinengdeng can be reheated and served when they arrive.
In addition to being delicious on its own, dinengdeng is also used as a side dish .
To make it an appetizer , it can be served alongside grilled beef cubes or fish fillet.
What is the best way to serve dinengdeng ?
Dinengdeng is best served with rice and is typically served during special occasions.
If you want to make dinengdeng at home , then you can try serving it alongside other Filipino dishes like kare kare, adobo, and pancit .
You can also serve dinengdeng as a side dish to grilled pork or chicken.
How can you customize the flavors of dinengdeng ?
The flavor of dinengdeng is one of the easiest things to customize , and there are many ways to do this.
One way is by adding ingredients like shrimp paste, minced meat, or even a sweet and sour sauce .
The other way is to add the vegetables that you want the dinengdeng to have.
If you are going to add the shrimp paste , it will give your dinengdeng a bit more of a spicy taste .
If you want more of a zesty flavor, then you can add tomato sauce to the dish.
What type of vegetables are commonly used to make dinengdeng ?
While dinengdeng is often popularly made using eggplant and okra, the list of vegetables that can be used to make dinengdeng is literally endless.
You can use almost any vegetable in your dinengdeng , including:
- Beans (any kind you like)
- Carrots
- Celery
- Eggplant
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Okra
Is there a particular way to cook dinengdeng ?
There are a variety of ways to prepare dinengdeng , and the traditional way is to mix them all up in the pot, and then cook them together.
However, there are also different ways you can prepare this dish .
For example, if you would like to make a more appetizing dish that will make dinengdeng more appealing , you could add an eggplant to the mix.
This will make the dish yellow instead of green, which is more appetizing .
You can also add veggies like carrots , or even an eggplant that has been cut into smaller pieces.
Doing this will create a more appetizing shape, and it will still retain some of its vivid green color .
This is what you generally see in restaurants where they have the eggplants chopped up into small cubes.
You can also add other ingredients such as spinach or tomatoes to the mixture.
By doing this, you’ll be able to create a darker color.
The only problem with this is that it will create too much liquid , and it won’t be as thick as usual.
If you want to make dinengdeng like this, you may want to add tomato paste in order to thicken it up .
If your dinengdeng isn’t thick enough for your liking , simply add water in order to make it thinner.
You can also use chicken broth in order to do so.
This is what you often see when it comes to cooking at home .
What is the traditional way of preparing dinengdeng ?
Dinengdeng is an eggplant dish that is cooked in a broth.
Like all good Filipino dishes, dinengdeng is easy to make and has a long list of ingredients.
The traditional way of cooking dinengdeng is to first slice the eggplant into thin strips, then sauté it in some oil or butter .
You can season these strips with salt , pepper, and garlic powder before adding them to the broth.
The next step is to add the okra and the squash, which should be sliced into thin strips as well.
The okra and squash will then be sautéed along with the eggplant strips .
Next, you will add the onions , tomatoes, and water, and let everything cook until most of the liquid is evaporated.
You will then add the red peppers, salt, and vinegar at this point so that they can cook with the other vegetables.
After another 10-15 minutes of cooking time , your dinengdeng is ready !
What are some creative ways of using dinengdeng in a meal ?
Dinengdeng is a dish that can be made in different ways , from plain to sweetened.
It can also be cooked in different ways depending on your personal preference .
Some of the creative ways of preparing dinengdeng include:
- Adding meat or tofu to dinengdeng to make it more hearty
- Making it into a soup with shrimp or clam broth
- Using coconut cream instead of chicken broth
- Cooking it in a slow cooker for a faster meal
How can you add extra flavor to dinengdeng ?
You can add extra flavor to dinengdeng by adding spices , herbs and chiles .
You can also add different kinds of meat like beef, pork, or chicken to make it more palatable to the meat-averse members of your family.
You can also add ground beef or pork to the broth to increase the flavor , but keep in mind that it will increase the nutrition as well.
These meats will also add extra protein to your dinengdeng dish .
The best thing you can do is to experiment with different ingredients and spices, and pick what you think will be the most flavorful and satisfying .
If you have a family member who doesn’t particularly like eggplant or okra, but still wants to eat dinengdeng , try incorporating some other veggies into the dish like broccoli or carrots.
What are some tips for making the perfect dinengdeng ?
Dinengdeng is a dish that is made with two kinds of vegetables, both of which are very nutritious.
The first element is the eggplant , which comes in many different varieties .
The second component is the okra, which has a nutrient-rich mucilaginous texture.
Okra is also known to be high in iron, and contains a high amount of fiber.
The eggplant and okra are combined with a mixture of spices , garlic, ginger, and onions, representative of the savory broth that this dish is cooked in.
To make the broth, you will need a little bit of fish sauce and vinegar, as well as soy sauce for a little extra flavor .
This dish can be served hot or cold , as a main course or as a side dish.
It also goes well with other savory dishes, such as chicken and pork laing .
Equipment
- Pot
Ingredients
- 1 whole milk fish
- 2 to 3 cups malunggay moringa leaves
- 2 cups squash flower
- 1 bundle string beans
- 2 pieces medium ampalaya bitter gourd
- 2 to 3 tablespoons bagoong isda
- 1 knob ginger sliced
- 2 medium tomato chopped
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 3 cups water
Instructions
- In a big cooking pot, bring water to a boil.
- Add the tomato, onion, and ginger. Cook 5 minutes with the lid on.
- The bagoong isda should be added. Stir.
- Add string beans and okra. Add the ampalaya and stir. Cook for seven to ten minutes at medium heat.
- Insert the malunggay leaves and squash flower. For 3 to 5 minutes, cook.
- Fire up the milk fish. To give the food taste, let it sit for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Serve. Enjoy and share!
Video
Nutrition
My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.