Pares is a dish that many Filipinos love. You can have it any time of the day – anywhere, as it has become very popular and widely accessible for people from all walks of life. It is a savory dish that can be paired with either rice or noodles. With a dark hue and a unique flavor profile, it can be said to be the comfort food of choice for the Filipino working class.
It is the union of strong and delicious flavors, making it a taste that is difficult to forget. With the thick sauce that has been boiling for hours, the flavorful broth will linger even after you have finished eating, making it the most memorable meal of the day.
Ingredients:
– Oil, for sautéing
– 1 thumb ginger, sliced
– 1 stalk onion leeks, white part, chopped
– 3 pcs. star anise
– 1 pc. cinnamon bark
– 1 kl. jackfruit
– Season with salt
– 6 cups of water
– ¼ cup soy sauce
– 4 tbsps. oyster sauce
– ½ cup sugar
– ¼ cup banana ketchup
– Slurry, to thicken the sauce
– 1 stalk onion leeks, green part, chopped
– 1 tsp. freshly cracked black pepper
– Finish with Sesame oil
For Fried Garlic:
– 2 cups oil
– 3 whole garlic, minced
In same Oil:
– Tofu
Egg Fried Rice:
– ½ pc carrot, minced
– 3 cups old rice
– 2 tbsps. fried garlic
– 1 pc. egg
– Season with salt and pepper
Side:
– Chili Garlic
– Calamansi
– Fried Tofu
Procedure:
1. Slice the ginger and leeks. In a pan, heat the oil, then fry ginger and leeks until they become toasted and aromatic. While frying the ginger and leeks, slice the jackfruit.
2. Add star anise and cinnamon bark to the pot. Then add the jackfruit. Season with salt, then pour in the water. Add soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar. Then add the banana ketchup. Cover and let it simmer until the jackfruit becomes tender.
3. When the jackfruit is almost tender, add the slurry to thicken the sauce. Add the green part of the leeks. Season with black pepper, the finish with sesame oil.
4. Prepare the rest of the elements. Mince the garlic. In a pan, heat the oil and gently fry the garlic until it becomes golden. Once it is golden, remove it from the oil.
5. Using the same oil, fry the tofu. Make sure to season the tofu with salt before frying.
6. Cook the egg fried rice using the same oil to fry the garlic and tofu. Sauté the carrots, day-old rice, fried garlic, and beaten eggs. Toss everything together.
7. Serve the Pares Overloved with fried tofu on top.
The addition of jackfruit to the local favorite is a unique spin to the loved dish. With this recipe, the deliciousness of Pares can be found within the comfort of your home. And with the weather becoming cooler with the pouring rain, this can be the perfect meal to warm you and your family up.
For more simple and easy recipes, grab copies of our Simpol Cookbook collection on Shopee or Lazada.