5 Pinoy Favorite You Can Make in Less Than 30 Minutes

Filipino food is well-known across the world for its flavorful profile, balanced out with a straightforward approach. You can quickly whip up a meal for the family with just a few ingredients. Best of all, you can make some of the tastiest dishes in less than an hour!

Are you in a rush? Check out these 5 Pinoy favorites that you can make in less than 30 minutes!

#1: Bistek Tagalog

Bistek Tagalog, also known as ‘bistek,’ is the Filipino version of a beef steak. It consists of thin slices of beef marinated in soy sauce and calamansi before being fried into the pan.

Bistek offers a no-frills take on this tangy dish. Marinate the meat overnight, cook it the next day, and you’ve got yourself a Pinoy breakfast staple. You can also use CDO Beef Tapa as a shortcut from marinating and cutting meat!

Recipe:

• ½ kilograms beef sirloin, cut into strips
• ¼ cup calamansi juice
• ¼ cup Knorr Liquid Seasoning
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 large onion, cut into rings
• 1 teaspoon ground pepper
• 2 tablespoons oil
• ½ to 1 cup water
• Salt and pepper, to taste

How to cook Bistek Tagalog

1. Combine calamansi juice, Knorr Liquid Seasoning, garlic, and ground pepper in a bowl.
2. Add beef sirloin and marinate for about 10 minutes.
3. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Add onions and fry until translucent.
4. Cook beef for about three minutes or until brown.
5. Add marinade and water. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes or until cooked.
6. Add onions and season to taste. Serve while hot.

#2: Pancit Bihon

Also called ‘bihon,’ this noodle-based dish was introduced by Chinese settlers hundreds of years ago. It uses vermicelli noodles mixed with stir-fried vegetables, meat, and seafood cut in small sizes.

Pancit bihon is very convenient to cook and doesn’t cost much. You can change the ingredients you will use according to your taste—You can even use processed meats such as CDO Bibbo Hotdog for a change! Simply put, bihon is a balanced meal that’s perfect for the whole family.

Recipe:

• Easy Pinoy Pancit Bihon Ingredients
• 250 grams cooked rice vermicelli noodles (bihon)
• vegetable oil, for cooking
• 2 fillets boneless chicken thigh fillets, sliced thinly
• 200 grams shrimp, large, peeled and deveined
• 1 chinese chorizo, sliced thinly on the bias
• 1/2 cup fish balls, assorted, sliced into thin rounds
• 1 onion, peeled and chopped
• 2 to 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
• 2 large carrots, peeled and sliced thinly on the bias
• 1 small cabbage, shredded
• 1 1/2 to 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons green onions, chopped

How to cook Easy Pinoy Pancit Bihon

1. Soak bihon noodles in cold water for around 30 minutes and drain well.
2. In a wide skillet or wok, heat oil. Add chicken, stirring regularly, and cook for about 3 to 5 minutes or until they start to brown. Add shrimp and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes or until they start to change color. Set aside.
3. Wipe down wok or skillet and add more oil as needed. Cook chorizo slices, stirring regularly, until they start to brown. Add fish balls. Set aside.
4. Use the same wok to cook onions and garlic until limp. Add carrots and cook for about 30 seconds. Add cabbage. Return chicken, chorizo, fish balls, and shrimp to wok. Toss and stir until vegetables are tender yet crisp.
5. Add noodles. Pour in chicken stock in half cup increments. Pour in soy sauce. Gently toss and stir, adding more liquid as needed, until noodles have expanded yet are still firm to the bite and liquid is absorbed. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with chopped green onions and serve with calamansi.

#3: Corned Beef Lumpiang Shanghai

The Philippines’ version of a spring roll is a common sight at every Pinoy party. It is small and tasty, eaten either as a viand or an appetizer. Each bite is filled with seasoned meat (like Highlands Corned Beef) and finely chopped carrots and onions.

Lumpiang Shanghai is perfect for those with busy schedules because you can prepare the rolls in advance and fry them only when you need to. Once you’ve perfected your rolling technique, you’ll be left with dozens of ready-to-cook lumpia!

Recipe:

• Easy Tuna Lumpiang Shanghai Ingredients
• 3 180-gram cans tuna flakes in oil, drained
• 1 cup carrots, grated
• 1/4 cup white onions, chopped
• 3 tablespoons calamansi juice
• 20 pieces lumpia wrappers, small
• oil, for frying
• water, for sealing lumpia
• spiced vinegar, for dipping
• salt, to taste
• ground black pepper, to taste

How to make Easy Tuna Lumpiang Shanghai

1. In a bowl, mix the tuna flakes, carrots, and onions. Season with salt and pepper. Add calamansi juice.
2. Heat oil in a deep pot for deep frying.
3. Make the lumpia: on a board, lay down 1 wrapper. Add 1 heaping teaspoon of filling. Fold the wrapper and seal the edges with water. Repeat with remaining tuna filling.
4. When ready to fry, cook the lumpia in batches. Drain on paper towels. Serve hot with vinegar dipping sauce.

#4: Cheesy Mushroom Sandwich

Sandwiches are versatile for many reasons. Originating in Britain, you can use a wide variety of ingredients to create this finger food. A sandwich consists of veggies and meat slices, followed by drizzles of sauce or condiment before being placed between two slices of bread.

If you’re a huge cheese lover, you can use Danes Cheese Slices, two pieces of white bread, and canned mushrooms to make this easy and cheesy mushroom sandwich in less than an hour.

Recipe:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 piece white onion, sliced thinly
• 1 can mushrooms, (slices), drained
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
• salt
• 2 whole wheat bread
• 2 tablespoons cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 1/2 tablespoons monterey jack cheese, shredded
• 1 teaspoon butter

How to make Cheesy Mushroom Sandwich

1. Heat olive oil in a pan. Add white onion and mushrooms; mix well. Season with teaspoon of sugar, teaspoon of chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Cook until mixture is browned.
2. Top a whole wheat bread slice with tablespoons of shredded mild cheddar cheese, tablespoons of filling, and shredded Monterey Jack cheese.
3. Cover with another bread slice. Spread teaspoon of butter on top. Heat a pan over medium heat and grill sandwich, buttered side down, for 2 minutes.
4. Spread teaspoon of butter on the outside of the other slice, flip sandwich, and grill for another 2 to 3 minutes until cheese is completely melted.

#5: Classic Lugaw

Lugaw is one of the most basic Filipino recipes you can make. Similar to Chinese congee, this Pinoy favorite uses malagkit rice, chicken stock, and some aromatics. This rice porridge can be served on its own or topped with savory add-ons.

If you want something light to eat in the morning, opt for some classic lugaw instead. Adding toasted CDO Chinese Style Luncheon Meat bits will give texture, but you can also have a side of hard-boiled eggs if you have more time to prep!

Recipe:

Ready to cut down your cooking time? Try out these dishes today and have more time for the family with these deliciously quick and easy meals. Better yet, check out CDO’s diverse line of food products to help you complete your next food favorite.

Sources:

• Arnold Gatilao of Flickr
• Yummy Philippines