🌿 Thai Basil Beef

The week after I got home from Thailand, I couldn’t stop thinking about Thai basil beef, so I had to recreate it. I needed my family to taste it too, because I refuse to walk around haunted by this flavor by myself. Here’s the version I made. The ingredients are easy to find in the Philippines, and somehow it tastes authentic and restaurant-level… at least if my taste buds aren’t lying, hahah.

Ingredients

Instructions

1. Mix sauce in a small bowl. Combine, soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, brown sugar and water. Set aside.
2. Heat oil in a pan.
3. Add garlic, onion, and chilies.
4. Sauté until fragrant and the onion starts softening.
5. Add ground beef or sliced beef.
6. Cook on high heat until it browns and caramelizes a bit. If there’s excess fat, you can drain a little.
7. Add bell pepper (optional). Cook for 1–2 minutes until slightly softened.
8. Pour in the prepared sauce.
9. Stir and let it cook for 2–3 minutes until the beef absorbs everything and becomes glossy.
10. Turn off heat. Toss in the basil leaves until they wilt.

Serve it over hot rice + a fried egg on top. You may also squeeze a bit of calamansi too. Its soooo addicting. 🍳🔥

🦑 Mild Ojingeo Bokkeum

At the start of the week, I went to a wet market and impulsively bought 500 grams of squid. I still don’t know what I’m going to cook with it. I told myself I’d probably just turn it into calamares. While scrolling online I came across Ojingeo Bokkeum and it looked delicious except that its spicy. And I am not built for spice. So I decided to tweak the recipe a little and make one with the ingredients I have at home.

While I’m cooking this dish I was a little worried that I will overcook the squid and make it rubbery because thickenning the sauce is kind of tricky as the squid was releasing water. Thankfully it turned out amazing though I’m not sure if it tasted close to the original lol. It tastes new to me but its so good paired with rice 🥹🍚

Ingredients

Instructions

1. Heat pan on medium-high. Add olive oil + sesame oil.
2. Sauté onion first until soft and slightly golden.
3. Add garlic, cook 30 seconds only (don’t burn)
4. Add squid, stir-fry for 2 minutes
5. Add the sauce ingredients: soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, chili oil
6. Let sauce thicken ON the squid, toss until glossy
7. Finish with pepper + sesame seeds.
8. Serve with hot rice 🍚✨

You can also toss in some carrots and cabbage before adding the squid if you want to add extra crunch and sweetness. Finish it off with scallions as a garnish for a fresh, bright touch 👩‍🍳🌿

🍝 Pasta al Pomodoro / Tomato Pasta

Yesterday I was really craving pasta and I wanted it fast! The problem is… I only had pasta and some leftover tomato sauce in the fridge.

So, I did a quick Google search and found Pasta Al Pomodoro, and then I kinda just… improvised. Used what I had and made my own version. It was so good that it ended up being the only thing I ate all day. I knew I had to save this recipe and share it with you so here it is!

Ingredients

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil over medium heat
2. Cook onion until soft
3. Add garlic and cook until fragrant
4. Pour in tomato sauce and stir
5. Add salt, pepper, sugar, dried oregano and cheese
6. Taste and adjust
7. Reduce heat to low
8. Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens
9. Add sauce to cooked pasta

And that’s it! This little pasta turned out way better than I expected. Sitting down with it, I just felt… happy. I don’t know, maybe it’s the fact that I made it all by myself. It definitely fed my soul. 👩‍🍳✨