Batso │ Ginisang Upo │ Ilokano Food │ How to Cook Ilocano Batcho

Batso │ Ginisang Upo │ Ilokano Food │ How to Cook Ilocano Batcho

Batso is basically ginisang upo, it is an Ilokano vegetable upo fruit (bottle gourd) recipe. The highlight of the recipe is the addition of atsuete or annatto seeds coloring. The red coloring of annatto seeds does not only make the vegetable in to a bright red orange color it adds also that distinct annatto aroma that adds a character to the dish. Another unique ingredient is the addition of hibe or shelled, dried small shrimps, Ilokanos being frugal hibe is used instead of fresh shrimps or prawns, hibe imparts a full umami and seafood tastes if added to vegetable ginisa dishes. The most important is use of fresh young bottle gourd, do not but the matured fruit, the seeds are already hard and are no longer edible. On this video I have shown an easier slicing of the fruit, it should be cut into thin strips, that is how I preferred. Slices could either be thin triangle slices or chopped into small pieces. Do not overcook, the vegetable should be just cook, and still crunchy. Ingredients: 1 medium to large upo, bottle gourd, skinned, cut into short thin strips 1/4 kilo pork belly. cut into thin slices 1/3 cup, hibe, dried shelled small shrimp, rinsed, re-hydrated 1/3-1/2 cup asuete, annatto seeds, rinsed, soaked in hot water, 1/2 head garlic, peeled, crushed, chopped 2 medium size onions, peeled, chopped 3 medium size tomatoes, chopped 1 small bunch, spring onion, trimmed, chopped 1/3 cup patis, fish sauce salt cooking oil Cooking Procedure. Heat generous amount of cooking oil in a wok. Stir in the garlic and onion, stir cook until fragrant. Add in the tomatoes and continue to stir cook for about a minute. Now add in the pork, and continue to stir cook for a minute. Cover and let cook for about 2-3 minutes. Continue to stir cook until the pork is cooked. Add in the hibe and continue to stir cook for a minute. Add in the fish sauce and continue to stir cook for about 1 to 2 minutes. Now add in about 2 cups of hot water . Simmer for about 3-4 minutes. Add in the bottle gourd. Then add in the extracted annatto water, use sieve to separate the seeds. Let cook for about 1 to 2 minutes, do not stir at this time. Now continue to stir cook the vegetables, cover with lid every now and then. Continue to stir cook for about 4-5 minutes or until it is just cooked Do not overcook Correct saltiness if required Add in the chopped spring onions on the last stage of cooking, save some for garnishing. When done transfer to a serving bowl or deep platter. Garnish with the remaining chopped spring onions, serve immediately.