Langostinos Valencianos

I've always been fascinated with the richness of culture, history and the sumptous dishes of Spain. What better way to travel through cooking and head our way to the Eastern coast of Spain, Valencia. Langostinos Valencianos. This dish is simple, fresh and colorful. Prawns are quite pricey in the market so I bought the large white shrimps instead.


Ingredients:
1 kilo large shrimps
1 dozen mussels
1 cup tomato sauce
4 Tbsp white wine
2 cloves minced garlic
1/2 chopped white onion
1/2 teaspoon ginger
olive oil
basil leaves
salt and pepper to taste
lemon
chili


Preparation:

Rinse shrimps and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Cook mussels on hot water and ginger on a separate casserole. As the mussels cook, the shells will open. Remove half of the shell. Set aside the mussels.

Heat pan and pour olive oil. Cook shrimps on medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Set aside.

Saute onion, garlic and ginger. Add the tomato sauce and cook until sauce is reduced. Add shrimps and mussels. Add white wine.

Add salt and pepper to taste. Add chili.  Squeeze some lemon juice. Sprinkle with basil leaves before serving.

Pork Adobo with Coca-Cola

It's been months since I tasted Coca-Cola. It's not healthy, my doctor tells me. It's high in sugar and acid. So I skip it even when it's tempting during the scorching days of summer. So I thought if I can't drink it, why not cook it?

I decided to go back to my roots and try a Filipino dish. Our local cooking was influenced mostly by Spanish sauces and marinades. The Spanish word adobo means seasoning or marinade.


INGREDIENTS:
1 kilo of pork belly cubes
1 can of regular coca-cola
1/2 kilo of cubed potatoes
4 dried bayleaf
1 tbsp peppercorn
1 tbsp minced garlic
1/8 cup soy sauce
1/8 cup water
3 tbsp vinegar
salt to taste


Instructions:

Combine the pork belly cubes, soy sauce and garlic and marinade for at least 1 hour.

Heat the casserole and put in the marinated pork belly then cook for a few minutes. Pour 1 can of coca-cola.  Add the peppercorn and bayleaf. Cook in medium heat then simmer for 30 to 45 minutes.

Add vinegar, water and potatoes. Let it simmer for 30 minutes.

Add salt to taste.

Serve with white rice. Enjoy!