Pinacbit

—Laura Santoki

• 3 long eggplant
• 2 bitter melon
• 3/4 lb. okra
• 1/2 lb. otong (Filipino long beans)
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 medium tomatoes
• 2 Tbsp. patis (fish sauce)
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tsp. shoyu
• 1/3 cup aramang (dried shrimp), chopped
• 1 chicken bouillon cube
• Dash of Ajinomoto (optional)

Wash vegetables, remove seed from bitter melon, and cut all vegetables into 2-inch pieces.

Mix crushed garlic, tomatoes, patis, water, shoyu, aramang, bouillon cube, and Ajinomoto in deep pot; boil for 10 minutes.

Add beans first, then melon, okra, and eggplant; cover and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes. Mix occasionally; do not stir. Makes 10 servings.