Filipino Vegetable Soup (also known as Pinakbet)

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Prep Time: 10-15 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 40-50 minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

• 1 Japanese/Chinese Eggplant, sliced in ½ inch thick circles

• ½ of a small Kabocha Squash, peeled and cut in cubes

• ½ a bundle of Long Beans, trim ends and cut into 2 inch long pieces

• ¼ or ½ pound of Okra, ends trim off

• 1 Bitter Melon, seeds/white flesh removed and sliced into ½ inch thick pieces

• 2 Roma Tomatoes, cut into 1 inch thick pieces

• 4 cloves of Garlic, smashed

• 2 Tbsp. Mushroom Soy Sauce

• Olive Oil for Sauteing

Instructions

1. Cut and prepare all the vegetables. You want to make sure that they are all roughly the same size and thickness so they cook evenly. See the notes below about substitute vegetables, and cutting tips for the squash.

2. In a medium pot, add oil and saute garlic and tomatoes on medium heat for about 1-2 minutes.

3. Next, add the vegetables into the pot. Try to layer them based on cooking time (eggplant typically takes the longest, long beans, okra, bitter melon, then squash).

4. Cover the pot, and turn the heat down to medium-low and simmer for about 30 minutes. While the vegetables cook, do not mix or stir the vegetables. The vegetables will create its own liquid, so every couple of minutes check on the vegetables and just lightly push the veggies down into the soup.

5. The last 10 minutes, add in the mushroom soy sauce and lightly fold the vegetables to combine everything together. You can add a little bit of water if it’s too salty, or if you would like more soup.

6. Check the texture of the veggies. You don’t want them to be too soft. Turn off the heat, and keep the vegetables covered for an additional 5 minutes.

7. Serve hot over rice, and enjoy!

Notes:

• If you are not able to find any of these vegetables, here is what you can substitute them with:

  • You can use any type of eggplant, just be sure to cut it into the same size as all of the other vegetables

  • Kabocha Squash looks like a small green pumpkin, but if you can’t find it, you can use butternut squash or any type of other squash that you would like

  • Bitter Melon might be one that is hard to find. You can omit vegetables if you are not a fan of bitterness. Substitute with a zucchini if you prefer.