GINISANG SITAW (SAUTEED STRING BEANS)

Ginisang Sitaw, sauteed string beans, is a flexible, healthful dish that can include various veggies and any type of protein.

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons chopped garlic
• 1/2 cup julienned onion
• 1/2 pound ground pork
• Pepper, to taste
• 1/2 cup halved cherry tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon patis (fish sauce) or alamang (shrimp paste)
• 1 pound string beans, cut into 3-inch lengths

In pan, heat oil. Add garlic and cook 5 to 6 seconds; add onions and cook 3 to 4 minutes, or until soft.

Push onion and garlic to side of pan; add pork to center of pan. Season with pepper; saute until cooked through. Mix with onions and garlic.

Add tomatoes and patis; cook 2 to 3 minutes, until tomatoes are soft. Add beans; saute 3 to 4 minutes or until al dente (still having a firm bite). Do not overcook, and stir gently so beans don’t break. Serves 4.

Tip: To lighten up the dish, use ground turkey instead of pork. Reduce patis if trying to cut sodium.

Nutritional information unavailable.

From “A Filipino Kitchen,” by Adam Tabura (Mutual Publishing, $21.95). Find it at Barnes & Noble and wherever books are sold; on amazon.com; and at Mutual Publishing, 1215 Center St., Suite 210. Call Mutual at 732-1709.