Easy Recipe for Philippine Nilaga – Rich Filipino Meat Broth

Nilaga is a Philippine dish that Filipinos love cooking and eating during those cold, rainy days when they just want to have a hot soup and some chunks of meat and vegetables to go with their hot steamed rice.

The term nilaga translates to the word “boiled” in English.

As the name suggests, this Philippine dish is prepared by boiling meat – pork or beef – and vegetables – potatoes, corn, Filipino bokchoy or pechay, and yardlong beans or sitaw.

Because all the ingredients in nilaga are simply boiled, then its soup is basically clear.

Still, the rich broth gives nilaga a full taste that goes well with bland rice.

In the Philippines, nilaga is also used to refer to a method of cooking – boiling.

Thus, we can say nilagang mais or boiled corn, nilagang mani or boiled peanuts, and nilagang itlog or boiled eggs.

Nilaga is so easy to cook, really.

In fact, newbie cooks specializing in Philippine cuisine often start out with cooking nilaga.

All one needs to prepare this dish is to cut meat and vegetables and make them tender.

It is that effortless!

Below are recipes for the Philippine nilaga, a popular dish that Filipinos love to eat.

Nilagang Baka or Beef Nilaga Recipe

Ingredients for Nilagang Baka or Beef Nilaga

• banana plantain or saba – 2 pieces; cut
• beef – brisket part; cubed; 2 pounds
• cabbage – 1 piece; small-sized; cut
• fish sauce or patis – 3 tablespoons
• pechay or Filipino bokchoy – 1 bundle; separated per each leaf
• peppercorn – 1 tablespoon; whole
• potato – 3 pieces; large-sized; peeled and cubed

Instructions for Cooking Nilagang Baka or Beef Nilaga

1. In a pot set over medium heat, sauté onion until it becomes transparent.
2. Put in beef brisket.
3. Cook for about 10 minutes.
4. Add in fish sauce and peppercorn.
5. Mix well.
6. Pour in water.
7. Allow to simmer from one to two hours.
8. If using a pressure cooker, simmer for half an hour.
9. When the beef is tender, add in potatoes and banana plantain or saba.
10. Allow to simmer for 10 minutes or until potatoes are soft.
11. Add in pechay or Filipino bokchoy and cabbage.
12. When the pechay and cabbage are cooked, remove pot from heat.
13. Serve while the soup is warm.

Nilagang Baboy or Pork Nilaga Recipe

Ingredients for Nilagang Baboy or Pork Nilaga

• cabbage – 1 piece; small-sized; cut
• fish sauce or patis – 3 tablespoons
• garlic – 3 cloves; crushed
• onion – quartered
• pechay or Filipino bokchoy – 1 bundle; separated per each leaf
• peppercorn – 1 teaspoon
• pork – 1 pound; cut into serving sizes
• potato – 2 pieces; large-sized; quartered
• water – 5 cups

Instructions for Cooking Nilagang Baboy or Pork Nilaga

1. In a pot set over high heat, pour in water and place in pork.
2. Bring water to a boil.
3. Once water is boiling, turn heat to low.
4. Allow water to simmer for one to two hours or until the pork is tender.
5. Then, add in garlic, onion, and peppercorn.
6. Flavor the mix with fish sauce.
7. Add in potato.
8. When the potato is soft, add in pechay and cabbage.
9. Simmer for 5 minutes, taking care not to overcook the vegetables.
10. Serve the nilaga while its soup is hot.

Voila! Your Philippine nilaga is ready to eat. Enjoy it with rice!

Awesome Hubs on Filipino Food Recipes

• Simple Steps to Cook Sopas - the Creamy Filipino Macaroni Soup
• How to Cook the Classic Filipino-Style Spaghetti – the Star of Pinoy Gatherings
• Recipe for Philippine Adobo – the Quintessential Filipino Stew
• Recipe for Philippine Embutido – Filipino-Style Meatloaf
• Recipe for Philippine Sinigang – the Tasty Filipino Sour Soup
• Recipes for Philippine Kare Kare – Special Filipino Peanut Stew
• Recipe for Philippine Beef Tapa – Favorite Food in Filipino Breakfast
• Quick Recipe for Philippine Bistek – the Filipino Beefsteak
• Simple Recipe for Lumpiang Shanghai – Meaty Philippine Spring Rolls
• Recipe for Philippine Bicol Express: Superbly Spicy Filipino Dish