Pinakbet or Pakbet is a Filipino vegetable dish that is flavorful as it is colorful. A medley of local vegetables like squash, eggplant, okra, yard-long beans, and bitter melon. Pork, shrimp paste, and tomatoes are used to give it its distinctive taste.
This Pinakbet recipe was originally published in 2016. Updated in 2019 to include new photos and additional tips.
My mama usually cooks Pinakbet for lunch or dinner as a side dish to fried fish or other fried meat. As kids, my siblings and I would try to wiggle our way out from eating our portion. We especially hated the bitter melon. But all attempts were to no success.
I remember my sister, Glenda, once tried to hide her bitter melons under her pile of leftover fish, but of course she got busted and had to eat the rest.
I do not know if any kid likes or ever liked bitter melon right from the start, but it does grow on you and as we grew older we got to appreciate this very healthy dish.
While living abroad, eating Pinakbet has been a real treat. I had to wait for the right time that all the veggies needed are available at the same time. The squash and eggplant I can buy locally. But the rest of the vegetables like okra, bitter melon, and yard-long beans I can only get in Asian stores.
What is Pinakbet?
Pinakbet or Pakbet is a mixed vegetable stew with pork slices that originally came from the Ilocos region. The original Ilocano version uses "bagoong isda" which is a sauce made with fermented fish.
As the dish became popular in the surrounding areas, different versions took root. The Pinakbet Tagalog, which is how the version from south of Ilocos (Manila and adjacent areas) is called, uses shrimp paste for flavor. This recipe here is the latter.
How to cook Pinakbet
There are different ways and versions in cooking Pinakbet. Basically, it involves these simple steps:
- Brown pork in hot oil.
- Saute garlic, onions, and tomatoes.
- Add shrimp paste.
- Add the vegetables and water. Quickest vegetable to cook comes last. Cook until vegetables are tender.
Additional Tips for a great tasting Pinakbet
- Vegetables are added depending on how long they cook. Those that take longer come in first. Usually, in this order: squash then bitter gourd, eggplants and yard-long beans and lastly the young okra. If vegetables are more mature they will also take longer to cook.
- Cut all vegetables in the same size as much as possible. Not only will it look nice but also so they all cook evenly and avoid others from getting mushy while waiting for the rest to cook.
- To lessen the bitterness of bitter gourd, soak cut slices in water with a little salt for 30 minutes before cooking.
- Use uncooked shrimp paste if you can. The cooked ones in jars (usually labeled as 'ginisang bagoong') are normally used as dips and has (a lot of) sugar in them.
Other authentic Filipino Vegetable Dishes to try:
- Laing - Taro leaves cooked in spicy coconut milk
- Ginisang Labong - Sauteed bamboo shoots
- Lumpiang Sariwa - Filipino fresh spring rolls
- Tortang Talong - Eggplant omelette with ground meat
- Chop Suey - vegetable stirfry
Printable Recipe
Pinakbet Tagalog
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil
- ½ pound pork belly - cut into strips
- 1 small onion - chopped
- 2 cloves garlic - minced
- 2-3 tablespoons shrimp paste
- 3 medium tomatoes - chopped
- ½ small squash - peeled and cut into cubes
- 1 cup water
- 5-7 young okras - ends trimmed, cut into halves diagonally
- ½ bunch yard-long beans (sitaw) - ends trimmed and cut into 3-inch lengths
- 1 medium bitter gourd - seeded then halved and cut into slices
- 1 large eggplant - ends trimmed and cut into cubes
- salt
Instructions
- In a wok or pan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add pork and cook until browned and fat rendered.
- Lower heat to medium and add the onion and garlic and cook until tender and aromatic. Add tomatoes and cook for about 3-5 minutes or until it becomes soft and the skins peel off the flesh
- Add shrimp paste and continue to cook for about a minute.
- Add squash and water. Cover the pan and let it simmer for about 2 minutes.
- Add yard-long beans, bitter gourd, and eggplant. Season with salt if needed. Cook for about 2 minutes. Add the okra and cook for another 2 minutes or until vegetables are tender yet still a bit crisp.
- Transfer to a serving plate and serve with rice and your favorite fried meat.
Nutrition
Glenn says
I also like to add head on shrimp and some crab meat for a sea food version.
Glenn Rosemeyer says
Great recipe and directions. I like to add sweat potatoes. Nice addition to the squash.
Rosalie Habin Maddie says
Thanks 😊😊 for healthy tips..Foxy Folksy..
Knowell says
Can I use fish bagoong Instead of shrimp paste.. Allergic kasi anak ko sa shrimp paste.. Thanks
Bebs says
Sure go ahead.
Tambolong says
Hello,
Couldn’t have done it without your precise guidance and instructions in such a short time when I came upon your recipe. My wife is COVID positive so I have to struggle to prepare & cook without any preparation. So off I went to the grocery & cook under pressure. You’re a life saver.
Thank you
Bebs says
Hey, good to know that our recipe was able to help you during these difficult times. But sorry to hear about your wife and hoping she is all well now.
Justin Todd says
Thanks for the recipe! I'd love to try some of the filipino dishes after having fried stuff all week.
Rolando Raganit says
nice, i tried and love it thanks for sharing.
Bebs says
Glad you love it!
Julie holley says
Lv the receipts
Bebs says
Thanks for the 5 stars Julie!
Don Laguilles says
love the website. I love your Pinakbet. My wife wants to try your empanada recipe. She loves empanadas. She is Irish-Welsh descent. **shimp - it think that's a mispell on the Pinakbet recipe.
Bebs says
Hahaha! To think that hubby is also checking for misspelling before I push publish! Thanks Don and I corrected it! Just visited your site, what a lovely family and I do hope your wife tries the chicken empanada, they are one of my favorites. 🙂
Anna says
Thank you for this great recipe..We liked it very much!
Bebs says
Thanks Anna!