Steamy Cebu-Style Rice: A Tasty Guide

Cebu-style steamed rice is a unique and delicious dish that is a must-try for anyone looking to explore the diversity of Filipino cuisine. This rice dish is known for its light and fluffy texture, as well as its slightly sweet and nutty flavor. The process of preparing the rice involves rinsing and soaking jasmine rice before steaming it with pandan leaves and coconut milk, resulting in a fragrant and flavorful dish.

The rice is then topped with a savoury mixture of pork belly, shrimp, and a starchy sauce made with Chinese cooking wine, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and other spices. Thissection provides a step-by-step guide on how to prepare and cook the ingredients to create the iconic Cebu-style steamed rice.

How to cook the pork belly

Ingredients:

• 1 pound pork belly, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
• 2 teaspoons Chinese cooking wine
• 1 teaspoon oyster sauce
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 pinch ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1/2 tablespoon fried shallots (optional)
• 1 tablespoon light soy sauce, or to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon dark soy sauce
• 1/4 pound uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons frozen peas

Method:

• In a bowl, mix the pork belly with the cooking wine, oyster sauce, cornstarch, sesame oil, salt, and black pepper. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes.
• Heat vegetable oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and shallots, and cook until fragrant (about 1 minute).
• Add the pork pieces to the pot and fry until browned (about 6 minutes).
• Pour in water, light soy sauce, and dark soy sauce. Cover the pot with a lid and bring the stew to a boil.
• Reduce the heat to medium and cook until the pork is tender and the water is reduced by half (about 30 minutes).
• Cut the shrimp into 3/4-inch pieces. In a separate bowl, mix cornstarch and water together.
• Bring the stew back to a boil. Add the shrimp and peas, and cook until the shrimp turns colour (about 2 minutes).
• Quickly stir in the cornstarch mixture and cook until the gravy thickens (7 to 10 minutes).

Your pork belly is now ready to be served with the steamed rice!

How to make the shrimp stew

To make the shrimp stew, you'll need the following ingredients:

• 1/4 pound of uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons of frozen peas
• 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon of minced garlic
• 1/2 tablespoon of fried shallots (optional)
• 1 tablespoon of light soy sauce, or to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon of dark soy sauce
• Cut the shrimp into 3/4-inch pieces.
• Mix cornstarch and water together in a bowl.
• Heat vegetable oil in a pot over medium-high heat.
• Add garlic and shallots, and cook until fragrant (about 1 minute).
• Pour in light soy sauce and dark soy sauce.
• Bring the stew to a boil.
• Add the shrimp and peas, and cook until the shrimp changes color (about 2 minutes).
• Quickly stir in the cornstarch mixture.
• Cook and stir until the gravy thickens (about 7 to 10 minutes).

The shrimp stew is now ready to be served over garlic fried rice. Enjoy!

How to prepare the garlic fried rice

To make garlic fried rice, Cebu-style, you'll need the following ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 2 cups cooked jasmine rice, cooled, or more to taste
• 1 teaspoon oyster sauce
• 1 teaspoon light soy sauce
• 3 drops sesame oil, or to taste

Here's how to prepare it:

Heat oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Saute garlic until fragrant, which should take about 1 minute. Increase the heat to high and add the rice. Cook, breaking up the rice with a spatula, until it's loosened, which should take around 3 to 5 minutes. Add oyster sauce and soy sauce, and cook until the rice is fluffy and heated through, which will take about another 3 minutes. Finally, add the remaining sesame oil.

This garlic fried rice is best served with pork and shrimp stew, which you can prepare by following these steps:

Mix pork belly with Chinese cooking wine, oyster sauce, cornstarch, sesame oil, salt, and black pepper in a bowl. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes.

Heat vegetable oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Add garlic and shallots, and cook until fragrant (about 1 minute). Add the pork pieces and fry until they're browned, which will take around 6 minutes. Pour in water, light soy sauce, and dark soy sauce. Cover the pot with a lid and bring the stew to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook until the pork becomes tender and the water is reduced by half, which will take about 30 minutes.

Cut the shrimp into 3/4-inch pieces. Mix cornstarch and water together in a bowl. Bring the stew to a boil again, and add the shrimp and peas. Cook until the shrimp changes color, which will take about 2 minutes. Quickly stir in the cornstarch mixture and cook until the gravy thickens (around 7 to 10 minutes).

Divide the fried rice between 3 or 4 bowls, and portion the pork and shrimp stew equally over the rice.

How to steam the dish

To make Cebu-style steamed rice, start by rinsing the jasmine rice thoroughly to remove any excess starch. Then, soak the rice for at least 30 minutes before steaming it. This process ensures the rice is light, fluffy, and not too sticky.

Next, prepare the pork and shrimp stew. In a pot, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic and shallots, cooking until fragrant. Then, add the pork pieces and fry until browned. Pour in water, light soy sauce, and dark soy sauce, and bring the stew to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook until the pork is tender and the water is reduced by half.

Cut the shrimp into 3/4-inch pieces. In a separate bowl, mix cornstarch and water. Bring the stew back to a boil, add the shrimp and peas, and cook until the shrimp changes color. Quickly stir in the cornstarch mixture and cook until the gravy thickens.

To make the garlic fried rice, heat oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant. Increase the heat to high and add the rice, breaking it up with a spatula. Add oyster sauce and soy sauce, and cook until the rice is fluffy and heated through.

Finally, assemble the dish. Divide the fried rice into 3 or 4 bowls. Portion the pork and shrimp stew evenly over the rice. You can also add a sprinkle of green onions on top for extra flavor and color.

How to serve Cebu-style steamed rice

Cebu-style steamed rice is a delicious and unique dish that is perfect for anyone craving a taste of the Philippines. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to serve this mouthwatering dish.

Preparing the Ingredients:

Before you begin cooking, gather all the necessary ingredients, including pork belly, Chinese cooking wine, oyster sauce, cornstarch, sesame oil, ground black pepper, vegetable oil, garlic, shallots, light and dark soy sauce, shrimp, frozen peas, jasmine rice, and salt to taste.

Cooking the Pork and Shrimp Stew:

Start by mixing the pork belly with cooking wine, oyster sauce, cornstarch, sesame oil, and black pepper in a bowl. Marinate this mixture in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes.

Heat vegetable oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Add garlic and shallots, cooking until fragrant. Then, add the pork pieces and fry until they are browned. Pour in water, light soy sauce, and dark soy sauce. Cover the pot and bring the stew to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook until the pork is tender and the water has reduced by half, which should take about 30 minutes.

Cut the shrimp into 3/4-inch pieces. In a separate bowl, mix cornstarch and water. Bring the stew back to a boil and add the shrimp and peas. Cook until the shrimp turns colour, which should take about 2 minutes. Quickly stir in the cornstarch mixture and cook until the gravy thickens, which will take about 7 to 10 minutes.

Preparing the Garlic Fried Rice:

Heat oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant. Increase the heat to high and add the cooled jasmine rice. Cook by breaking up the rice with a spatula until it is loosened and heated through, which should take about 3 to 5 minutes. Add oyster sauce, soy sauce, and sesame oil to taste.

Serving the Cebu-Style Steamed Rice:

Divide the fried rice into 3 or 4 bowls. Portion the pork and shrimp stew evenly over the rice. You can garnish the dish with chopped green onions or sesame seeds for added flavour and presentation.

Cebu-style steamed rice is best served hot and can be enjoyed as a comforting and hearty meal. It goes well with various side dishes, such as spicy curries, savoury stir-fries, or grilled meat dishes. Enjoy the delicious flavours of Cebu with this mouthwatering steamed rice dish!

Frequently asked questions