Dinengdeng Pasta

Ingredients:

Malunggay Pesto Sauce:
1 cup malunggay leaves, cleaned and taken off from stems
1/8 cup parsley leaves, cleaned and taken off from stems
1/8 cup basil leaves, cleaned and taken off from stems
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon roasted peanuts
½ teaspoon garlic, chopped
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Fried Daing na Galunggong:
3 pieces galunggong fillet, lightly seasoned with salt and pepper
garlic, chopped finely
3 tablespoons white vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce

Dinengdeng Pasta:
170 grams uncooked spaghetti pasta
500 ml water
Salt for boiling pasta
Prepared malunggay pesto
2 tablespoons garlic, chopped finely
½ cup squash, cut into thick strips
½ cup eggplants, cut into thick strips
¼ cup okra, cut diagonally
½ cup red onions, cut in wedges
½ cup tomatoes, deseeded and cut in wedges
1 teaspoon bagoong isda
1 teaspoon calamansi juice

Procedure:

Malunggay Pesto:
1. Pulse everything together in blender and season with salt and pepper to taste

Daing na Galunggong:
1. Mix soy sauce, vinegar and garlic for the marinade and place the galunggong fillet in the marinade and let sit for about 30 minutes in the chiller.
2. Place wok/ frying pan on burner turned on medium heat and fry galunggong fillet until crunchy.
3. Drain excess oil using kitchen towels and flake. Set aside.

To Assemble:
1. Place water and salt in stock pot and place on burner turned to medium to high heat. Once water is boiling drop uncooked pasta and cook for about 6 minutes. Pasta is going to be a little undercooked because it will still be sauted with the rest of the ingredients. Drain water and set aside both pasta and pasta water.
2. Take a wok and place on medium heat, pour and saute your pesto sauce, add garlic, red onions, tomatoes, squash, eggplants, and okra.
3. Add a little bit of the pasta water and let simmer for about 3 minutes before adding the cooked pasta, bagoong isda and calamansi juice. Toss for about a minute or 2 before taking out from heat to plate. Sprinkle daing na galunggong flakes on top.
4. Optional: You can also use toasted garlic to sprinkle or garnish on top.

Liked this healthy twist to pesto pasta? Why not try our Saluyot Pasta With Sardine Sauce recipeSaluyot Pasta With Sardine Sauce recipe?