Pork with Opo is a popular, delicious, and savory Filipino dish (Ginisang Upo with Pork) my whole family loves. This is one of those meals that are fast and easy to prepare and cook; made with ground pork, tomato, onion, garlic, opo squash, chicken broth, soy sauce, and patis.
OPO Squash
In fact, Opo is an Asian squash with a flavor similar to zucchini. (Opo squash, Chinese squash, long squash) It looks like a long light green gourd and native to the cuisines of China and Southeast Asia.
Opo is extremely low in calories and provides a small amount of vitamin C, folate, calcium, iron, zinc, and B vitamins. It is also rich in fiber and is believed to help in healthy digestion.
Cooling Tips
Peel before using; you don’t eat the skin. If the seeds are large, discard them.
Wash, slice in half, scrape seeds out with a spoon. Peel then use as per recipe.
Use as you would zucchini for soups, stews, frying or stir-frying.
Stays firm and holds its shape when cooked.
Pork with Opo
Ingredients
- 2 lb ground pork
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon ginger, peeled and sliced
- 4 Opo, peeled, seeded, sliced, cubed
- 1 onion, sliced
- 1 tomato, chopped
- 1/4 cup chicken – Better Than Boullion)
- 4 cups of water
- 3 tablespoon Hoisin Sauce
- 2 tablespoon tamari (low-sodium soy sauce)
- 1 tablespoon patis (optional)
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a large pot, add oil and garlic and saute garlic until brown.
- Add onion, stir fry until translucent
- Brown ground pork with the garlic and onion.
- Add opo, tomato, ginger, chicken broth, soy sauce and seasonings and water.
- Cover and simmer for 25 minutes.
- Serve with steamed rice, enjoy!
NOTES
- Slow cooker method. Using Crockpot or Instapot: Brown garlic. Add ground pork. Then combine all ingredients in the crockpot, cover. Slow cook for at least 1 hour. Keep a careful watch and adjust cooking time accordingly.
- Store in a container with a lid in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
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