Afritada

Ingredients:

• 1/2 kilo pork cubes or chicken pieces
• 2-3 cloves of garlic, diced
• 1 red onion, chopped
• 2-3 tomatoes, chopped
• 4-6 cups of water
• 1/2 kilo tomato sauce
• 2-3 bay leaves (laurel)
• 2 potatoes, quartered
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 1-2 green bell peppers, sliced into wedges
• 1-2 red bell peppers, sliced into wedges
• peas (frozen or canned)
• cooking oil
• patis (fish sauce)
• salt
• black pepper
• cornstarch

Instructions:

1. Marinate your meat (pork or chicken) with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper for at least 30 minutes.
2. After marinating, brown your meat (pork or chicken) in your pot with some cooking oil
3. Add in the garlic, onions, tomatoes and 1 tablespoon of patis and fry until onions are translucent and garlic is fragrant
4. Add in the tomato sauce, bay leaves and 4-6 cups of water depending on desired consistency and amount sauce desired.
5. Bring pot to a boil and allow it to simmer on low heat for 10-15 minutes
6. Add in the potatoes and carrots and allow the stew to boil for another 5-10 minutes
7. Add in bell peppers and allow it to come to a boil again. Season with salt and pepper to taste
8. Add 1 teaspoon cornstarch in 2 teaspoons water to thicken the sauce.
9. Add in the peas and allow the entire stew to simmer for about another 5 minutes.