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Ensaladang pako
Ensaladang pako: Filipino fiddlehead fern salad with tomato, onion and salted egg
Pako, the young curled fronds of the vegetable fern, grow along streams in the Cordillera, Laguna and Mindanao, and in the rainy season they are sold in bundles at roadside stands. Blanched for a moment and tossed with tomato, onion, a calamansi and vinegar dressing and wedges of salted duck egg, they make a crunchy, refreshing side for grilled dishes at lunch. Suitable as part of a balanced diet, it adds greens with some protein: about 120 kcal and 8 g carbohydrate per portion. The usual mistake is eating the fern raw or barely warmed; always blanch it until tender. Chef's tip: plunge the fern straight into iced water after blanching so it stays bright green and crisp.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 10 ½ oz fiddlehead fern (pako)tough ends trimmed
- 2 tomatoesdiced
- 1 red onionthinly sliced
- 2 salted duck eggs, hard-boiledpeeled, cut into wedges
- 2 tbsp calamansi or lime juice
- 1 tbsp cane vinegar
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ¼ tsp black pepper
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Bring a pan of water to a rolling boil. Add the 10 ½ oz fiddlehead fern (pako) and blanch for 2 minutes, until bright green and tender with a slight crunch.
3 minStep 2: Drain and plunge into iced water, then drain well and cut into 5 cm lengths.
2 minStep 3: Whisk 2 tbsp calamansi or lime juice, 1 tbsp cane vinegar, 1 tbsp olive oil and ¼ tsp black pepper. No salt is needed because the eggs are salty.
1 minStep 4: Toss the fern with 2 tomatoes and 1 red onion and the dressing, then top with the 2 salted duck eggs, hard-boiled. Serve straight away.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 120 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 8 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does ensaladang pako take?
- About 20 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 5 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of tomatoes?
- Tinned chopped tomatoes: a 400g tin for about 6 tomatoes (in cooked dishes, not salads).
- What can I use instead of red onion?
- White onion or shallots, same amount (soak raw onion in cold water for 10 minutes to soften it).
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