We are now entering the second wave of the extended Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) because of Covid-19. Many homemakers are now going crazy stretching the family budget, especially that most are already operating on funds for emergency savings. Majority of breadwinners have “no work, no pay” status. Here’s an ulam suggestion that’s below 100 pesos and can already feed the whole family. Sharing with you my pork skin kilawin recipe. Yummy na, tipid pa. Perfect for the summer season, too!

• Related: Stay At Home – Plead Doctors and Nurses Amid Covid-19

Staying at Home

The government has mandated the ECQ in order to force most people to stay at home. This is not to eradicate the dreaded virus by the deadline but to flatten the curve as health protocols are put in place. The fewer people interacting with each other, the less likely that Covid-19 will spread because there is no new host to live in or infect.

• Related: Continuous Wearing of Face Masks and Frequent Hand Washing Fight Covid-19

But this also means no business, no work, no salaries, no commissions, and no sales. MEANING: NO INCOME. We are trying to stretch our budget as much as we can, so I am also thinking of affordable meals for my family.

And I am sharing them with you, too, in the hopes that my homecooking recipes will also help you get through the economic crisis that Covid-19 brought us.

• Related: Teaching Kids How to Budget Money

Sardine Meals

In this light, sharing with you the sardine recipes that I have created. These are budget meals for your family to share using the pambansang ulam – sardinas in tomato sauce.

• Sardine Java Rice: A Filipino Family Meal Below P50
• Frittata: 50-peso-Dish for a Family of 5 from Covid-19 Relief Packs
• Sardine Spaghetti Aglio Olio Recipe: 50-Peso Dish During Family Quarantine

Craving for Pork Skin Kilawin

However, I know that sardines can get to you after having it for some time. But pork and beef, even fish, are in the hundreds of pesos per kilo. So what to do when resources are running low?

Since, I have been craving for something with vinegar due to my PMS, I thought of making kilawin. The Kilawin, from the root word “kilaw”, is cooking food using “vinegar”. This usually applies to seafood, where these are steeped in seasoned vinegar and served with some condiments.

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As for pork, however, it requires cooking to tenderize the meat as well as to “clean” it. It’s yummy, appetizing, and so cheap.

Pork kilawin is usually served as a “pulutan”, or the pica that we eat while having a drinking session. But it can also be eaten with rice and it is actually so appetizing!

Homecook’s Disclaimer

This pork skin kilawin recipe is a budget ulam but not exactly a healthy one. I am just looking for ways to make the family meal times budget-friendly and more exciting.

• Related: Importance of Family Meals

However, if you have pre-existing health conditions, I suggest that you only consume a little portion or totally avoid it. Since this dish is primarily made of pork skin, it is high in fat and cholesterol. With the seasonings, it is also a bit high in sodium. So eat moderately because hospitalization is much more expensive.

Kilawin Budget

This is just an approximation of the costs for this dish. Prices of vegetables and meat fluctuate almost every day. Additionally, there are things you can add or omit, like the salted egg, Indian mango, and peanuts. You may also add black beans if you want.

• ½ kilo pork skin – P60.00
• Onions, ginger, garlic, laurel leaf – P10.00
• Peanuts – P5.00
• Salted egg – P14.00
• Soy sauce, vinegar, kalamansi, etc – P10.00

Total – P99.00

Without the salted egg, the Pork Kilawin is only P85 and can already fill a big serving bowl. It can serve a family of 5 and you may still have some leftover for the next meal.

Related: Snack Time: Pandesal Creations During Quarantine | Merzci Bakeshop

Pork Skin Kilawin Recipe

Since this is a salad, there are many optional items. I included Indian mango because it makes the dish all the more appetizing. It is also in season and is pretty common in many people’s backyards.

Ingredients:

• ½ kilo pork skin
• Onions, ginger, garlic, and laurel leaf for boiling
• 1 Onion, chopped
• 2 Tbsps. sliced ginger
• 2 kalamansi
• Soy sauce
• Sukang Pinakurat or spiced vinegar
• Salt and sugar
• Sliced Indian mango, optional
• Ground peanuts, optional
• Sliced salted egg, optional

*Note: I used Sukang Pinakurat because I have it on hand. I prefer to use this because it is already seasoned. But if you have spicy vinegar, you can still use it, too, provided that you season it well.

Procedure:

Clean the pork skin. Remove hairs and scrape off a bit.

In a pot, boil water and salt. Blanch the pork skin for about five minutes while water in on rolling boil. Drain the water.

Again, boil water in a pot. Add some salt and the aromatic vegetables, including ginger, onions, garlic, and laurel leaf. Boil the pork skin for about 15 minutes. Do not overcook or the skin would become too soft. We are after the chewy consistency.

Remove from water and drain. When cool enough to handle, slice the pork skin into strips.

In a big bowl, I mixed 1/4 cup Sukang Pinakurat, 3 Tbsps. soy sauce, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1 Tbsp. sugar. This is your vinaigrette. While I kept slicing, I put the slices there and tossed in order to soak the pork in the vinegar solution.

Mix in all the rest of the ingredients. Toss around well to coat the pork with the dressing. You may need to add more vinegar and adjust the seasonings, especially if your kilawin is too dry.

Let it soak for at least 30 minutes before serving. Toss again when you are ready to eat. Serve with steamed white rice.

Enjoy my Pork Skin Kilawin Recipe.

Other homecooking recipes

Meanwhile, here are other recipes you might want to try at home.

• Arroz Caldo Recipe: How to Liven Up This Comfort Food
• Easy to Cook Homemade Pork Sisig Recipe
• DIY Shabu-shabu Hot Pot Recipe for the Family
• How to Cook KBL (Kadyos, Baboy, Langka): Ilonggo Comfort Food
• Health Benefits of Oyster Mushrooms + Recipe
• Suaje on the Rocks Recipe
• Creamy Baked Scallops with with Sliced Potato Recipe
• Balut Recipes for the Craving Mama
• Cha Misua | Chinese Birthday Misua Recipe
• Baked 40-Clove Garlic Chicken Recipe (Modified)
• Cooking with Crab Fat Paste (Aligue)
• Cooking with Chorizo | Cocina Estella Spanish Chorizo
• Shrimp Etouffee: A Cajun Seafood Recipe