RECIPES
Rainy season comfort food
Whenever I have the chance to cook for myself during the rainy days, I like to have something that is piping hot.
When I was assigned in Barcelona, Spain in the middle of the winter, I had some Champorado and Fried Herring. The chocolate-flavored Arborio rice is a wonderful comfort food for me in the absence of the usual 'malagkit' rice. In the absence of 'tuyo' (dried fish), there's always herring or local sardines in the pantry. The sweetness of the Champorado is an exciting treat to beat the coldness during the winter months.
Cooking Champorado is like cooking ordinary rice, but with an ample amount of liquid. Simmer some malagkit rice in a pot of water, dissolve four pieces of Tablea or Spanish Chocolate for every up of the rice. If Tablea is not available, use ½ cup of cocoa.
Simmer the entire mixture until it thickens but still of porridge consistency. Add some sugar and stir until the sugar has dissolved. The sweetness depends on the person eating the porridge. I prefer adding good cup of sugar. A light drizzling of evaporated milk and topping of crispy fried fish is a perfect match made in heaven.
If I don't want to eat something sweet for breakfast yet want something savory, there's always the Arroz Caldo. It's rice cooked in chicken stock with bits of fried garlic and spring onions. The aroma of simmering Arroz Caldo brings back childhood memories especially if you're alone in another land and no one is looking after you.
In cooking Arroz Caldo, sauté the ingredients, garlic and onion in cooking oil. Chicken is then added and cooked until it changes color. Put the rice and sauté for about five minutes. Afterwards, you may put the stock or water and let the liquid simmer until it thickens. Season it with some fish sauce and freshly ground pepper. Fish sauce adds a dimension in the flavor compared to adding salt. The key to a very good Arroz Caldo is if the liquid is thoroughly blended with the rice and it doesn't separate. This is best served with calamansi juice to add a little zest to the porridge.
Different cultures here in the Philippines have our own comfort food during the rainy season specially if your homesick or just looking for a plain meal to start the day.
Until next time. Ciao!