Ginataang Pork Ribs with Sitaw

Today’s ulam is Ginataang Pork Ribs with Sitaw—and let me tell you, it turned out to be one of those dishes that just makes your soul happy. So, here’s how this all came about. I had a bunch of leftover sitaw (string beans) from the Ox Tail Kare-Kare I made last Sunday. You know how it goes, you get that feeling of accomplishment after cooking something like Kare-Kare, and then you look at the leftovers and think, “What am I going to do with all this?” Well, that’s exactly where the sitaw came into play today.

I have this bad habit of not blogging about every meal I cook. I always feel like I don’t have the energy or the time to record, take photos, and edit everything I make. Honestly, sometimes I wish I could magically have the energy to document all my kitchen experiments. I see other food bloggers doing it so effortlessly, and I just think, How do they do it?!

GINATAANG PORK RIBS WITH SITAW RECIPE VIDEO

Anyway, back to the story. I was originally planning to cook Chicken Adobo and just toss in the sitaw, keeping it simple. But then, as I walked through the market, I saw these beautiful pork ribs, and I thought, “Hmm, wouldn’t it be amazing to cook this with a rich, creamy coconut sauce instead?” I couldn’t resist. You know that moment when you see something and your brain just clicks into a whole new recipe idea? That was me with the pork ribs.

So, I grabbed the pork ribs and thought, “This is going to be good.” I also picked up a few other things, like coconut milk (obviously!), garlic, onions, and a few seasonings to bring everything together. And let me tell you, cooking it was so satisfying. The aroma of the pork simmering in the coconut milk with all those spices filling up the kitchen… Chef’s kiss!

What really made the dish come together was the sitaw. It added that perfect crunch and earthy flavor that balanced out the richness of the coconut sauce. It was like they were meant to be together. Plus, the pork ribs were so tender and juicy, they soaked up all the flavors. I can’t even begin to explain how good it tasted, but let me just say that it didn’t last long on the table. Everyone was going back for seconds.

Sometimes, the best meals come from those impromptu decisions—when you let your instincts guide you rather than sticking strictly to a plan. This Ginataang Pork Ribs with Sitaw was definitely one of those moments. Next time, I should probably be better at documenting these little victories, but for now, I’m just going to savor the fact that this dish turned out to be exactly what I needed today.

Oh, and by the way, this dish pairs perfectly with hot steamed rice—there’s just no other way to do it. Trust me, you’ll want that extra rice to scoop up all that creamy coconut goodness.

Maybe next time I’ll get my act together and blog about everything while I’m making it. But for now, I’ll just leave you with this little story of how a bunch of leftover sitaw turned into a delicious, comforting meal. Hope you give it a try!