Adobong Puso ng Saging

Method

1. Remove tough outer bracts, discard hard florets, and slice the tender banana blossom thinly.
2. Soak 15 minutes in salted acidulated water, squeeze firmly, rinse, and drain. Repeat if the liquid remains very dark or bitter.
3. Brown pork in oil, or sauté shrimp until almost cooked and remove it for later.
4. Cook garlic and onion in the same pan until softened.
5. Add the blossom and sauté 4–5 minutes, until wilted.
6. Pour in soy sauce, vinegar, water, and bay leaf. Let the vinegar boil 2 minutes before stirring.
7. Simmer 10–15 minutes, until tender and the sauce reduced. Return shrimp only for the final 2 minutes.
8. Finish with pepper and optional sugar, then serve with rice.