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OKRA - one of the ingredients for LASWA |
"Laswa" or vegetable soup is one of my favorite dish to eat on Sundays when my family gathers for lunch. Most especially if it is cooked by my sister in law. This Ilonggo dish is consist of squash, okra, string beans, eggplant, leaves of "tugabang" or jute and shrimps.
This dish is very versatile and healthy. Versatile because one can add other vegetables to their liking like leaves of "alugbati" and/or "takway". Or if one cannot find one or two of the veggies, it really doesn't matter coz you can still achieve the great taste and nutrition "laswa" has to offer. However, tugabang should not be missed. It's not "laswa" if its not slimy. To taste, just add salt and/or shrimp paste. My favorite way is to add seashells such as clams or nylon shells or both. It's healthy because most of the vegetables being used are greens. Green vegetables contain vitamins A, B, C, E, and K and also contain an abundance of phytonutrients (or phytochemicals) such as zeaxanthin, lutein and beta-carotene; valuable chemicals which protect cells from damage.Green leafy vegetables also contain high levels of dietary fibre, magnesium, potassium, folic acid, calcium and even Omega-3 fatty acids, which serve to maintain eye health, aid in digestive regulation, increase bone strength and boost the immune system. (Leafy Green Vegetables and Their Health Benefits: What Leafy Vegetables can do for Your Health | Suite101.com http://www.suite101.com)
To cook, wash all ingredients well, boil water then add a spoon of shrimp paste. One may also use the popular vegetable broth or shrimp cube. Add squash cut in cubes first. When squash is a little soft add sliced okra, string beans and eggplant. Add seashells. Lastly, add the tugabang or jute leaves and season to taste. Do not overcook. Add a pinch of salt to taste. It is best serve when the vegetables are still crunchy. The measurement for vegetables and other ingredients are all up to you. I like more okra in my laswa though.
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Very easy to prepare and easy on the pocket too since one can buy cut and packed mixed vegetables for laswa or pinakbet at P10 per pack only (at Libertad Market in Bacolod City) good for a family of three. No need for skinning, slicing and cutting. One just had to add a bunch of "tugabang" or jute at P5, a "tumpok" of nylon shell costs P15 and one can buy shrimp paste at P2-P5. Great!
