Delata Delights: Corned Beef with Alugbati Leaves + Sardines Spinach a la Cubana

Yey! It's a long weekend again. Time to relax, watch movie marathons, laze around for hours, discover outdoor activities, engage in new hobbies, EAT, EAT and EAT some more!  

I enjoy eating as much as cooking. But there are days when I just want to eat and skip the cumbersome experimentation part. During those days, I find canned goods as a reliable source of nom nom. However, I can't help and I always find myself in the kitchen spicing the canned goods with any greens I can find in our fridge. Here are two of my recent dishes.

Corned Beef with Alugbati Leaves   

My mom's doctor prescribed that she eat more greens to help manage her anemia.  We heed the doctor's advice and bought a bunch of Alugbati (Malabar Spinach) and spinach leaves. We pretty much threw them in on almost every dish we cook.  

The Recipe 

Corned Beef [any brand]
Onions [1 head, sliced]
Garlic [5 cloves, minced]
Tomato Paste [2 tablespoons]
Alugbati* [To taste]
Pepper  [To taste]
Olive oil [1 tablespoon]

Directions

1. Saute garlic, onions in olive oil until translucent. 
2. Add tomato paste and corned beef. Let it simmer. 
3. Throw in the Alugbati leaves. Don't overcook. 
4. Season with salt. I don't add salt anymore as canned goods are usually loaded with sodium. 

*Alugbati taste similar to young corn and thyme combined. It has a earthy flavor. So if you are not a fan of such flavor, add it moderately in your dishes.    

Sardines Spinach a la Cubana

The Recipe 

Canned Sardines [any brand]
Onions [1 head, sliced]
Garlic [5 cloves, minced]
Spinach* [To taste]
Pepper  [To taste]
Olive oil [1 tablespoon]

Directions

1. Fry saba bananas and set aside. 
2. Saute garlic, onions in olive oil until translucent. 
3. Add canned sardines. 
4. Throw in the Spinach leaves. Don't overcook. 
5. Season with salt. I don't add salt anymore as canned goods are usually loaded with sodium. 
6. Top the sauteed dish with fried saba. 

These meals are also lifesavers when you are on a tight budget. It's a cheap treat that does not scrimp on the good nutrients. 

Alugbati and other spinach varieties are said to be rich in folic acid, which is essential for the creation of red blood cells and development of the brain. Read more on Alugbati's health benefits here.