Authentic Visayan Paklay (Paklay ng Visaya)
Paklay is a traditional Filipino offal stew from the Visayas and Mindanao regions that combines julienned beef tripe, liver, and heart with fresh pineapple, bamboo shoots, and aromatics in a delicately balanced sweet-sour broth, typically seasoned with tamarind, fish sauce, and chilies. This resourceful dish exemplifies Filipino cuisine's knack for transforming humble ingredients into flavorful meals, with its signature contrasts coming from the tender meat, crisp vegetables, and bright acidity from tropical fruits. Often served with rice, this hearty stew varies by region, with some versions incorporating atsuete for color or using different souring agents like balimbing or green mango.
Equipment
- Large stockpot (for boiling tripe)
- Sharp knife and cutting board (for julienning ingredients)
- Wok or deep skillet (for final cooking)
- Colander (for draining tripe)
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Wooden spoon or spatula (for stirring)
Ingredients
For the Meat
- ½ kilo beef tripe tuwalya, julienned
- ¼ kilo beef liver atay, julienned
- ¼ kilo beef heart puso, julienned
For the Vegetables and Aromatics
- 3 cups fresh young pineapple pinya, julienned
- 3 cups bamboo shoots labong, julienned
- 1 red/green bell pepper paminta, sliced
- 1 carrot karot, julienned
- 1 large onion sibuyas, chopped
- 1 head garlic bawang, minced
- 2 thumb-size ginger luya, julienned
- 3 pcs siling haba long green chilies
- 2 pcs siling labuyo bird's eye chilies
For the Seasoning
- 1-2 tablespoon sampalok sinigang mix optional
- ¼ cup fish sauce patis
- Salt asin at paminta to taste
- Cooking oil mantika
- 3-4 pieces bay leaves dahon ng laurel
Instructions
- Clean the tripe thoroughly under running water. Fill a large pot with 8 cups of water and add the tripe, 1 tablespoon salt, bay leaves, and whole peppercorns. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for about 1.5 hours or until the tripe is tender. Once done, save 2 cups of the broth and drain the tripe. Let it cool, then cut into thin strips.
- While waiting for the tripe to cool, prepare your other ingredients: Cut the liver and heart into thin strips. Julienne the pineapple, bamboo shoots, and carrots. Chop the onion, mince the garlic, and julienne the ginger. Slice the bell pepper and chilies.
- Heat oil in a large wok or deep pan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until light golden, about 1 minute. Add ginger and onion, cooking until the onion becomes clear and soft, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the julienned tripe, liver, and heart to the pan. Stir-fry for 5 minutes. Add the pineapple, carrots, and bamboo shoots, then pour in the fish sauce. Cook everything together for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Pour in the 2 cups of reserved broth and add the sampaloc mix if using. Let it come to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 8-10 minutes until the liquid reduces by half.
- Add the chilies and bell pepper. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for a final 3 minutes.
- Serve hot with steamed rice. For extra flavor, serve with calamansi on the side.
- For the best taste, let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to settle. The sauce should be slightly thick and coat the ingredients well. If it's too watery, simmer for a few more minutes. If too dry, add a splash of the reserved broth.
Tips from Lola's Kitchen
- Boil tripe with lemongrass (tanglad) for extra aroma
- Cut ingredients in similar sizes for even cooking
- For more sourness, add fresh tamarind (sampalok) or green mango
- Use atsuete (annatto) oil for a traditional reddish color
- Remove the seeds from chilies for less heat
Traditional Serving Suggestions
- Serve hot with steamed white rice (kanin)
- Pair with calamansi on the side
- Garnish with spring onions (sibuyas na mura)
- Best enjoyed as a main dish for lunch or dinner
- Perfect for "pulutan" (appetizer with drinks)
Troubleshooting
- Tough Tripe: Extend boiling time and add vinegar to tenderize
- Too Sour: Add a pinch of sugar to balance
- Too Spicy: Add more pineapple or coconut milk
- Too Salty: Add more vegetables or broth
Ingredient Alternatives
- Tripe: Can use goat or pork tripe
- Pineapple: Green mango or balimbing (starfruit)
- Bamboo shoots: Young jackfruit or banana heart
- Siling haba: Bell peppers for less heat
- Sampalok mix: Fresh tamarind or calamansi juice
Storage & Reheating
- Refrigerate in airtight container for up to 3 days
- Freeze for up to 1 month
- Reheat on stovetop over medium heat
- Add water if needed while reheating
- Don't freeze if using fresh pineapple
Variations
- Paklay Kambing: Use goat meat and tripe
- Spicy Paklay: Double the chilies
- Veggie-loaded: Add sayote and string beans
- Coconut Paklay: Add coconut milk for creaminess
FAQs
Q: Why julienne the ingredients? A: This traditional cutting style allows for better absorption of flavors and faster cooking. Q: How do I know if the tripe is clean enough? A: It should be completely white with no yellow spots or strong odor. Q: Can I make this dish less spicy? A: Yes, reduce or omit the chilies according to preference. Q: How long can I store leftover Paklay? A: 3 days in the refrigerator or 1 month in the freezer. Q: Why is my sauce too watery? A: Simmer longer to reduce liquid, or use less broth initially.
Nutrition
Calories: 320kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 28gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.02gSodium: 771mgPotassium: 123mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 1740IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 18mgIron: 1mg
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