Chicharon Bulaklak Surprise!

Ingredients:

• 633g isaw (Pig intestine)
  
• 1tbsp asin (table salt)
• Oregano, basil, whole pepper corn (any herbs yah like)
• Lara (Chilies)
• Taba (Cooking oil)
• Dipping: vinegar, lara and crushed bawang (garlic)

Procedure:

1. Prepare the ingredients.
2. Snip parts of the intestines so you can insert the herbs inside.
3. Boil the intestines with 1 tbsp of salt for 10min.
4. Prepare the intestine for the microwave. The idea here is to render the fat from the intestines and the drippings should stay on the bottom of the dish.
5. Cover the dish with a cling wrap to seal the heat pressure.
6. Set the microwave for 10min.
7. Set aside the intestine (dry it out) while you prepare for deep frying.
8. Make sure the oil is hot enough (250ºC).
9. Fry the intestines until they puff up (3-5 minutes).
10. Cut the intestines in serving size. I remove the middle part of the intestine.
11. Drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
12. Serve with vinegar with lara and bawang.

The surprise there are the hidden chilies and pepper corns. While making “Toma” with your friends it adds thrill because you can never tell if the piece you’ll be eating has lara inside unless you open up the piece before you eat. My dad always gets the “hot pieces” and starts throwing “P !nas” around. But that didn’t stop him from taking another bite. Hehe they are like box of chocolates you’ll never know what you’re gonna get.

You can put any herbs yah like. It just so happens that I have more than enough oreganos and basil in my garden. The herbs in a little way counteracts the cholesterol.

Aside from the antiseptic properties of oregano it is also a good source of fiber. A diet high in fiber helps manage weight, reduces risk of colon cancer and increases breakdown of cholesterol in the body and it helps in indigestion. “Basil helps prevent free radicals from oxidizing cholesterol in the blood stream. Only after it has been oxidized does cholesterol build up in blood vessel walls, initiating the development of atherosclerosis, whose end result can be a heart attack or stroke.” http://www.whfoods.com. “Chilies have antioxidants that can destroy cholesterol which could cause major disease like atherosclerosis and other heart diseases.” - http://www.chilly.in/chilli_benefits.htm

I removed the middle part of the intestine because that is where the evil cholesterol lurks. My dad insisted on eating it. I can’t argue that it is the best tasting part so we both compromise.  I will let him eat it after I render more fat from it. It wasn’t a shock to see the result. Just look at the picture I got 38g of cholesterol from the 71g of the intestine’s middle part. I got 229g of cholesterol from the whole 633g of isaw!!! That’s Eiw! But you know you have to enjoy life sometimes. By the way everything is worth 1475 calories.

            If you want shortcut just omit the boiling and go straight with the microwave.

1. Season with garlic seasoning, snip, stuff in the herbs.
2. Microwave.
3. Deep-fry.
4. Paper towel dry and serve with vinegar.