Ukoy Philippine Shrimp Sweet Potato And Squash Cakes Recipes

UKOY RECIPE - FILIPINO SHRIMP FRITTERS

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, salt and ground pepper. Add the water and whisk together until well-blended and smooth. Stir in annatto/achuete powder to the mixture and mix well until color is evenly distributed.
• Add 1 cup shrimps and grated sweet potato in the mixture and lightly stir to distribute.
• Heat oil in a skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat.
• Fill a small saucer evenly with about 2-3 tablespoon of the mixture and add 2-3 more shrimps on top. Gently tilt the saucer to slide the mixture into the hot oil and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until they turn golden brown.
• Transfer the deep-fried ukoy in a plate lined with paper towel to absorb the excess oil.
• Serve while still hot with spiced vinegar.

UKOY - PHILIPPINE SHRIMP, SWEET POTATO AND SQUASH CAKES

Steps:

• Garlic sauce: 1. Crush the garlic and salt into a smooth paste. 2. Pour in the vinegar and mix the ingredients thoroughly. 3. Serve the sauce as an accompaniment ukoy. 4. Tightly covered, garlic sauce may be kept at room temperature for a day or so. Ukoy: 1. Combine the water, shrimp, annatto and salt in a heavy 1- to 1½ -quart saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 3 minutes, or until the shrimp are firm and pink. With a slotted spoon transfer the shrimp to paper towels to drain then strain and reserve the cooking liquid. 2. Add enough fresh water to the shrimp liquid to make 1¼ cups and set aside. (Traditional Philippine cooks prefer to leave the shrimp in their shells, but you may prefer to shell and de-vein them.) 3. In a deep bowl, combine the flour and cornstarch. Pour in the shrimp cooking liquid and beat until the liquid is absorbed. Then add the grated sweet potato and squash and mix well. 4. Pour the oil into a heavy 10- to 12-inch skillet. The oil should be about ½ inch deep; if necessary add more. Heat the oil until it is very hot but not smoking. 5. To make each cake, spoon about 1/3 cup of the vegetable mixture onto a saucer, sprinkle a teaspoon or two of the scallions on top and lightly press a shrimp into the center. Then holding the saucer close to the surface of the oil, slide the ukoy into it with the aid of a spoon. 6. Fry the cakes, 3 or 4 at a time, for about 3 minutes, spooning the oil over each cake; then turn them carefully and fry them for another 3 minutes, regulating the heat as needed. As each ukoy browns transfer it to paper towels to drain. 7. While hot, arrange the ukoy, shrimp side up, on a heated platter and moisten each cake with a little of the garlic sauce. Pour the remaining sauce into a bowl or sauce boat. Serve at once.

FILIPINO SHRIMP FRITTERS (UKOY OR OKOY)

Steps:

• Mix together in a bowl the flour, corn starch, egg, garlic, water, fish sauce and pepper. Mix it very well and make sure it's free from lumps and set aside.
• Wash and peel the sweet potato and carrots then grate it but in you do not have a grater, slice thinly as you can. Then slice the green onions.
• Add the sweet potato, green onions, carrots and shrimp into the batter mixture and mix well.
• In a frying pan, heat oil just enough to deep fry 2 fritters at a time. Using a slotted spoon, scoop Vege-shrimp batter allowing excess batter to drip off and place in a pan like mini pancakes, frying each side until crispy and lightly brown.
• Once cooked, drain each Ukoy fritters on a paper towel to get rid excess oil.
• Prepare the vinegar dip by mixing the last 7 ingredients and mix well, transfer in small bowl and serve warm.

UKOY (SHRIMP PATTY)

Steps:

• Sift the first five batter ingredients together in a bowl.
• Blend in the annatto water, broth and egg.
• Beat until smooth.
• Heat oil in high heat for deep-frying.
• Set aside.
• Arrange a bed of bean sprouts and green papaya in a saucer.
• Top with some green onion, tofu strips and shrimps.
• Add about 1/3 cup of batter.
• Slide the mixture carefully into the hot oil.
• Fry until crisp and brown on both sides.
• Drain.
• Serve with a mixture of vinegar and crushed garlic for dipping seasoned with salt and pepper.