In Perfect Harmony: Nina Daza-Puyat’s Special Noodle Dish is a Forkful of Goodness

The distinguished food expert once again shares an incredible recipe that is a balanced diet in every bite

There has always been an unspoken rule on how protein should be mixed with vegetables—it keeps the meal balanced, after all. The fresh produce perfectly counteracts with the savory flavors of the meat, making every bite extra satisfying. This balancing out of flavors is something we love to incorporate into our dishes. A popular example is the particular pairing of sweet and spicy which Filipinos are huge fans of, as the mixture of intense spiciness and refreshing sweetness undoubtedly elevates any simple dish. 

Nina Daza-Puyat, renowned food expert in the Philippine culinary landscape, shares with us a dish that perfectly embodies the balance that we all look for in a meal. The Sweet-Spicy Eggplant and Pork Vermicelli is not only a wonderful marriage of complex flavors, but is also a filling meal featuring a fusion of elements that merge perfectly together.

A perfect bite

Although Nina has shared that this is an original dish, she also explained the inspiration behind it. “It was inspired, funnily enough, by Rellenong Talong (stuffed eggplant). I love Rellenong Talong but you eat that with rice, right? It’s a favorite Filipino dish of grilled and flattened eggplant stuffed with a ground meat mixture. Knowing it pairs well with rice, it would be good with noodles as well,” shares Nina, describing her thought process behind the formulation of the Sweet-Spicy Eggplant and Pork Vermicelli. 

“I decided to translate that flavor profile into glass noodles – just to zhuzh it up a little,” she further explains. Simply put, this dish has soft and bouncy vermicelli noodles stewed in a sweet-spicy stock, generously topped with ground pork and fried eggplants strips. It’s not your garden-variety kind of
Filipino pancit, but one with a very distinct Asian flavor profile,” she further explains.

One of the things to love about this particular recipe is how satisfying every bite is, and Nina fully shares why. “Every forkful is a perfect, balanced diet. You have protein, carb, and you get fiber, vitamins, and nutrients from the vegetables. In this noodle dish, you get everything,” she says. 

From the vermicelli noodles to the savory ground meat and tender, earthy eggplant, every single component of this dish is in complete synergy with one another. Boasting an excellent union of ingredients, flavors, and textures, the Sweet-Spicy Eggplant and Pork Vermicelli should be a must-try in every Filipino household.

The Long Kow Vermicelli is Sapporo’s flagship product. To know more, feel free to check out their website.