As a child, Edwin's mom told him, "If you want to eat, you should cook it yourself." And that's exactly what he's been doing ever since.

What Makes This Spaghetti Filipino-Style?

Everyone loves spaghetti—including people in the Philippines! What I didn't realize until I came to America, however, was that Filipino-style spaghetti is very different from the American version. American spaghetti tends to be acidic, whereas Filipino spaghetti tends to be a bit sweet (we add a secret ingredient that I'll share below). Furthermore, instead of meatballs, we use hot dogs. Although I do like American spaghetti, I crave the spaghetti that I had as a child. So why not be adventurous and give this version a try?

Cook Time

Ingredients

• 1 pound spaghetti
• 4 hot dogs, sliced diagonally
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced
• 1 pound ground pork
• 2 cups tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup tomato paste
• 1 cup banana sauce (available at Asian markets)
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Cook the spaghetti according to the package directions. Drain.
2. In a large skillet, saute the hot dogs on medium heat in 1 tablespoon of oil until brown. Set the cooked hot dogs aside.
3. In the same skillet, over medium heat, saute the onions and garlic in 1 tablespoon of oil for 2 minutes. Add the ground pork and mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper, and saute for about 8 minutes until the pork is brown.
4. Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, banana sauce, and sugar. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the meat is cooked and the sauce has slightly thickened. Add 1/4 water, as needed, if the sauce becomes too thick.
5. Add the cooked hot dogs to the sauce.
6. Add the spaghetti to the skillet. Mix the pasta and sauce together. Season with salt and pepper as needed.

Variations

• Incorporate other vegetables, such as bell peppers or carrots, if desired.
• If you like spicy foods, try using the spicy variety of banana sauce.
• You can substitute ground beef for the pork, or you can use a combination of ground pork and beef.
• Top with grated cheddar cheese, or any variety of cheese desired, before serving.

Banana Sauce