Chef Ed Dychauco, RN
(May 16, 2013)
What comes into our mind whenever we hear the word “wraps”? Can it be a
piece of cloth that covers a part of our body? Or can it be a piece of paper
that covers a gift for giving?
But since we are food lovers, then we should be pertaining to nothing
else but something that covers pieces of food that eventually would get into
our mouths! What else?
A fad that has been going strong for some time, this can both be
healthy, hearty, and bad depending on what is in it. The wrap itself plays an
important part of the meal itself. It can be plain, made of whole wheat, or
incorporated with healthy stuffs like spinach, garlic pesto, sun-dried tomatoes
and others.
Now, what is a wrap by the way? It actually looks like a piece of very
thin bread, like a piece of lumpia wrapper. Maybe it can also be a called a
distant cousin of the very popular “crepe”. It is available in supermarkets or
it can also be home-made. But why take time in making them when they are
readily available?
The good thing with this is that this wrap itself is already good by
itself, whether as it is or heated up in oven, toaster or pan. I like it a bit
“crispy” on the sides while maintaining the middle part soft so I can roll it
well without the filling falling over when I start biting into it.
Think of the “wrap” as a piece of bread, but just workable and bigger.
So, whatever you can put into your bread, one can technically put anything in
it, both savory & sweet.
Personally, I always look forward to this “meal” (I really consider
this a meal!) any time of the day, be as a breakfast item, lunch, dinner or
even as snack item! Again, depending on what I really put into it for that
delicious treat! What about midnight snacks, too?
To start with, I always heat up my wrap. Then I start putting in the
“fillings” I enjoy. It could be anything ranging from fresh greens like
lettuce, onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, garlic, carrots, celery, to anything
that is pickled (that should really give it a twist!) with that sour, sweet, spicy
add on.
For most part, it would be any processed meats like spiced ham, sweet
ham, turkey, bologna, salami, sausages and various cheeses like feta, cheddar,
swiss, jack’s, and many others.
Next on the list can be any home-made left overs, say pieces of
letchon, fish fillets, adobo flakes, humba, kaldereta, pork & beans,
embotido, pork chop, letchon manok, or even those morning left-overs like
tocino, tapa, corned beef, chorizo, longganiza, hotdog, srambled or sunny-side
up eggs, etc. (that is if there are still anything left!)
I try to chop them into smaller pieces for a better chew of course. And
easier wrapping for easier (and faster) eating!
If the left overs has sauce, then that takes care of it. But if there
is none, I might add some condiments like catsup, mayonnaise, pickles or pickle
relish, mustard to bring it the next level. Or maybe some gravy. And even a
dash of hot pepper if there is a need!
And for the vegetarians, this goes well with any fresh or cooked
vegetables like pinakbet, rellenong talong, laing, sari-sari, guisadong
ampalaya, guinataang kalabasa… hey! The list can go on! It just takes a little
imagination & lots of appetite!
The good thing with this type of food is that it can be eaten formally
(if you prefer to call it such), depending on the presentation, slice it into
smaller pieces, plate it well and voila! An elegant meal by itself!
It can also be an “eat & run” meal, an over-the-counter on the go
meal, a fast food item (which this belong to for now) and is getting extremely
well-liked & trendy, especially to the busy people.
I should say this fashionable item should be pocket-friendly. Again
depending where one gets it and what is inside it.
Also, this is one food item that can be prepared ahead of time, wrapped
well, frozen and then re-heated when needed for that quick fix any time of the
day! What a convenient way of eating!
To recap, this well-liked food item can be a regular staple in our
refrigerators as long as we have the basic ingredients: wraps, veggies, meats,
condiments. And it doesn’t have to be expensive at all!
I always say, we need a well-balanced meal, so with those said, let’s
enjoy a great, good meal!
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