Rainy Habagat nights stir up a craving for hot and hearty soup that you can easily whip in minutes after a long work or school day.

Skip the slow cooking process without sacrificing taste with AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning, a well-loved flavor enhancer widely used to intensify deliciousness in vegetable recipes, meat dishes, sauces, broths, soups and a lot more. 

Give ingredients like vegetables, meats, and seafood a mouthwatering, savory boost by adding a “tak, tak, tak” of MSG, the purest form of umami. MSG does not add extra calories, unnecessary color or complex tastes. It brings depth of flavor while helping you reduce your sodium intake because MSG contains only about one-third of the sodium found in table salt.   

Here are two easy soup recipes from Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC)’s Cookmunity website to bookmark for the rainy months:

Egg Drop Soup

Perfect for cozy evenings, this comforting soup evokes cherished childhood memories and the delight of being safe at home with the family. One sip and that burst of umami can melt away stress and help rehydrate the body.  

Ingredients

6 cups (1500ml) Water

1/2 cup (65g) Carrots, cubed

2/3 cup (80g) Corn kernel, canned

2/3 cup (80g) Green peas, canned

3 Tbsps. (30g) Cornstarch

5 Tbsps. (75ml) Water for slurry

1 pack (11g) AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning

4 pcs. (200g) Eggs, beaten

1 Tbsp. (15ml) Water for egg mixture

1 tsp. (5g) Salt

1/2 tsp. (3ml) Sesame oil

Procedure

BOIL. In a pot, boil water. Once boiling, add carrots, corn and green peas. In a separate bowl, mix cornstarch and water to make a slurry. Once vegetables are cooked, add cornstarch slurry.

SEASON. Add AJI-NO-MOTO® and salt then mix well. In a bowl, whisk eggs and water. Add egg mixture to the pot gradually while mixing. Turn off heat and add salt and sesame oil.

SERVE. Transfer onto serving bowls and enjoy. Can be garnished with spring onions.

Molo Soup

Meaty and garlicky, Molo soup is a beloved Filipino classic can be more flavorful with AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning. This savory broth soothes the senses and provides comforting nourishment. 

Ingredients    

1 3/4 cups (375g) Pork, ground

1/2 cup (100g) Potato, minced

1/4 cup (35g) Carrots, minced

1/2 pc. (30g) White onions, minced

1 pc. (50g) Egg, beaten

1 tsp. Salt

20 pcs. Molo wrapper

2 Tbsps. (30ml) Cooking oil

1 Tbsp. (15g) Red onions, minced

1 Tbsp. (15g) Garlic, minced

4 cups (1000ml) Water

1 1/2 Tbsps. (20g) AJINOMOTO® Chicken Powder

1 Tbsp. (15g) Soy Sauce

1 pack (11g) AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning

3 Tbsps. (20g) Spring onions, chopped

2 Tbsps. (10) Toasted garlic

Procedure

MIX. In a large bowl, mix pork, potato, carrots, white onions, egg, and salt.

MOLD. Take 1 tsp. of the mixture and place it in the middle of the molo wrapper. Dampen the molo wrapper with beaten egg to seal. Repeat until finished.

SAUTE. In a pot, heat oil to sauté red onions and garlic until fragrant.

SIMMER. Add water and AJINOMOTO® Chicken Powder, wait for it to simmer.

UMAMI-MIX. Add soy sauce and AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning and stir.

SIMMER. Add molo dumplings onto the pot. Cook for 5-8 minutes.

SERVE. Transfer onto serving bowl and garnish with spring onions and toasted garlic.

Before a meal even reaches the table, science is at work making it memorable. Beyond sweet, sour, salty, and bitter lies umami—the fifth basic taste that provides a deep, savory linamnam. This July, Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC) celebrates Umami Month and World Umami Day to highlight the history, science, and everyday culinary joy of this flavor.

Umami was discovered in 1908 by Japanese scientist Kikunae Ikeda, who isolated glutamate from kombu (kelp) broth. This breakthrough led to the creation of AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning, the world’s first umami seasoning. Today, umami remains the "heart" of the Ajinomoto Group as they explore how it can elevate simple ingredients and support better eating habits.

Beat the rainy-day blues with this simple, comforting Beef Pares Mami recipe available on the Cookmunity by AjinomotoPH website.

Beef Pares Mami with AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning

SAUTE. In a pot, sear beef until brown. Set aside. In the same pot, add cooking oil then sauté garlic, onion, and ginger. Add the seared beef.

BOIL. Add water then season with star anise, peppercorn, white sugar, soy sauce, and AJI-NO-MOTO®. Boil until beef is tender.

SERVE. Assemble noodles in individual bowls, add the soup and meat, then garnish with half slice of egg topped with toasted garlic and spring onions. Enjoy!

Beyond enhancing flavor, umami offers distinct wellness benefits. It stimulates saliva production to aid digestion, makes food easier to chew and swallow for older adults, and signals the brain to promote a feeling of fullness.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG), the seasoning central to umami, is often misunderstood. It is actually made from natural ingredients like corn and cassava through a fermentation process similar to making yogurt or vinegar. Global and local food safety authorities, including the WHO and the Philippine FDA, recognize MSG as safe.

Additionally, MSG supports healthier cooking. APC’s BawAsin® program demonstrates how umami can reduce dietary salt. Because MSG contains roughly 66% less sodium than regular table salt, using it properly can slash a dish's sodium content by up to 40% without sacrificing taste.

Through the science of umami, the Ajinomoto Group across the globe proves that delicious meals and responsible nutrition go hand in hand. This Umami Month, APC invites families to cook with umami and MSG to experience how small changes can impact everyday wellness and help everyone “Eat Well, Live Well.”

The holidays are all about gathering around a meal and making memories — and what better way to celebrate the season than with a special feast from the heart? Christmas dinners are a time for families to go all out with flavorful dishes, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be healthy too! 

As our gift to you this December, we’re bringing you Holiday Healthy recipes that will help you share the cheer with the whole family! From fresh pastas to nourishing mains that hit the spot, these dishes will help you make memories to look back on for many years to come! Let’s Eat Well and Live Well to make this season healthy, bright, and delicious! 

Vegan Meatball One-Pot Pasta

Wanna make sure everyone is happy while also keeping your to-do list short? This one-pot wonder is perfect for the busy holiday cook, while providing a healthy, plant-based pair to the usual hearty mains.

Steps to Make:

• Mix cauliflower, kangkong, tofu, garlic, AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning, salt, and flour in a bowl. Scoop a tablespoon of the mixture and mold it into balls. Pan-fry the vegan meatballs in hot oil until golden brown, then drain and set aside.
• In the same pot, sauté garlic and onion in additional oil until fragrant. Add tomatoes and tomato paste, then cook until soft. Pour in water and bring to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente.
• Once the pasta is cooked, season with AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning, salt, black pepper, and brown sugar. Add the fried vegan meatballs and mix well. Transfer to a serving plate, garnish with parsley and Parmesan if desired, and serve!

Malunggay Pesto Pasta

This bright and healthy dish will bring a pop of greens to your table – something to cut through all those heavy dishes! 

Steps to Make:

• Blend malunggay leaves, basil, garlic, peanuts, Parmesan, olive oil, AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning, and pepper until smooth.
• Toss the cooked pasta with the malunggay pesto until well coated.
• Transfer to a serving plate, serve, and enjoy!

Lemongrass Chicken with Garlic Tamarind Sauce

This warm and aromatic main course combines the fresh scent of lemongrass with tender chicken; a perfect centerpiece around to build your meal, made with ingredients with good amounts of Vitamin B6 and protein!

Steps to Make:

• Combine lemongrass, garlic, AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning, calamansi, black pepper, coco sugar, and chicken in a bowl. Mix well and let it marinate in the fridge for at least 15 minutes.
• In a saucepan, combine tamarind, garlic, coconut milk, water, AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning, and coco sugar. Simmer for about 15 minutes until the sauce thickens, then set aside.
• Heat oil in a griddle pan and grill the marinated chicken for 5 minutes on each side or until cooked through.
• Serve the grilled chicken with the sauce on the side. 

Chicken Cajun Pasta

A spicy surprise to heat up the cooler season, this balanced and bold pasta dish is the perfect way to spice up your holiday menu. It’s a guaranteed hit for any guests who love a little kick.

Steps to Make:

• Heat oil and butter in a pot, then add chicken and cook until golden brown. Add onions and sauté until translucent, then stir in tomatoes and French beans. Cook for 3 minutes.
• Add penne pasta, cream cheese, Cajun spice mix (smoked paprika, oregano, thyme, AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning, and cayenne powder), and mix well. Cook for 3-5 minutes.
• Transfer to a serving platter, garnish with spring onions if desired, and serve. 

Creamy Salmon Garlic

Pairing fresh and tender salmon with a creamy garlic sauce, this showstopper is great for any festive gathering. Show some holiday spirit to your family and friends with this blast of flavors! 

Steps to Make:

• Heat oil and butter in a pot, then add chicken and cook until golden brown. Add onions and sauté until translucent, then stir in tomatoes and French beans. Cook for 3 minutes.
• Add penne pasta, cream cheese, Cajun spice mix (smoked paprika, oregano, thyme, AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning, and cayenne powder), and mix well. Cook for 3-5 minutes.
• Transfer to a serving platter, garnish with spring onions, and serve. 

Holidays are best celebrated with food that brings everyone together, and these recipes are great ways to make your gatherings extra special. Each nutritious dish is crafted to fill your home with warmth, flavor, and joy, creating moments and memories worth savoring. 

As you prepare your holiday feast, remember that the best ingredient is always the time spent with family and friends. Let these recipes inspire meals that keep the family healthy, happy, and full. 

Happy Holidays, Ka-Cookmunity! 

Visit Cookmunity by Ajinomoto Philippines for more festive recipe ideas. You may also connect with us through Facebook and Tiktok for more updates.

It is that time of the year again when kids have finally done all the activities they looked forward to for the summer. They already engaged in different hobbies and even tried new things that might soon be their regular routine during vacation, but now, it’s time they get back to the books and add more learning experiences at school as this new school year begins!

One of the challenges most parents face when classes resume would be having to think about what meals to prepare for their kids. Lunch is also one single meal kids shouldn’t miss, but sometimes, students who’ve had a long morning couldn’t help but look for something different other than their usual packed meals from the house. They may end up exploring different food choices in the canteen. Although flavorful, these meals may not include options that will contribute to the needed energy and nutrients these kids need to get through the day. Good thing, that with the resources we have including the vast information online, the usual questions of “what do I now prepare for my kids?”  no longer have to be left unanswered! 

It’s time to make your kitchen the happiest and busiest part of your home as you can now recreate these amazing dishes and make them more special with Ajinomoto products. These are sure to turn packed lunches into packed excitement in a box! 

COMFORT FOOD AT ITS BEST

Chicken Adobo with Sarsaya® Oyster Sauce  https://www.cookmunitybyajinomoto.com/recipes/chicken-adobo/

Stir-fried Tofu with Vegetables using AJI-NO-MOTO Umami Seasoning  https://www.cookmunitybyajinomoto.com/recipes/stir-fried-tofu-with-vegtables-recipe/

AJINOMOTO Soup & Go®

Take inspiration from your kids’ adventurous side! These recipes are guides you can either follow to the tea or personalize them with your own twist! With Ajinomoto, making these recipes your own not only enhances the experience of cooking, but it also elevates the mealtime moments! 

Share your ideas by commenting on our posts on the Ajinomoto Cookmunity pages on Facebook and TikTok, and find more recipes on www.cookmunitybyajinomoto.com to include in your weekly food preparations for your kids now that school is back! 

This nutrition month, Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC) is excited to share recipes that will make your July jam packed with flavorful experiences without  compromising the nutritional value of every meal.  If there was a match-made-in-heaven experience in getting the right amount of nutrients while at the same time enjoying such flavorful dishes, it would definitely be the pairing of superfoods and the umami flavor, which is one of the basic five tastes, that includes sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. Umami is a Japanese word that translates to a delicious savory taste. Oftentimes, it is described as a meaty and savory deliciousness that deepens the flavor of every bite. 

Food being delicious and savory is quite common in describing  gourmet dishes but can the same be said about Superfoods? These food types are not so popular when it comes to flavor but on the otherhand, they have other benefits such as  cancer fighting properties  and nutrients that prevent heart disease.  If you wonder why they’re easily called “superfoods”, it’s simply because they are able to do more than just alleviate hunger.  According to research superfoods are packed  with antioxidants, fiber, and phytochemicals that nourish your body.  

Luckily here in the country, these superfoods are easy to find, convenient to grow, and readily available anywhere. Considering that here in the Philippines, there is always a local store or sari-sari store that carry them as products. Examples of these superfoods  found locally are moringa leaves or known locally as malunggay, guava, or bayabas, calamansi, sitaw, pomelo or suha among many others.  

With all these superfoods found ready and available locally, there’s just no excuse not to live a life where you’re not able to Eat Well and Live Well. Just be sure that you are  well stocked with these superfoods!  

Here are some recipes you can use for your next family meal,  baon at work, or even just  a simple dish preparation to satisfy your random cravings. 

Orange Tofu with SARSAYA® Oyster Sauce 

Those who love the Chinese restaurant staple orange chicken or lemon chicken are in for a treat with this recipe! You can begin with your sliced tofu cubes as you coat them with cornstarch,  salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Make sure to coat all sides! That will ensure that perfect crunch! Afterwards, you may now concoct your special orange sauce by heating cooking oil and sautéing the garlic. Add orange juice and our SARSAYA® OYSTER SAUCE, give it a whisk until well incorporated. Add cornstarch and water mixture to thicken sauce and set aside.  

Now we make our tofu crispy! In a deep pan, heat oil and deep fry coated tofu cubes until crunchy. Finally, we mix cooked tofu onto the orange saucepan. Garnish with sesame seeds and spring onions. Then transfer this perfect meat alternative dish onto a serving plate and enjoy! 

Cheese and Malunggay Fish Fillet Rolls  

Ah, a fried dish that everyone will surely find joy in preparing and devouring. Who doesn’t like fried rolls? It’s time you add Cheese and Malunggay Fish Fillet Rolls to your mastered recipes because this dish  was made for people of all ages. Your cooking adventure begins by seasoning cream dory with garlic, ginger, AJI-GINISA®, parsley, and lemon. Let it marinate for at least 10 minutes. Our cream dory fish filets will absorb the meaty-gisa taste from our AJI-GINISA®. Once you’re through with the first step, it’s now time to roll by placing mozzarella and malunggay leaves in the middle of the fish filets and roll. Time to get that crunch! To achieve this, you must make sure that you coat fish filet rolls with flour, egg then breadcrumbs well, before your last and final step, deep fry, and serve! Now fried food lovers have their own favorite sauce pairing, and with this dish, ketchup, mustard, or maybe even sweet & sour sauce should do it!  

Sinigang na Bangus sa Bayabas 

Tamarind for souring agent? Done that. Vinegar as a sour base? Love that. But do you know what special souring agent you can try? Ripe guava or hinog na bayabas is waiting to be your grand champion for these types of dishes! But we’re sharing an exclusive tip for you guys, sour soups or bases can be leveled up by adding AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning! To prepare, begin by boiling water in a pot. Place ripe guava, tomato, and whole peppercorn and cook until you can mush it with fork. Add the bangus to the pot and cook for 10 minutes. Add fish sauce then boil for another 5 minutes. Drop the okra, green chillies, and kangkong leaves to the pot. Season with AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning. Finally, close the lid and let it rest for 5 minutes before transferring onto a serving bowl for everyone to savor! 

Umami and superfoods are indeed a formidable pair for meals that are supposed to make you feel good and nourish your body. These recipes are up to you to modify, and you can do it even after Nutrition month because superfoods are abundant in our homeland, and Ajinomoto products that carry the umami flavor are definitely easy to find, it’s so easy that even your nearest sari-sari store or community store has it. 

This Nutrition Month, APC would like to celebrate this worldwide recognition of celebrating our health and food experiences by sharing with you easy recipes that we hope become your household staple! Of course, with your own twist to it! Happy Nutrition Month, Philippines!  

For more recipes, visit Cookmunity by Ajinomoto Philippines. You may also connect with us through Facebook  and Tiktok for more updates. 

Breakfast is undoubtedly the most important meal of the day. It sets the mood for how you start your mornings and essentially becomes your fuel to kickstart your tasks, may it be in school, at the office, at home, or anywhere you’re meant to be for the day. 

Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC), considers this as a vital part of one’s twenty-four hour period, especially here in the Philippines, as it launches its first easy-to-make breakfast that takes less than a minute to prepare! This is the perfect companion for those on-the-go, and also for those who want a hassle free quick breakfast that doesn’t compromise nutritional value and that savory flavor. 

For the first time ever, a live demonstration on how to prepare the Ajinomoto Soup & Go® was celebrated at the Konbini. (A Japanese term for convenience store) Located in Market Market Taguig, the pop-up store is a site to see in the middle of the mall’s open space near the terminals, that mimics a real life convenience store which sells Ajinomoto products. 

This will surely catch everyone’s attention and excite you to explore what is in its glass walls. Graced by APC President Mr. Koichi Ozaki, Mr. Koichi himself demonstrates how easy it is to prepare the tasty breakfast soup. All that is needed is to have your own cup, pour in the contents of the Soup & Go® sachet, add hot water and stir. After following these easy steps, all that’s left is to wait for 1 minute to finally have that first serving of the delicious soup. 

“We are very excited for the Philippines because we know how the Filipino people love breakfast. With Soup & Go®, our aim is to make their mornings brighter through a convenient dish that’s flavorful and nutritious made with carefully selected ingredients from Japan like corn from the Hokkaido farms (just for corn flavor), and authentic milk from Japan  (for all flavors),” says Mr. Koichi Ozaki when asked about what the company aims to achieve with Soup & Go®.

Soup & Go® comes in three flavors, including Corn, Potato, and Pumpkin, packaged with three single-serve sachets in each box and is available at only Php85. Currently available exclusively in 7-11 branches for the first three months. Soon, Soup & Go® will be available nationwide. 

“We in Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation are committed to championing a lifestyle that indeed echoes our slogan, Eat Well, Live Well. Through our newest product, Soup & Go®, we are optimistic that it will not only make the mornings of our Filipino customers more convenient, but will also equip them with the necessary nutrients and boost their mood by starting their day with a healthier and flavorful breakfast.” ends Mr. Koichi Ozaki.

Soup & Go® is Ajinomoto’s first instant soup product introduced to the Philippine market. APC believes that through these easy-to-prepare meals, their customers are given wider options when it comes to choosing a healthy and flavorful meal that is sure to sustain their nutritional needs for the morning without compromising their daily budget and quality of food. For APC, quality and taste has always been paramount when it comes to their products, and the Soup & Go® is testament to the continued innovation and commitment of the company to improving the quality of life of the Filipino people through nutrition and everyday ingredients that elevates every meal. 

The Soup & Go® official brand video was also shown during the event held at the Konbini & Go, you may enjoy the video here.