Ilocano Veggie Salad, Panawil

panawil flower salad

Panawil is not known to many, in fact, 'panawil' is only popular in the mountainous part of Ilocos. Its a kind of shrub (or maybe fern) that can only be found in the colder part of the mountain like rivers, streams and waterfalls.

The edible part is the flower of panawil. The flower is colored white with the size of almost 10 centimeters. The plant grows in group and stands up to two meters. Its not year-round that it bears flowers but during colder season only.

How to prepare the panawil salad? First and foremost, harvest some good quality flowers of panawil plant. Clean thoroughly. Half-cook (or as desired) in heated water. Put in strainer. Then in bowl make the mixing of the common ingredients in making salad like onions, grated ginger, a little bit of pepper, salt for taste. Then add a little bit of vinegar.

Of course, the food is not available in any kind of restaurant. Panawil flowers can only be harvest in colder part of the place. So, if you want to taste, get into the mountains and gather the leaves.

panawil flower