Suman, Ilocano Rice Delicacy

Photo by ilocosboy

Suman or sinuman is rice delicacy that has the distinction of being wrapped of young (yellow) coconut leaves instead of the cliche banana leaves.

Coral Fishes

coral fish

Ilocos have so many colorful and beautiful coral fishes in the area. So colorful that all sparkling colors like orange for clown fish, brown and white for lion fish and many other colors like bright blue, purple among others.

But in Ilocos, coral fishes are not only for aquariums. These beautiful fishes are caught in the coral reefs of the stony part of the sea side to be cook as dishes for lunch and supper. That is right, these beautiful fishes are served in the table with the popular tamarind soup based recipe or as we call it sinigang. Sometimes, these re grilled and served with the juicy tomatoes with fish sauce and onions.

Traditional Kitchen Utensils

Before there was gold-plated fork and spoons and even plated plate and ladles, there was the coconut shell, bamboo and wooden that was used as kitchen utensils of the early homes of Ilocandia.

Gone are those utensils now. Only the metallic spoons, fork, ladles, plates  and bowls are used know in the kitchen of the Ilocano family. Of course, once in a while you can see these traditional kitchen utensils but not in restaurants or hotels but during traditional and ethnic festivals.

Coconut shells are made as ladles and bowls so the cook of the family have to use while cooking the recipe. The coconut shell is clean up thoroughly, replenish and make it very smooth surface. The bigger could be made as bowl but the smaller be made as ladles.

Bamboos can be a plate and ladles and a particular white wood is also made as ladle, big fork and big spoon.

Dinengdeng, Ilocano Dish

dinengdeng, ilocosboy

Ilocano are people located in the northernmost part of the Philippines.  One food so popular with them is called dinengdeng or fish sauce (baggoong) soup base.  Only us can really appreciate the taste of dinengdeng which is mostly composed of vegetable leaves like jutes (saluyot) leaves, malunggay (horseradish) leaves or pods, bamboo shoots, eggplants, squash blossoms and other kinds of vegetables.  Depending on where region an Ilocano leaves, ingredients may differ according to their culture.

But the main ingredients and will never be dismissed is the fish sauce or baggoong.  Dinengdeng will never be dinengdeng in the absence fish sauce.  Of course, adding some ingredients may be necessary like putting the dried shrimp, fried tilapia (freshwater fish) or grilled milkfish .

How To Make Garlic Pickle

Garlic—the white clove that is commonly found in the kitchen because of its aroma. One of the best spice and even as condiments in recipe.

Now, considered one of wonder herbal medicine of modern times. The health benefits that is good for people who got problem on cholesterol and other heart diseases.

The health pact may be the sweetest but the taste is the sourest. The smell last for how many hours for people who consume it. There are two ways to make it tasty: one, to fry it to make it crispy; second, make it as crunchy garlic pickles.

Valentine's Sweets

Red, sweet, tasty...Happy Valentines.
Wondering what to give or to have this Valentine's Day. Of course, one requirement is that it must be sweet and full of love.

This blogger looked in files for photos best for you this day of the hearts. And after the searching in my computers, here are 5 sweets that is perfect for our Valentine's Sweet.

1. Sweet Red Flower Made From Bellaay

roses are red, perfect for Valentines

Bellaay is rice flour commonly used in many sweets and delicacies in Ilocos. There are many menus and recipes from the rice flour for delicacies, snacks, breakfast and even lunch. The food is taken during the Chef Wars of Ilocos Sur this 2017. The photo is presented by one of the participants in the said event.

2. Cherry Topped

Ilocano Vegetable, Sabadiokong

the fruit of sabadiokong

Let's say 'saluyot' and I presumed many of you know this very Ilocano vegetable leaves.
How about 'sabadioking' or 'sabadokong' to others, any thing comes to your mind.

Sabadiokong is very own of Ilocano vegetable. Not in other regions and I doubt with other countries
This is actually a mountain fruit of a vine which commonly grow and bear flowers and fruits during summer time, usually from April to June of the year.

My Twist For Unpopular Ampalaya

scrambled egg with ampalaya

Think of bitter and next to heartbroken... the next comes to your brain is ampalaya or bitter gourd to others.
Which makes this very and packs of lots of nutrients and health benefits one of the unpopular vegetable table.