Marabukakaw, Spotted Hard Shell Crab

marabukakaw in sinigang

In Ilocos we call this crab “marabukakaw”—a kind of hard shelled brown crab with three spots in its back. Commonly found in the rocky part of coastal in Ilocos it is called “camilo” in Batangas (as what I search online). But aside from these names, I could not get the English name except it’s a hard shelled 3 spotted crab.

Hard as may it seem with its brown shell but it’s a delicious food among Ilocanos particularly in coastal areas. It’s a rare you can find this crab in the market in our place. This is usually being sell by the fish vendor who roam around the villages.

Just like any crabs the most common for this food is sinigang. Of course it can also be cook over the heat we call “tinuno”. There are other recipes but this is the common for this crab.

Sinigang, the tamarind based soup is usually for homecook. You just need the usual ingredients which is tamarind fruit (for sour tasting), onions, young leaves of non-hot chili or kamote and of course the salt and other seasoning.

Cook as sinigang. Just like that… just add the marabukakaw or hard shells crab and serve in the table. As I have said, the shell is hard so you need some knives to crack the shell from the bottom.

The rock may be hard as rock but the taste is yummy as… well, seafood. You going to love it.###

Sinigang Na Malaga In Camias

 

sinigang na malaga in camias

Sinigang is an all-time favorite. And Ilocano have our own way of making this ginger based sour soup to be special. Doing it with camias fruits instead of tamarind or vinegar.

Camias should be no problem in Ilocandia because household have their own camias tree in the backyard—almost every home. Malaga a brackish water fish which usually catch in a part where the saltwater and freshwater meets.

The malaga fish is one of the favorite fish among the locals because of its soft and tasty flesh. It has tiger-like printed skin colored gray and back. It’s quite expensive because it’s hard to catch and harder to grow. But once in the table, it’s a hit.

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.

Kampa (Spiny Lobster)

Called kampa in Ilocano foods, this spiny lobster is hard to resist though some say it has  high cholesterol level.

There are two kinds of lobster, clawed lobster and spiny lobster. Of the two, clawed lobster is abundance in Ilocandia. Only few kind of spiny lobster can be found here in north. Locally known as kampa (and ipes when not yet fully grown-- as big as little finger), this spiny lobster is colored chocolate, and with its name, it has spikes and two long antenna. In seashore, some fishermen can catch this kind of kampa.

Though it is best to grilled or fried and laga. Kampa is also best to cooked as sinigang. Though some says it has a high level of cholesterol, but the smooth meat that can be found in its tail is so irresistible. With just tomato or pias, kamote leaves and seasoning. You'll love eating it with other sea foods.

Seducing Tattala

Tattala (shrimp) ay isang pasayan na madalas makuha sa salin na tubig. Parang pasayan pero mas malaki ang ulo at sipit, ngunit ang buntot ay umikot na di tulad sa pasayan na pahaba. Ngunit mas maliit kesa sa sugpo Usually, the color is blue, pink, brown... ngunit pag naluto ay nagiging orange. Mas juicy at mas malinamnama sa sugpo o pasayan.

Masarap na sinigang, lalo pag sampalok o pias a ng ginamit. Lagyan lang ng kaunting dahon ng kangkong o sili... napakasarap na. Ngunit, sa karamihan, lalo na sa mga Ilocano... mas masarap pag kilawen. Hugasan lang, kalamansi juice, iodized salt, pampalasa, pampa-anghang at solve na, ang jumping salad na tattala.

Kapigged

Kappiged... naimas a masigang, nangruna no pias ti maaramat. Ikkam la bassit ti bulong ti sili wenno kangkong. Maala iti salin a paset ti kadanuman, ken igid ti baybay.

Naimas ti lasagna a kasla malaga, ngem kaimasan kaniakon ti nagkunikon a bagisna a no maramanam ti pumait ken juicy ken nasam-it, anian... kas kunadan, malipatan ti katugangan.

Pias Flower

Sinigang is tasteful and delicious if we used pias. Especially with fishes, we prefer most pias rather than sampalok or suka. Some of us now prefer the ready ti cook sinigang mix, but I tell, it still best to natural. I happen to shoot this flower of pias... amusing and beautiful.

Who Wants Sinigang

This fishes are catch in the 'katangriban. Usually, they are catch through banniit. They have names but i forgot. Anyway, this can be deliciously cooked into sinigang. Try putting some pias, and wow, you gonna love the sabaw.