Laing is a well-loved Bicolano dish that is savory, creamy, earthy, and spicy all at once! It's one of the most iconic dishes in Bicolano cuisine because of the various bursts of flavors. Cooked in cocunut milk, laing is sure to be the perfect dish for a stay in weekend meal. The secret to the best laing? Leave it to simmer gently for more than an hour to allow the flavors to develop. This simple-to-follow recipe will definitely make your dinner table stand out. Here's a tip: Top it off with crispy shrimp to give it a nice crunch.
Bicol is a region in the Philippines encompassing the southern part of Luzon Island and nearby island provinces. Caramoan, a peninsula in the east, is dotted with caves, limestone cliffs and white-sand beaches. Nearby, Catanduanes Island has mountains, waterfalls and coral reefs. Donsol, in the west, is home to whale sharks. The region's active volcanoes include Bulusan Volcano and Mayon Volcano.
Pakbet or pinakbet is a popular vegetable dish that originated from one of the northern provinces of the Philippines, Ilocos. The vegetables used on this dish are usually grown in the back yard of every villager and are available almost all year long. Bitter Melon, eggplant, okra, and string beans are just some of the vegetables that make-up this delightful dish. Pakbet is cooked in a clay pot called “Palayok” and Anchovy sauce (bagoong isda) is used to add flavor.
As the fame of this dish grew, several versions have sprouted. In the National Capital Region (Manila and the near by cities). Pinakbet is cooked with squash (kalabasa) and bagoong alamang (shrimp paste) is used to give flavor to the dish. This variation is known as “Pakbet Tagalog”.
A very easy-to-cook dish packed with different vitamins and minerals (just limit the bagnet if you are conscious of your health), Pakbet is a dish that is really worth trying. By the way, having an extra cup of rice around might help.
Ilocos is a region in the Philippines, encompassing the northwestern coast of Luzon island. It's known for its historic sites, beaches and the well-preserved Spanish colonial city of Vigan. Dating from the 16th century, Vigan's Mestizo district is characterized by cobblestone streets and mansions with wrought-iron balconies. Farther north, Laoag City is a jumping-off point for the huge La Paz Sand Dunes.
Have you ever heard of Utan Bisaya before? For locals of the Visayas or those with Visayan origins, Easy Utan Bisaya (or Law-Uy) is a vegetable soup made with the freshest of vegetables boiled in water. It is similar to another popular vegetable soup, bulanglang.
Truly, Cebuanos, Hiligaynons, Boholanos, and other Visayan people have given us some of our favorite protein powerhouses. But Utan Bisaya stands in stark contrast to the heavy, hearty meat meals we're more familiar with. Utan Bisaya's direct translation is “Vegetables, Visayan style.” Indeed, this humble dish boasts an array of vegetables you could easily grow in your backyard. Inexpensive and accessible, making Utan Bisaya doesn't require much experience, either! By just boiling these veggies in water, this soup brings out the natural flavors of these vegetables making it all around a perfectly healthy broth.
Visayas is one of the Philippines' 3 main island groups. In Central Visayas, Cebu City's Spanish colonial architecture includes the triangular Fort San Pedro and the Basilica del Santo Niño. Bohol Island's Chocolate Hills are a group of more than 1,000 conical, grass-covered mounds that turn brown in the dry season. In Corella, rare bug-eyed primates called tarsiers are protected at the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary.