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Veggie attack
Saniata
, or dragon
fruit, is a popular
produce from
Ilocos. Resembling
a fireball,
saniata
is
usually eaten raw,
but is also used as a
vegetable substitute.
Poqui Poqui
Expanding the meat-free menu, this
dish is an Ilocano omelet made with
eggplant, tomatoes, onions and garlic
sautéed with eggs. Eggplants are
slightly char-grilled (for a rich, smoky
flavor) and then peeled.
PHOTOS
ALARIC YANOS (FOODS), LESTER LEDESMA (MAIN)
Good news for veggie
lovers: despite the dry
climate, there is no
shortage of vegetables
in Ilocos
Pinakbet
It’s a hearty medley of vegetables:
eggplants, string beans, okra, bitter
melon, green chili and more. The
vegetables are cooked to a dry
consistency and are often seasoned
with one or more Ilocano toppings, like
fermented fish
bagoong
, dark Ilocano
vinegar or
bagnet
bits.
Savory surprise
Lush is not a word to describe Ilocos.
In fact, the La Paz Sand Dunes — the
Philippines’ only desert — is one of the
most famous attractions of the region,
a testament to its dry climate. But
Ilocos unexpectedly grows a variety of
vegetables. Moreover, Ilocanos, for all
their love for meaty dishes are — again,
surprisingly — big on greens. Did you
know that many Filipino vegetarian
dishes are from Ilocos?