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Ilocos Region

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  • Kinilnat

Kinilnat is a traditional Filipino salad originating from the Ilocos region. The salad is made with a variety of vegetables and leafy greens such as string beans, pumpkin blossom, sweet potato tops, chili peppers, eggplants, taro leaves, cabbage, and fern shoots.

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The leaves, blossoms, and shoots are typically blanched, mixed, and then dressed with fermented fish condiment known as bagoong or with patis fish sauce. Additional souring ingredients such as cherry tomatoes, calamansi, vinegar, and ground ginger are also often incorporated into this nutritious salad.

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ORIGIN: ILOCOS NORTE, PHILIPPINES

RECIPE:

  • 1 bundle sweet potato tops fish sauce or bagoong isda to taste

  • 5 pieces cherry tomatoes

  • 1 red onion

  • MSG (optional)

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PLACES WHERE WE CAN FIND THIS FOOD:

  1. ILOCOS NORTE

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  • Pinakbet Pizza

Pinakbet pizza is a Filipino pizza variety originating from Ilocos Norte. It's traditionally topped with vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplant, long beans, okra, and bitter gourd, making it suitable for vegetarians. The pizza is derived from pinakbet vegetable stew and uses most of the ingredients used to prepare the stew.

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Only local vegetables are traditionally used as toppings, and it's said that the pizza has a slightly bitter and salty finish.

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ORIGIN: ILOCOS NORTE, PHILIPPINES

RECIPE:

(Pinakbet)

  • 1/4 lb pork, thinly sliced

  • 1 eggplant, sliced

  • 1 bitter melon, sliced

  • 1/4 lb kalabasa squash, cubed

  • 3 tablespoons ginger, chopped

  • 3 pieces long green pepper

  • 6 cloves garlic crushed

  • 1 piece onion, chopped

  • 4 tablespoons shrimp paste (bagoong alamang)

  • 2 pieces tomato sliced

  • 3 tablespoons cooking oil

(Pizza dough)

  • 1 and 1/3 cups (320ml) warm water (between 100-110°F, 38-43°C)

  • 2 and 1/4 teaspoons Red Star Platinum instant yeast (1 standard packet)

  • 1 Tablespoon (13g) granulated sugar

  • 2 Tablespoons (30ml) olive oil

  • 3/4 teaspoon salt 3 and 1/2 cups (438g) all-purpose flour (spoon & leveled), plus more for hands and surface sprinkle of cornmeal for dusting the pan

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PLACES WHERE WE CAN FIND THIS FOOD:

  1. CAFE HERENCIA (Paoy, Philippines Marcos Avenue)

  2. CAFE LEONA (Vigan, Philippines Crisologo)

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  • Poqui poqui

Poqui poqui is a traditional Filipino dish originating from Ilocos. In order to prepare the dish, grilled eggplants are first peeled, then chopped and sautéed with garlic, onions or shallots, and tomatoes. Beaten eggs are then stirred into the pan, and the combination is cooked until the dish develops the consistency of slightly wet scrambled eggs.

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Before serving, it's recommended to season poqui poqui with patis fish sauce. The origin of the name can be traced back to the 1980s, when many Filipinos migrated to Hawaii. In Hawaii, the word poki (poqui) means to cut up or mash, referring to chopped eggplants and tomatoes.

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ORIGIN: ILOCOS NORTE, PHILIPPINES

RECIPE:

  •  2 large eggplants

  • 2 tablespoons oil

  • 1 small onion, peeled and sliced thinly

  • 2 cloves garlic

  • 2 large Roman tomatoes, chopped

  • 4 eggs, beaten salt and pepper to taste

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PLACES WHERE WE CAN FIND THIS FOOD:

  1. COMIDA DEL NORTE BISTRO (CORNER, BONIFSCIO, VIGAN CITY, ILOCOS SUR)

  2. CAFE ILOCANDIA (DIPSOUL RD, LAOAG CITY, ILOCOS NORTE)

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