PINAKBET REPUBLIC: Balatong

7/12/2019

pinabelllad a balatong

7/12/2019 Balatong, Beans, Ilokano Culture, Ilokano Food, Legumes, Monggo, Mung Beans, Pinablad, Vegetables No comments

Pinabellad or pinablad, boiled, or literally, enlarged.

One time, n a rather cloudy day with bits of rainshower, as in cold day, quite unusual on the onset of summer but a perfect day to boil some balatong because pinablad a balatong is usually a great appetizer on rainy or cold days.

This is just plain pinabellad a balatong sauteed in little cooking oil and garlic and onions, and then topped with some greens, marunggay and uggot ti kabatiti:

The plainest and simplest there is, without sagpaw (add-on), no grilled or fried fish or meat, just some leaves, this is the way most Ilokanos prefer it:

And this one, with repolio:

Ilokano simplicity and frugality at its best!

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More balatong dishes:

Pinablad a balatong a nalaokan iti ubog ti way, mongo beans soup with rattan bud/shoot

7/09/2019

sabidukong, the edible wild flower with so many names

7/09/2019 Authentic Ilokano, Balatong, Blossoms, Dinengdeng, Exotic Ilokano, Ilokano Cuisine, Ilokano Culture, Ilokano Food, Mongo, Sabidukong, Wild Vegetables 2 comments

Sabidukong, it is. But it goes by so many names and monikers as people from many places in the Ilocos. Cagayan Valley, and Cordillera regions argue to agree and disagree on what to call it. But, well, this vine with beloved blossom and prized fruit is as loved as it is diversified depending on its place of domicile, wild or cultured/domesticated.

You can call it all you want, tonkin jasmine in English, and be it sabsabidukong, ampupuyat, bagbagkong, dukep, padpadol, kapaskapas, sipsippayot, tintirintin, pusapusa, saguyepyep, badbadiong, sapsapungot, turoturog, alimpapaok, ampapayot, sakasaka ti uwak, barbakilia, patpatayok, dogdogsol, dulangdulang, padpadulang, lupluppaaw, kuriday-ong, tibtibien, and many more (in Tagalog region, they call it bulakbulakan, puso-puso, latok, tramuki or taramuke), but it is still as delicious. Be it as a partner to your boiled balatong or a companion to your dinengdeng or a garnishing of sort to your pinakbet.

And here, the perfect combination: sabsabidukong with boiled balatong! I added bunga ti paria to certify the combo as a truly Ilokano dish. Naigisa a pinablad a balatong a nalaokan iti sabidukong ken paria. Sauteed boiled mung beans with wild sabidukong flowers and bitter melon.With lots of lasona and bawang to boot!