Pinakbet

This is a Filipino dish all vegetable lovers cannot miss! Even I who is usually very selective on the types of vegetables I eat found this dish extremely tasty.

Pinakbet is a popular Ilocano dish,from the northern regions of the Philippines. It gradually spread to the rest of the archipelago and became an authentic Filipino dish. The word is the contracted form of the Ilocano word "pinakebbet" meaning shrunk or shrivelled. Needless to say, the vegetables are usually cooked until almost dry and shrivelled because Filipinos believe that the flavours are emphasized and accentuated by the bagoong (fermented shrimp fry). The basic vegetables for this dish include bitter melon, eggplant, tomato, ginger, okra, string beans, lima beans, chili peppers and calabaza. These vegetables are easily accessible because they are grown in the backyards and gardens of most Ilocano households, hence it became a common dish at dinner tables, not to mention a very healthy one for the entire family as well!

Another point to take note, if you enter a pizza parlour, do not be surprised to see Pinakbet pizza served on the menu. This pizza flavour is definitely something uniquely Pinoy and a must-try!