Top 10 Ilocano Foods

Ilocano cuisine refers to the traditional food of the Ilocano people, who are a group of indigenous people living in the Ilocos region of the Philippines. Ilocano cuisine is known for its simplicity, use of locally available ingredients, and distinctive flavors. Here are some popular Ilocano dishes:

Our guests at Hidden Garden toured by Clifford

1. Bagnet: This is perhaps one of the most famous Ilocano dishes. Bagnet is deep-fried crispy pork belly, similar to pork cracklings. It’s typically served with a side of dipping sauce made from vinegar, garlic, and chili peppers. I made a separate post about this delicacy. Visit the link above.
2. Pinakbet: Pinakbet is a vegetable dish made with a variety of locally grown vegetables like eggplant, okra, bitter melon, and string beans. It’s flavored with bagoong (fermented shrimp paste) and often includes pork or shrimp.
3. Dinengdeng: Dinengdeng is a simple vegetable soup made with a mixture of different leafy greens and sometimes with added fish or shrimp. It’s flavored with bagoong and has a mild, savory taste.
4. Pakbet Ilocano: While similar to regular pinakbet, Pakbet Ilocano is a version that uses fewer vegetables and is often cooked with shrimp, fish, or pork. It’s known for its rich flavor due to the use of bagoong.
5. Empanada: Ilocano empanadas are savory pastries filled with a mixture of ground meat (usually longganisa, a Filipino sausage), vegetables, and sometimes egg. The dough is often made with rice flour, which gives it a unique texture. Notice that it’s a bit different depending on each Municipality or region. For example, the Empanada vigan is mostly orange dough while at Pagudpud they use less orange food color. In some areas as well, they use Papaya as the main ingredient but not at Vigan.
6. Sinanglao: This is a traditional Ilocano soup made from beef innards (like tripe and intestines) simmered in a broth flavored with bile from the cow’s gallbladder. It’s a strong and somewhat bitter soup, often served with a side of fermented fish sauce.
7. Pancit Cabagan: Pancit Cabagan is a type of stir-fried noodle dish that includes Miki noodles, vegetables, and sometimes meat or seafood. It’s typically flavored with soy sauce and calamansi (Filipino lime).
8. Pakbet na Isda: This dish is similar to pinakbet but includes fish instead of meat. It’s a lighter and healthier option for those who prefer seafood.
9. Bibingka: For dessert, you might find bibingka, a rice cake made from rice flour and coconut milk. It’s often topped with salted egg and cheese, then baked until it forms a slightly crispy crust.
10. Kakanin: Ilocanos also enjoy various kakanin or rice cakes like suman (steamed glutinous rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves), puto (steamed rice cakes), and tupig (grilled coconut and rice cakes).

Ilocano cuisine reflects the use of ingredients that are readily available in the region, such as rice, vegetables, and various types of seafood. It’s known for its unique flavors and is an important part of Filipino culinary heritage. Mangan Tayon!