Philippine Food Illustrated

August 25, 2017

angkak

angkak – /ang-kàk/ (Tagalog and Capampangan food coloring and fermentation agent; dw Chin. Hokkien an khak [reddish leaves used in fermentation] < an [red] + khak [shell or husk]) [n.] red yeast rice (sc.name: Monascus purpureus)

I found this angkak rice in the public market of Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija in July 2017.

Angkak is a Mandarin orange food coloring. A Chinese tangerine food coloring obtained from a plant with reddish leaves, or rice treated with species of red mold.

This angkak rice is priced at PHP320.00 a kilo when I found it in the public market of Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija in July 2017.

Angkak rice is not for cooking into kanin (boiled or steamed rice), but can be added to cooking rice as a food color.

The Capampangans, Bulaqueños, Novo Ecijanos, and Tagalogs are fond of using angkak in coloring and as a fermentation agent for burong isda (fermented cooked rice with fresh fillet of freshwater fish, i.e. tilapia, bangus, ayungin, etc.), and in bagoong alamang (shrimp paste, a.k.a. balaw-balaw).

Angkak rice

Angkak produces bright pastel pink color, a classic food coloring that is now fast disappearing because of artificial instant food colorings.

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August 13, 2017

balot itlog manok

balot itlog manok - (ba-lót it-log ma-nòk; Cebuano delicacy) [n.] boiled fertilized chicken egg.

a.k.a. balot in Cebuano
balut itlog manok in Tagalog and other local languages

This Visayan delicacy is a new variation of Filipino balut egg that is made with brownish Caber chicken egg. It became popular in Cebu City a few years ago.

This 16-day-old balot itlog manok looks more gruesome than its predecessor duck egg balut. It has more feathers with fully developed legs, head, and beak.

It started to appear in Cebu City sometime in 2012.

Along with the penoy itlog manok or pinoy, this Visayan balot is now gaining fast popularity in Visayas and in some places in Mindanao. It even reached Lucena City in Quezon province and in Bambang, Manila, probably brought and introduced by the Visayans who moved to settle in Quezon province and in Metro Manila.

Recently, I found it on the sidewalk of the Alabang viaduct and on Montillano Street in Muntinlupa City.

This Visayan "balot" is more gruesome compared to its predecessor duck egg balut. It has more hairs (feathers) and the legs, head, and beak of the chick appear to be prominently developed already.

It tastes quite similar to duck egg balut, but the bones are a bit tougher and the hairs are nasty. Next time you dare a foreigner to eat balut, offer this Visayan BALOT instead. Let's see how far we can scare them. hahaha!

By the way, do not dare to offer this to our Muslim brethren because a nasty and gruesome food like this is considered unclean (Haram) according to Islamic laws. Besides, living animals have to be slaughtered in a manner that it has to bleed. Otherwise, you are insulting them.

Related posts:

Balut

Penoy

Orange egg barbecue

Pinoy (penoy itlog manok)

Guinness's largest serving of balut in Pateros

Ebun a barag

See Index of Entries here

For more about Filipino food, see this Philippine Food, Cooking, and Dining Dictionary. It is OPEN and FREE.

pinoy (penoy itlog manok)

pinoy - (pi-nóy; Cebuano delicacy) [n.] unfertilized chicken egg.

a.k.a. pinoy Bisaya in Cebuano
penoy itlog manok and pinoy Bisaya in Tagalog and other local languages

A variation of Filipino "penoy" boiled egg that is made with brownish Caber chicken eggs.

For the past 5 years now, it is now gaining popularity in Visayas, particularly in the downtown district of Cebu City, such as in Carbon Public Market, Fuente Osmeña, and Taboan.

It can also be found now in Iloilo City and Bacolod, as well as in Cagayan de Oro City of Misamis Oriental (Mindanao). Also in Tacloban City, Lucena City (Quezon), Silay City (Negros), and sometimes even in Bambang (Manila) and Alabang (Muntinlupa).

The Visayan PINOY and BALOT eggs are getting more popular than its predecesssor, the duck egg penoy.

It tastes quite similar to an ordinary boiled chicken egg, with no bad smell.

A dipping sauce of spiced-up vinegar sprinkled with or pressed on rock salt, a zest is added to it.

Similar to balut penoy, opinions as to whether or not pinoy is Haram (forbidden) in Islamic law differ from various schools of thought.

It is unclear if this unfertilized egg is just similar to a fresh chicken egg that can be taken as food.

There are those who would say that considering the chick and its blood are not yet formed in the egg. Thus, pinoy and/or penoy can be taken as food, because only those living animals that are not killed without slaughtering and whose blood was not shed are considered Haram.

To be safe, it is advisable to ask first if that Muslim would gladly accept a pinoy egg.

Related posts:

Penoy