Insarabasab

Another must-try grilled Ilokano delicacy is Insarabasab, the region’s version of Sisig. Like some of the dishes in this list, what makes Insarabasab different is its use of Sukang Iloko. Pork belly or shoulder pieces are marinated overnight with Sukang Iloko, calamansi, and garlic. Afterwards, they are cooked in an “Insarabasab” way—“something burned in fire”. This is also another distinguishing factor of this dish. The meat pieces are allowed to sear a little to give a smoky flavor. The grilled pork is then mixed with raw red onions and red chilies.

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Igado

Made from pork tenderloin and innards, Igado is a popular Ilokano dish that makes you want to eat more rice. This dish does have its bitter notes, but the sweet-and-sour taste of the pork tenderloin, which is soaked in Sukang Iloko, soy sauce, and pepper, evens this out. Although the dish has no broth, it has a rich and thick texture, which is further enhanced by the crisp of red bell peppers and green peas.

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Vigan Longganisa

Vigan Longganisa is Ilocos Region’s uniquely salty, and spicy sausage delicacy. While other regions produce sweet sausages, the locals use a variety of marinades, such as Sukang Iloko, that give Vigan Longganisa that distinct tang. Garlic is also abundantly used in creating this, and the resulting flavor makes Vigan Longganisa unique. Some parts of the region use thoroughly cleaned pork intestine as an alternative sausage case.

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Sinanglaw

Most parts of the Ilocos Region have been heavily influenced by Spanish colonizers. One proof of this is the presence of Empanada in the local cuisine. Although it is Spanish in origin, the Ilokanos gave this fried dough snack a twist that is exclusively their own. Unlike its European variants, Ilokano Empanada uses sweetened dough, is flaky, and contains ground pork, diced potato, carrot, and peas as filling.

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Pinapaitan

“Pait” is a Filipino word which means “bitter”, and “pinapaitan” roughly translates to “make bitter”. This name actually sums up the taste of this dish. Made with very thin strips tender beef, ox tripe, small intestines, heart, bile, and large green chilies, Dinakdakan will take you on a roller coaster of flavors. The bitterness can be toned down by squeezing some calamansi to the dish, and by, surprisingly, eating it while it’s very hot. Even those who are not bitter by heart can thoroughly enjoy this dish.

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Dinakdakan

Ilokanos are people who do not like the sight of leftovers. This is why they turn any present raw ingredient into something impressive. This also applies to Dinakdakan, a sisig-like dish that is made from not just grilled pieces of pork, but grilled pieces of the often times discarded parts: pig face, ears, liver, tongue, and yes, brain. Afterwards, these smoky pieces are tossed into a mixture of calamansi, red onions, and sometimes ginger and red chili peppers. Mashed brain is used to add texture and cream to the dish. Modern takes on this dish use mayonnaise as an alternative to brain.

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Tupig

Made from glutinous rice and coconut milk, Tupig can serve both as a snack and a dessert. Rice soaked with water is mixed with coconut milk, and then a small amount of mixture is wrapped in a strip of banana leaf like shanghai rolls. Afterwards, these are cooked in a grill. The result: a slightly charred and smoky taste of a sweet, coconut-ty and sticky dessert. The small amount of serving will actually leave you craving for more. Sadly, this exotic taste cannot be replicated by what is served in restaurants.

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Dinengdeng

This dish is often interchanged with Pinakbet because of their similar method of cooking and appearance. Both are vegetable soup dishes, and both use a variety of vegetables. The difference between the two, however, is that while Pinakbet contains the more colorful “Bahay Kubo” veggies, Dinengdeng only tends to use green or yellow ones—malunggay leaves and fruits (the long pods), squash and squash blossoms, and alakon blossoms, to name a few. Tossing in grilled pieces of fish or other meat is also frequently done here.

Want to know another major difference? Dinengdeng uses only bagoong, but does not use shrimp paste.

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Pinakbet

Alternatively called Pakbet by the locals, this vegetable dish is perhaps the embodiment of Ilokano cuisine. The average bowl of Pinakbet is created with almost any vegetable—if you know the lyrics to the folk song “Bahay Kubo”, you will have an idea of what these veggies are. Majority of those mentioned in the song are ingredients to Pinakbet. Afterwards, they are boiled until cooked, and then seasoned with the region’s signature bagoong or fish sauce, and lastly, pink shrimp paste. Others may add pork belly with this vegetable dish.

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