Dinengdeng is one of the Filipino dishes that are less known outside the Philippines. It is a beloved dish for many Filipinos but somehow falls in the shadows of more popular Filipino dishes, such as adobo or nilaga. But what is dinengdeng anyway, and what is the meaning of the name?
Dinengdeng is a popular Ilocano vegetable stew made with vegetables that are native to the Philippines. Some of the popular vegetables used are: saluyot, long green beans, and bitter melon. It also goes by different names such as inabraw, or bulanglang, depending on the region you are in.
Still curious about the mysterious dinengdeng? Keep reading!
What is the meaning of dinengdeng?
According to my mother, dinengdeng is a traditional Ilocano dish that is both delicious and nutritious. The dish itself goes by many different names, depending on the region you are from. For example, this same dinengdeng dish would be called inabraw or bulanglang, depending on the ingredient used and the region you are from.
While the exact ingredients can vary depending on what is available, common additions include saluyot, squash flowers, eggplant, bitter melon, okra, and long beans. Dinengdeng is typically served with a side of grilled fish or pork, and it is often topped with shrimp paste or fish sauce to add flavor.
I have fond memories of eating this dish with my family, and I am grateful that my mother taught me how to make it. Whenever I eat dinengdeng now, it always reminds me of home.
What is the history of dinengdeng?
Dinengdeng is a type of Filipino vegetable soup that is usually made with fish, shrimp, and various vegetables. It is believed to have originated in the Ilocos region of the Philippines, where it is often made with bagoong monamon (fermented anchovies paste) as a condiment.
Over time, dinengdeng has become a popular dish throughout the Philippines, and it is now often served as a main course rather than a side dish. While it can be made with any type of fish or seafood, dinengdeng is typically made with tilapia or catfish. It can be served with rice or eaten on its own as a light meal.
Who first invented dinengdeng?
Dinengdeng is a popular dish from the Ilocos region of the Philippines. The exact origins of dinengdeng are unclear, but it is thought to have originated with the Indigenous people of the Ilocos region.
Over time, the dish has evolved and now includes a variety of different ingredients, such as eggplant, okra, tomatoes, and chili peppers. Despite its humble beginnings, dinengdeng has become a staple of Filipino cuisine and is enjoyed by people all over the country.
How did dinengdeng evolve over the years
Dinengdeng has been a popular Filipino dish for many centuries, and it is most popular in particular in the Ilocos region. The dish goes by many names depending on the city you are in and the ingredients you use.
Dinengdeng has evolved over the years to become a main dish instead of a side dish. In the past, dinengdeng used to be a side dish, however due to its popularity it has taken center stage whenever it’s cooked for family meals. In fact, for the most part, when you ask someone what’s for dinner, they might say dinengdeng with fish, or dinengdeng with pork.
Which brings me to my next point: dinengdeng has evolved over the years to be eaten with many different types of meat. Traditionally, dinengdeng is eaten alongside fried tilapia or fried catfish.
In recent times and as the dish made its way over to mainstream Filipino cuisine, it is now totally acceptable and even commonplace to eat it with fried chicken or fried pork chops. The trick is to have the side dish be a fried meat, as the fresh taste of dinengdeng goes perfectly with a side dish of fried meat.
Variations of dinengdeng
Dinengdeng has many different variations. First of, let’s talk about the name of dinengdeng. Essentially, this dish is a vegetable stew with anchoives paste as the main seasoning, and depending on the city you happen to be in, this dish goes by many different names, such as: inabraw, bulanglang, and utan bisaya.
Apart from the name, dinengdeng also varies in the type of vegetables used to make it. And honestly, you can use almost any type of vegetable to make this popular dish, that’s why it’s so popular! For a tropical country like the Philippines, it is literally so convenient to cook a dish by boiling all sorts of vegetables which you can grow in your own backyard.
Some popular vegetables that you can add to dinengdeng are:
Saluyot
Also known as Jute Leaves, this plant has a slimy texture when cooked.
What is saluyot anyway? Click here to know more about this underrated vegetable.
Squash and Squash flowers
Squash gives the dish a slightly sweet flavor, and yes, did you know that squash flowers can be eaten as well? It has a slight fuzzy texture, but is a delicious addition to dinengdeng.
Eggplant
A staple in many dinengdeng dishes due to its slight sweetness
Okra
Also popular in Indian cuisine, this plant has a slimy texture when sliced
Patani
Lima bean in english, this is a great addition to dinengdeng and adds a bit of texture to the dish
Amaranth
This is a great addition to Dinengdeng and is a prized ingredient for those who live outside the Philippines where it is difficult to find this plant
Malunggay
otherwise known as moringa, this is a popular leafy green to add to dinengdeng
Winged beans
Another staple in the dinegdeng dish. I personally used to love playing with this vegetable while eating dinengdeng as a child (much to the dismay of my parents)
Bitter Melon
As the name states, bitter melon is, well, bitter. But it is a staple to dinengdeng.
Now, if you live in the USA or Canada, or in any country outside Southeast Asia for that matter, you probably have never heard of some of these vegetables before. But these are the vegetables that are beloved in the Philippines, which is what makes this dish so wholesome and so nostalgic for Filipinos who live outside the Philippines.
Want to know more about Filipino food history? Check out these posts about the history and origin on these famous filipino dishes: