Eastern Visayas comprise of three main islands: Samar, Leyte and Biliran. And out of these three islands, a wide variety of unique dishes can be found. In this post we list out unique dishes that can be found in Eastern Visayas.
What are the unique dishes from Eastern Visayas?
Eastern Visayas comprise of three main islands: Samar, Leyte and Biliran
Eastern Visayas is a region in the Philippines that is known for its unique culinary traditions. But before we dive into each delicacy from Eastern Visayas, it’s worth it to know what islands comprise Eastern Visayas. Typically when talking about Eastern Visayas, people are talking about these three main islands: Samar, Leyte and Biliran. Many of the unique dishes from Eastern Visayas are sweets, and while these dishes may be unfamiliar to some, they are sure to delight anyone who has the opportunity to try them. So if you’re ever in the mood for something new, be sure to check out the culinary delights of Eastern Visayas.
Ready to dive in? Here are the top 10 unique dishes from Eastern Visayas.
Salukara
Are you in the mood for something sweet? Try Salukura, a rice flour delicacy from Borongan, Eastern Samar that replaces baking powder with tuba or young coconut wine as a riser. It has a bibingka-like flavor with a hint of puto. Yum! If you visit Borongan, be sure to sample this native speciality. Enjoy your meal!
Baduya nga Pasayan
The Baduya nga Pasayan is a simple dish that requires only fresh shrimps and minced green onions combined into a batter of flour, water, baking powder, and salt. Large spoonful of the mixture is deep-fried in hot oil, resulting in the crispest fritters with a wonderful seafood flavor.
Torta
Looking for something sweet and satisfying? Then you need to try Torta! This delicious buttery pound cake is a specialty of the eastern Visayas region in the Philippines. It’s made with eggs, butter, flour, and sugar, and typically baked in a special mold that gives it its distinctive shape. The cake is then dusted with powdered sugar or covered in a thin layer of icing. Whether you enjoy it plain or with a little extra sweetness, Torta is sure to hit the spot. So if you’re ever in the eastern Visayas, be sure to give this delicious treats a try. You won’t be disappointed!
Tamalos
Tamalos are one of the staples of eastern visayan cuisine. They are made from pork belly, vinegar, pepper, and garlic and are wrapped in banana leaves before being steamed. Tamales are usually served with a dipping sauce made from vinegar and chili peppers. While they may not be as well-known as other Filipino dishes, tamalos are definitely worth trying if you ever have the chance. They are hearty and filling, and the combination of flavors is truly unique. So next time you’re in eastern visayas, be sure to give tamalos a try. You won’t be disappointed.
Binukohang Pansit
The Pancit from Samar (binukohang pansit) is renowned for its shredded coconut meat and noodles, vegetables, seafood, and pork. The combination of noodles and coconut flesh is distinctive in that it combines both sweet and salty tastes. It’s another example of Samar’s rich harvests from both land and sea, as well as the common idea of contrasting tastes.
Binagol
Binagol is a traditional sweetened pudding made from taro root, also known as gabi, which is native to Palapag, Northern Samar. The pandan-infused gabi mixture is combined with eggs, grated coconut meat (locally called gata ng niyog), sugar, butter and chocolate morsels then placed in receptacles of coconut shells before being wrapped in banana leaves and steamed.
Suman-Latik
Eastern Visayas also has a variant of rice cake, the Suman-Latik or Malagkit, which is made from glutinous rice, coconut milk, brown sugar, and kalamay and seasoned with a lye solution to give it a greenish tinge. It’s also wrapped in a banana leaf rather than the hagikhik leaves seen in other versions.
The latik is the syrup produced by combining coconut milk, kalamay (made of pure sugar cane, not the processed kind), and peanuts, which are then poured on top of the suman or even grated coconut meat. It adds taste to the suman. Its sweetened flavor makes the suman so delicious that it’s perfect for breakfast or merienda!
Bukayo
Bukayo is another popular dish which is still considered as one of the native dishes in Leyte. It is made of coconut meat and a mixture of brown sugar with strips of young coconut strip boiled in water. They are steamed or cooked for about 11 hours! Bukayo is placed inside the coconut shell and then wrapped in brown paper, ready to distribute to customers. It is known to be a crowd favorite among people who has sweet tooth and always looking for something really sweet after a meal.
Bocarillos
Bocarillos is a dish made of coconut strips and sugar, similar to Bukayo. However, it includes evaporated milk, egg, and calamansi juice, giving it a lighter color than Bukayo. Bocarillos is said to be the Southern Leyte’s version of Bukayo. At the present time, it is one of the most popular delicacies in Leyte.
Ampaw in Pintuyan
Ampaw is a “rice puff” delicacy that originates from Pintuyan, one of the four municipalities on Panaon Island in Southern Leyte. It is made by cooking rice and mixing it with syrup (usually just sugar and water), then drying it under the sun. This process gives ampaw its characteristic sweet and crispy flavor. Ampaws are regularly sold across different parts of the country, but they are made – and taste best – in Southern Leyte province.
By the way, if you are looking for healthy filipino food options, this post has a list of some tasty filipino foods that are also healthy.
So there you have it! These are the absolute best delicacies that can be found in the three islands of Eastern Visayas! If you are ever in the Philippines and decide to visit Eastern Visayas, make sure to try some or all of these dishes so you can fully immerse yourself in the Eastern Visayas food culture.