Maranaos and Their Unique Foods

Gie Galia
is a freelancer in the Philippines

I'm sucker for food at isa sa mga paborito kung pagkain ay ang "Palapa" at "Chicken Piaparan". Sounds new, right? Well, not here in Iligan City, the neighbouring city of Marawi City. Come and join me as we explore these sumptuous dishes from the Maranaos themselves.


Maranao ang tawag sa mga taong naninirahan sa Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, Philippines. Sila ay kabilang sa tinatawag natin na minority in the Philippines.


They have a very rich cultural heritage which is manifested in their folk dances and colorful dresses. They are friendly, generous and religious people and known for their exquisite Maranao dishes.


Most Maranao foods have yellow tints because of turmeric, also known as "kalawag", which is commonly used in almost every dishes that they have. Naniniwala ang mga Maranao na ang "kalawag" ay nakakatulong sa pagmaintain ng kalusugan kaya madalas na ginagamit ito sa kanilang mga pagkain. Another observation is that they're fond of using coconut in their dishes and they have their own unique way of doing this, they made use of the coconut milk and toasted the coconut meat and spread all over their dishes. These dishes are usually served during special occasion like kasalan, kandori at birthdays.


Isa sa mga espesyal na okasyon that I've witnessed was the "Kandori", which is form of thanksgiving for passing the board exam or graduation. Ilan sa mga inihahain na mga pagkain sa special na okasyon na ito ay ang "randang", which is nilutong karne ng kalabaw, spicy na may mix ng papar ng niyog at gata, ang "kyuning" aka yellow rice, ang mamis ( sweet desserts) like dudol, browa, amik , tiateg. Ang dudol ay nilutong ginaling na malagkit na bigas na tapol mix with coconut milk and sugar, parang version ng calamay. Samantalang ang browa closely resembles mamon, which is made of flour, yeast, sugar and eggs, then we have palapa and chicken piaparan.


One of these foods that I've tried and became one of my favorite Maranao dish is the Palapa.Palapa is actually pounded mixture of sakurab, sili at luya. This actually closely resembles wasabi, but of course, with a unique and signature taste exclusive of the Maranao Cuisine. It can be a dish or an appetize at the same time. Maanghang ito dahil sa sangkap na luya at sili. Ang main ingredient ng "palapa" ay sakurab. Ang sakurab also called as sibujing, comes from the onion family.



Photo above shows sakurab on the left. On the right, the processed dish called palapa, after it has been pressed and pounded to bits.


Another notable dish worthy to mention is the "Chicken Piaparan". Ang "Chicken Piaparan" is actually ginataang manok in yellow tint with shredded coconut meat. The main ingredients of this dish is chicken, palapa, kalawag, sibuyas, bawang, bell pepper, onion leeks and shredded coconut meat. This is a special dish for the Maranaos and is served during feast or happy events.


These are just one of the few mouth-watering dishes from the Maranao Cuisine that I've tasted. It 's not only the distinct flavor that attracted me but the creativity and the uniqueness of their culture which is evident in their cooking style.


Nowadays, these dishes have spread throughout the country as the Maranao people migrated to larger cities like Manila and Davao. If you're curious as to what I'm saying, then you better try it. In Manila, there's a large Muslim Community in Quiapo. I'm sure there should be at least a restaurant that offers authentic Maranao dishes. Let me know then.


COOKING TIPS FOR BEGINNERS, Food safety preparation

Without basic cooking skills, even the simplest dishes can blow up in the face of a less experienced person, and then your face won't look very good because it'll be covered in tomato sauce and failure. Some of us grew up in the kitchen with our parents and lolos and lolas (grandparents), learning the secrets of treasured family recipes. And years later, all grown up, we are at ease trying new recipes, creating our own versions, and happily sharing the creations with family and friends.

For starters, it is very important to wash them thoroughly with soap and warm water before cooking, after touching the bin, going to the toilet, and after touching raw food.

Raw meat, including poultry, can contain harmful bacteria that can spread easily to anything it touches. This includes other food, worktops, tables, chopping boards and knives.

When choosing the recipes and ingredients, you have total control over what you are eating.

Start out by choosing an easy recipe with just a few ingredients. Learn one really good dish (or simple menu) start-to-finish.

Pat the meat dry before adding it to the pan – the less moisture on the outside, the better chance that you'll have a crisp crust on the outside. Cooking food at the right temperature will ensure that any harmful bacteria are killed. cut into the middle to check that the meat is no longer pink, the juices run clear and steam is coming out.

The foods below need to be cooked thoroughly before eating: Poultry (chicken, manok, including chicken liver), pork (including offals, intestines, liver) burgers, sausages

Familiarize yourself with basic cooking terms by reading cookbooks or watching cooking shows.

Follow the instructions in the recipe as closely as possible the first time. You can then modify it to your taste preference when you make it again.

Have everything ready before you start cooking, including having ingredients measured out.

Another important tip for a beginner cook is to clean as you work. When you leave your workspace a mess with leftover ingredients, trash, etc., you tend to forget what it is that you're working on


Cooking is all about having fun, experimenting, and enjoying the process. Even the best cooks have recipes that fail.

About the author

Gie Galia

Profession: freelancer
Philippines , Cagayan de Oro , Cagayan De Oro City

 

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