Famous Delicacies in Southern Leyte

Southern Leyte is a province in the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is the city of Maasin. It is the second least populated province in Eastern Visayas Region but consists of beautiful tourist spots. It is bestowed with beautiful islands, white sand beaches and marine sanctuaries. There are just around 400,000+ people living in the province and people speak in Cebuano, Tagalog and English languages.

Every part of Southern Leyte has it's own signature of dish, here are 10 examples of the delicacies in Southern Leyte.

10 Famous Delicacies in Southern Leyte


Ampaw in Pintuyan

On the other hand, in Pintuyan, one of the four municipalities of the Panaon Island – which is across Surigao, the delicacy they have is "ampaw", which is commonly called rice puff. It is made of rice mixed with syrup (sugar and water) and is dried under the sun, which makes it sweet and crispy. They have the best ‘ampaws’ in the province of Southern Leyte, selling the products to different places in the said province.

Bibingka at Hanginan, Maasin City So. Leyte

The pilgrimage for St. Francis Xavier's image was indeed Holy and fulfilling.After that came the food trip, my most awaited part. Because we saw a lot of stores that sell this delicacy we just had to take a bite and witness its taste on your own....
Bibingka by the way is a rice cake composed of rice flour, sugar, and coconut milk. Some other recipe include topping it with shredded cheese and a slice of salted egg. It is baked over banana leaf (instead of parchment paper for cupcakes) which give its distinct flavor when fully cooked. Unlike most modern bakers, the Hanginan's version of bibingka is still baked on a 'Pugon' which is a small clay oven. This way of cooking maybe old and traditional, but I think it is still the best way to cook it.


''Budbud" and "Bingka" in Padre Burgos

In Southern Leyte are the ‘budbud’, a sticky rice delicacy cooked with coconut milk and wrapped in banana leaves then steamed; and bingka, a rice cake made with fire on its top and bottom. Both can be found in Padre Burgos, the second municipality from Maasin City to the Southeast.


"Banagan" in Silago

In Silago - the farthest municipality of the province - for instance, the delicacy they have the "banagan", a freshwater lobster that is abundant in their rivers, as their specialty. It is usually served when it is already orange in color, crisp, and fresh from the stove on special occasions such as barrio fiestas.


"Tres Marias" in Ichon

One delicacy here in Southern Leyte that I love and pleased to eat is the so called “Tres Marias”, a rice delicacy or kakanin in which there is a unique flavor due too its very rare ingredient


Kinilaw na Bangsi

In a little town of Padre Burgos Southern Leyte where Bangsi or Flying fish is the number one fish and dish of folks. This fish is delivered by fishing boats of Limasawa Islands before noon time. People patiently waiting the pump boats to arrived for meal.

Bangsi or Flying fish has different variety. If it is bigger it is good for “tinula” …fish in lemon grass stew with malunggay; Fish in Vinegar Sauce (paksiw) and Fried Fish (Pritong Isda); while the thinner one is good for Kinilaw (Raw Fish Salad). Bisayans are fond of Kinilaw while drinking Tuba which is a local alcoholic drink as partner.


  Liliths Bocarillos, Located at Ibarra Maasin City So. Leyte                                       

BOCARILLO RECIPE
1 ½ cups of white sugar
2 cups of grated coconut
½ cup of evaporated milk
2 large eggs (beaten)
1 tablespoon of calamansi juice

CHOCOLATE MORON
moronlowres

It is an exquisite chocolatey ‘kakanin’ that is wrapped in a banana leaf, a combination of white coating and chocolate mixture. Moron is always present when there's someone who wants to bring pasalubong. The technique to make a delicious chocolate moron is that you have to balance the chocolate mixture and the white coating mixture so that you’ll get the perfect play of textures.

Landang Benignit

Landang, comes from Buli or Buri Tree, a type of palm found in the Philippines and other tropical countries. This tree only flowers once in its life and then dies. At first glance, landang looks like shrunken, flattened sago. It is traditionally used in making binignit in the Visayan region of the Philippines. Wikipedia
Alternative names: palm flour jelly balls


Ginataang Langka (Jackfruit in Coconut Milk)

This is Ginataang Langka (Jackfruit in Coconut Milk). This is a vegetable dish made mainly with Langka (Jackfruit) and few other ingredients. This dish can be cooked without any meat if you are vegetarian. Enjoy this recipe from all of us at Filipino Chow.