HOW TO COOK DININGDING NA LABONG AT SALUYOT

This Diningding Na Labong recipe is very common in Norther parts of the Philippines most Specialy in Ilocos and Pangasinan where The Ilocanos live. Diningding Na Labong is an authentic Ilocano dish but became popular in the Philippines because many Ilocano travelers brought this dish wherever they came to. The Ilocanos are known for their being thrift. They are very wise in management of money like they don’t even want to spend a fraction of peso if it’s not important. So this Diningding Na Labong is very cheap and easy to cook. I did not know how to cook Diningding Na Labong until my mother asked me to cook it back in college. She knew I did not know how to cook this dish so she gave me the recipe and I kept it. Labong is a seasonal vegetable because the bamboo shoot only appears during rainy season in the Philippines so the month of June to September is the best time to cook it. Here is the recipe:

INGREDIENTS

½ lb Labong or Bamboo shoots (thinly sliced)

1 regular pack of deboned Tinapa (smoked fish)

½ cup of Saluyot leaves (Jute)

1 cup of Sitaw or String Bean (cut into 3 inch long)

Bagoong Isda to taste

PROCEDURE

1. In a pot, boil the labong for 1 hour.
2. Add the Bagoong Na Isda. Be careful not to put too much Bagoong.
3. Let it boil until the Bagoong foam appears. Remove the foam.
4. Add the Saluyot leaves, let it boil until the green color of the leaves disappear.
5. Add the StringBean. Simmer until the String Bean is cooked.
6. Add the Tinapa and boil for 3 minutes.
7. Remove from heat and serve.