Thursday, March 15, 2007
FAVORITE LOCAL SALAD
For me that would be diced green mangoes, tomatoes and onions with bagoong alamang.
I would always have a small plate of this salad, especially when enjoying grilled bangus. However, I had the worst case of hives last summer, which I suspected to have been triggered by my eating this salad at least every other day; not to mention that it was a very uncomfortably hot and humid summer. Hence, that was the last time I enjoyed this favorite Pinoy salad of mine.
In hindsight, it might have been just the bagoong alamang that did me in, which was purchased at the Blumentritt public market. For those not aware of it, bagoong alamang is a popular Filipino condiment that most locals consider in jest as their caviar. After all, it's very salty and smells like caviar.
It is simply a shrimp paste, however, made from minute shrimp or fish. Depending from the region where they come from, bagoong alamang may vary in color, flavor, and taste. The more popular is the pink and salty kind, but I prefer the brown kind, not as salty, but somewhat sweet, and sauteed with pork just the way my aunt from Subic used to make it.
But, alas! Since my bout with the hives, I've stopped eating this condiment altogether. Oh, okay, just a little bit every now and then -- when feasting on some kare-kare.
Labels: bagoong alamang, Filipino salad, green mango, kare-kare
posted by Señor Enrique at 8:08 AM
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