|
LAING
 |
GINATAANG LAING!
The dish called laing is made
from dried gabi
leaves. Gabi is also called Taro,
an
edible root plant common among the Pacific islands, and found virtually
everywhere in the Philippines. It is believed to have medicinal
power, and improves eyesight and fertility.
The Bikolanos are noted for Bicol Express, which is ginataang laing, consisting
of shredded gabi leaves flavored with shrimps, crabs or meats and
generously spiked with native pepper siling labuyo.
 To make ginataang laing, sautee 1 tbsp garlic, 1 tbsp ginger, 1/4 cup
minced onion with (optional: 2 tbsps bagoong and some meats or
shrimp and hot pepper) in 3tbsp olive oil. Add salt, then coconut milk
and gabi leaves, and simmer until the coconut milk has evaporated,
the dish thickens and becomes oily.
|