Nueva Ecija, a province in the Philippines, is known for its delicious and unique food offerings. Here are some delicacies you might want to try:
Pancit Cabagan - A noodle dish with a rich sauce made from pork, shrimp, and vegetables, often topped with a fried egg and served with a squeeze of calamansi (local citrus).
Sizzling Bulalo - A variation of the traditional Bulalo, this dish features tender beef shank and bone marrow served on a sizzling plate with vegetables.
Tibok-Tibok - A sweet and creamy dessert made from carabao’s milk (buffalo milk), often flavored with vanilla or other local ingredients.
Longganisa - Nueva Ecija’s version of this popular Filipino sausage is known for its distinct taste, often made with a mix of pork, garlic, and spices.
Kakanin - Various rice cakes and sweets like puto (steamed rice cake), bibingka (rice cake baked in banana leaves), and suman (sticky rice wrapped in leaves).
Sinampalukang Manok - A sour chicken stew made with young tamarind leaves, giving it a unique tangy flavor.
Empanada - A type of pastry filled with a mixture of ground meat, vegetables, and spices, often enjoyed as a snack or light meal.
Bawang na Itik - A specialty made from duck cooked with garlic, often enjoyed for its rich and flavorful taste.
Lechon (Roast Pig) - While popular throughout the Philippines, Nueva Ecija has its own take on this classic dish, often featuring a well-marinated, crispy-skinned roast pig that's a hit at celebrations and special occasions.
Bagnet - A crispy, deep-fried pork belly that’s known for its crunchy texture and flavorful meat, often served with a side of vinegar dipping sauce.
Lumpiang Hubad - A fresh spring roll without the wrapper, served with a savory garlic-peanut sauce and sometimes topped with crushed peanuts.
Ginatang Mais - A sweet and creamy dessert made from corn and coconut milk, often enjoyed warm or chilled.
Rellenong Bangus - A dish of stuffed bangus (milkfish), where the fish is deboned and filled with a savory mixture of meat, vegetables, and spices, then baked or fried.
Puto Bumbong - A traditional Filipino rice cake made from steamed glutinous rice and purple yam, usually served with shredded coconut, brown sugar, and sometimes cheese.
Tuna Kinilaw - A ceviche-style dish made with fresh tuna marinated in vinegar and mixed with onions, tomatoes, and sometimes ginger.
Bopis - A spicy dish made from pork lungs and heart sautéed with tomatoes, onions, and chili peppers, offering a flavorful and hearty experience.
Taba ng Talangka - Crab fat cooked with spices and sometimes used as a flavorful topping or side dish, known for its rich and intense taste.
Pinakbet - A vegetable stew made with a variety of local vegetables like eggplant, bitter melon, and string beans, cooked with shrimp paste or pork.
Bistek Tagalog - A Filipino beef steak dish made with thin slices of beef marinated in soy sauce and calamansi, then sautéed with onions and sometimes garnished with fried potatoes.
Pancit Habhab - A type of stir-fried noodle dish traditionally eaten with a small amount of broth, often enjoyed with a mix of pork, vegetables, and sometimes shrimp.
Pinapaitan - A sour and bitter stew made with beef innards, flavored with bile and various spices, often enjoyed with a side of rice.
Dinuguan - A savory stew made from pork and pork blood, flavored with vinegar and spices, often served with puto or rice cakes.
Kare-Kare - A rich and creamy stew made with oxtail, tripe, and vegetables, cooked in a peanut sauce and traditionally served with bagoong (fermented shrimp paste).
Empanadang Baka - Beef-filled empanadas with a spiced meat mixture, sometimes combined with vegetables and a hard-boiled egg.
Inihaw na Baboy - Grilled pork often marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, calamansi, and spices, served with a tangy dipping sauce.
Arroz Caldo - A Filipino rice porridge made with chicken and ginger, often topped with fried garlic, scallions, and sometimes a hard-boiled egg.
Tupig - A rice cake made from glutinous rice and coconut, wrapped in banana leaves and grilled for a slightly smoky flavor.
Bicho-Bicho - Fried dough pastries that are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, often enjoyed as a sweet treat.
Sinigang na Baboy - A sour pork soup made with tamarind and various vegetables, known for its tangy and savory flavor.
Suman sa Lihiya - A type of sticky rice cake prepared with lye water, wrapped in banana leaves, and often enjoyed with a sweet coconut sauce or as a side dish.
