Kapampangan Dishes and Delicacies to Try: Explore the Culinary Capital of the Philippines

Nothing best satisfies food cravings than exploring the Culinary Capital of the Philippines. Two hours’ drive north of Metro Manila is the Pampanga province, home of the best tasting Filipino dishes and delicacies.

The Philippines, as known all over the world, is one of the culturally diverse countries in Southeast Asia. It has over a hundred languages and ethnicities within the archipelago’s over 7,000 islands. Naturally, with its many cultures, it also has a colorful and diverse selection when it comes to flavors and food.

In Pampanga, one of the provinces in Central Luzon, there are numerous great-tasting dishes and delicacies that tourists make a point to try when visiting the place. Here are some of the popular flavors Pampanga has to offer to everyone.

Famous dishes to try

Sisig

Photo source: Aling Lucing Sisig Facebook Page

Sisig is a Kapampangan dish made out of parts of pig head, chicken liver, and mixed with spices or seasonings. It is, without a doubt, one of the must-taste dishes served in Pampanga, simply because this nationwide—and more likely, worldwide—famous dish was said to have originated in one of the province’s cities, Angeles City.

The “Queen of Sisig” Luciana Cunanan, or “Aling Lucing”, was a restaurant owner whose Sisig recipe became so famous and remarkable that people all over the province and the country visit Pampanga to get a taste of her Sisig recipe.

Bulanglang Kapampangan

Bulanglang Kapampangan is similar to the Filipino dish, Sinigang. It has the same varying main ingredients of pork, prawn or shrimp, or fish, and a wide array of vegetables. What makes Bulanglang Kapampangan a must-try flavor in Pampanga is its unique way of making the soup sour: the guava fruit as its souring agent.

Morcon Kapampangan

Photo source: Yummy PH

In almost every Filipino gathering, the dish Morcon or Murcon is present. Pampanga’s version of Morcon comes with ground pork and beef, chorizo, boiled egg, cheese, and raisins wrapped in pig caul fat. Upon serving, Morcon resembles that of the embutido dish, only, Morcon is submerged in its fat drippings as a result of steaming.

Pindang Babi

Photo source: Ang Sarap

The Kapampangan dish Pindang Babi is where the famous Tocino originated from. This dish entails pork strips preserved through fermentation with sugar and salt. Pindang Babi, was originally Burong Babi where the pork strips were fermented with rice and salt in a jar, a process done by Kapampangans back when refrigeration still was not available.

Looking for an affordable house and lot in Pampanga? Take a quick break and explore Lessandra Apalit!

Exotic foods worth tasting

Kamaru

Photo source: Kapampangan Ku, Pagmaragul Ku!

Like the neighboring countries in Southeast Asia, where cooked insects and animals are delicacies, the Philippines also has its own set of “exotic” foods for tourists. One of these is the Kamaru in Pampanga, wherein mole crickets are deep-fried then cooked in adobo style, in soy sauce, vinegar, and different spices.

Tugak

Photo source: mekenisaguli

Another exotic dish in Pampanga is the Tugak or Betute Tugak. This dish is also present in different provinces in the country. Tugak is a deep-fried frog stuffed with meat. After being skinned, the frog is seasoned with salt and pepper, stuffed with sautéed ground pork, then fried.

Delicacies to die for

Photo sources: Kusina Master Recipes and Pueblo de Oro

Tibok Tibok

Tibok Tibok resembles that of the Maja Blanca. Except, this Kapampangan dish is made of Carabao milk rather than coconut milk. The white pudding also has a mix of lemon zest and has latik or simmered coconut on top when served.

Turrones de Casoy

One of Pampanga’s best, Turrones de Casoy is one of the must-try Filipino sweets in Pampanga, and, one of the best pasalubong for relatives after visiting the province. The Turrones de Casoy, inspired from the Spanish candy nougat that is made with honey, sugar, egg white, and fruits, has the addition of the Casoy in the ingredients, giving the candy recipe a deliciously distinct taste.

San Nicolas Cookies

Photo source: Yummy PH

Only in Pampanga, the San Nicolas Cookies recipe has a history dating back to the Spanish period when the nuns taught the local Kapampangan women Panecillo de San Nicolas, or “the little bread of Saint Nicolas.” This wood-molded cookie is now famous all over Pampanga given its unique way of being made. Also, it is believed to have “healing properties” due to its religious attachments.

To read more house and lot facts and tips, visit the Lessandra Blogs and News section. 

Being the home of the best dishes, Pampanga is one of the ideal places in the country to live in. This province is one of the spots in the country where Philippine cuisine is alive and evolving. Also, the Culinary Capital proves to be progressive, given the increasing opportunities opening up for its locals, and its proximity to similarly thriving provinces and cities such as Metro Manila, Bulacan, Tarlac, and Nueva Ecija.

Searching for a Pampanga home, an affordable house and lot, is also easy. Lessandra, one of the best providers of affordable house and lot in the Philippines, has a community built in the Culinary Capital of the Philippines. With its trademark of well-designed and planned communities, Lessandra Apalit is home to family-centric amenities and quality Lessandra homes that provide a maaliwalas life for homeowners. The community is strategically located, close to conveniences such as malls, schools, hospitals, and churches.

Offering affordable house and lots, Lessandra Apalit is located in the Brgy. Paligui, Apalit, a certainly accessible spot in the province given its closeness to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).

How to reach Pampanga? The growing number of road developments and infrastructure makes Pampanga an easy place to go to. The North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and NLEX-South Luzon Expressway Connector Road make the province easy-to-access from places like Metro Manila and Southern Luzon. For the northern neighbors of Pampanga, the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway makes travel light and easy for visitors and future residents. A testament to the progress and accessibility of the province is the Clark International Airport, making Pampanga easier to reach from points beyond Luzon.

Living in a place like the Culinary Capital of the Philippines is one of the best decisions to make. It’s not just about satisfying food cravings and delving deeper into the Philippine Cuisine. Living in Pampanga also means prioritizing a worry-free and secured life, taking into account the increasing opportunities within the province.

Want to know how to buy house and lot in the Philippines? Visit the Lessandra Guides and FAQs section! Know all about the Lessandra’s affordable house and lot for sale by giving the House Listings section a scan.

Sources:

https://outoftownblog.com/authentic-kapampangan-dishes/
https://www.escapemanila.com/2019/06/must-try-food-in-pampanga.html