by Nissie Arcega

On an isle in Visayas, Samar takes what is familiar and cultivates a nutrient culture that is nothing short of exciting. It is evident that the locals know the best way to turn harvest into delicacy, with most dishes hailing from Samar having kokosnoot, seafood, rice, and a whole lot of flavour.

Check these Samar food faves on your next visit to the Visayan gem.

Kinilaw

Kinilaw is a pretty Filipino-native popular dish with dozens of variations across the regions. Information technology'due south oft referred to as Filipino ceviche, fabricated of whatever type of raw ingredient and vinegar. In Samar, they usually use fish, onions, tomatoes, pepper, calamansi, sukang tuba (coconut vinegar), and kakang gata (coconut cream, but tin be switched out for coconut milk). A more adventurous version of the dish is one that uses shark'due south meat, which is popular among travelers in Catbalogan.

BiteSized Recommends:Attempt the New Style Kinilaw recipe past Chef Roland Laudico using coconut cream!

Salukara

via VisitEasternSamar.com

Salukara from Eastern Samar is a cross between bibingka and a pancake, with hints of puto. It uses essentially the same ingredients every bit well (rice flour, water, carbohydrate) just swaps yeast for tuba (palm vino) instead. It's adequately easy to cook, too! Merely similar your favorite morn staple,  simply oil a pan and heat a ladle-full of the mixture for about v minutes. Enjoy with your loving cup of joe!

BiteSized Recommends: The website Visit Eastern Samar shares a Salukara recipe you hands whip up at home.

Baduya nga Pasayan (Maruyang Hipon)

via Twitter-MahalinPagkaingAtin

Baduya nga Pasayan is Samar's reply to Japanese tempura. Fresh shrimps, chopped dark-green onions, table salt, and pepper mixed with a batter of flour, h2o, and blistering powder are fried in clumps that turn into these succulent crispy fritters. The fun part of this dish are bitter into the large pieces of several shrimp  in the batter, and is definitely the best street food to become for merienda.

BiteSized Recommends: Prevalent in the streets of Imelda Park in Catbalogan City, don't miss trying this from modest stalls and small shops.

Lechon

Aside from fish, rice, and coconuts, Samar is also known for its unique take on lechon. They even have a festival for it in Borongan Metropolis! Common variations are adding sweet sauce and vegetables on the lechon itself and is eaten without condiments. Areas similar Catarman adds a seafood surprise like crabs and lobsters inside the lechon, while Calbayog City stuffs information technology with chicken.

BiteSized Recommends: Interested to make your ain winning lechon? Offset with this Crispy Bellychon recipe.

Torta

Traditionally served during celebrations in Samar, torta (no, not the omelette of the Tagalogs) is a buttery pound block baked in pans with scalloped edges. The basic recipe calls for flour, milk, anise, butter, tuba, egg yolks, and pork lard. Information technology's usually topped with cheese, butter, and saccharide. It's a simple yet satisfying delicacy Samar shares with Visayan neighbors similar Cebu.

BiteSized Recommends: Endeavour our Tortang Mamon recipe and savor this Visayan treat for merienda.

Tamalos

Tamales to most, Samar'southward tamalos is distinctly spicy and nutty. It's made with rice flour, pork belly, vinegar, pepper, and garlic. It's covered in a thick peanut sauce, and sealed away with a banana leafage. Get it fresh from Catbologan Metropolis.

BiteSized Recommends: If you lot're craving for Pinoy tamales, try our version with crab meat.

Binukohang Pansit

Information technology'southward not a Filipino table without pansit. If you haven't defenseless on, Samar loves coconuts. Calbayog'southward version of pancit comes with the typical noodles, vegetables, seafood, and pork, only has a refreshingly sweet kick thanks to the shredded coconut meat mixed in.

BiteSized Recommends: Pancit buko is quite piece of cake to practice! Hither's a recipe to guide you.

Binagol

Binagol, famous in Samar (especially in Calbiga) and Leyte, comes in a coconut trounce that houses a mixture of talyan (a cousin of taro or gabi), mucilaginous rice, and coconut milk. Some variations add basics, egg yolk, chocolate, latik, and butter to add together more flavor.

BiteSized Recommends:We tip our hats to Samar and Leyte's rich and tasty cuisine with our Binagol recipe.

What Samar delicacy should be a must-try? Permit the states know!