Pinakbet Ilocano recipe – Explore this very rare recipe!
Pinakbet Ilocano recipe is a classic that is extremely famous across Filipino cuisines. Though this recipe seems very complicated as per its name, trust me, this one is really easy, and all you have to do is to get all the ingredients and throw them into the pot and wait for the recipe to be completed; it’s that much easy!

Pinakbet is also called Pakbet, and it is quite a famous vegetable delicacy, and it is originated from Ilocos, which is one among the Northern provinces of the Philippines. The basic ingredients used in this dish are cultivated at the house of every villager, so all the ingredients are available at any time, almost for the whole year, so preparation of the recipe becomes very easy! Simple vegetables like Okra, Bitter Melon, string beans, and eggplant are used to prepare this recipe, and in the end, this dish becomes very delightful. Pinakbet Ilocano recipe is an easy one-pot recipe, which is usually called a clay pot, and it is even named as “Palayok.” Many folks love to add a tang of Anchovy sauce to evoke a great flavor.
What’s so special about Pinakbet Ilocano Recipe?

As time has passed, the delicacy has gained lots of popularity, and numerous versions have come to light! Many types of recipes contain sprouted items. Squash (kalabasa) and shrimp paste are the main two elements of the traditional Pinakbet Ilocano recipe. Shrimp paste is usually very essential as it shapes off the whole dish into an extremely toothsome dish. Many people call this version “Pakbet Tagalog.”
Pinakbet Ilocano looks and sounds extremely alluring; it’s also an easy and simple dish that comes with a huge dosage of antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins. However, I would suggest you avoid the usage of bagnet if you want to take care of your health. Pinakbet Ilocano recipe is truly worth your time and efforts; also, carb-loaded rice will make a perfect side dish for it.
Pinakbet is also called a Pakbet in the Ilocos Region. The mixed blend of exotic vegetables like okra, sitaw (long beans), bitter gourd, talong, and squash is amazing to taste. The classic and most traditional style of Pinakbet Ilocano is prepared with fish bagoong sauce. Litson kawali is also a part of the recipe, which is used for balancing the flavor of this dish.
Pinakbet is a dish loaded with numerous vegetables that are filled with vitamins and nutrients; this Filipino dish is related to Ilocos culture and the cuisine landscape of the Philippines. Pinakbet is a unique term which has been originated from the Ilocano word pinakbet; this word means “shriveled” and “shrunk.”
The vibrant vegetables that are part of this delicacy are eggplant, bitter melon, ginger, tomato, string beans, okra, lima beans, parda, chili peppers, and winged beans. Pakbet is cooked to the point it becomes shriveled and very dry. The amazing flavors of veggies are enhanced and evoked by the usage of ingredients such as shrimp paste.

Pinakbet Ilocano Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 pieces Round eggplant
- 2 pieces Bitter melon ampalaya
- 1/2 bundle String beans
- 1 piece Sweet potato kamote
- 8 pieces Okra
- 1 piece Tomato cubed
- 1 piece Onion cubed
- 1 1/2 cup Cornstarch mixed with one tablespoon water
- 1 lb Bagnet
- 1/4 cup Anchovy sauce bagoong isda
Instructions
- Stream water in large-sized pan and boil it lightly.
- After that, stream in anchovy sauce and lightly boil the mixture once again.
- Pour the vegetables, at first pour the sweet potato and afterward put bitter melon, okra, tomato, eggplant, string beans, and onion. For 15 minutes, simmer the mixture well.
- After that, pour the bagnet, and for 5 minutes, keep simmering the mixture.
- Serve the dish warm, hot. Enjoy!
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