Laing Recipe

Laing (or Natong) is a spicy dish that is Coconut milk (or cream) based with dried taro leaves. This originated from the Philippine’s Bicol region (south most part of Luzon island). Because of its really great taste and budget friendly cost, this dish became well known.

Spicy, nutty, and creamy –– these are generally some of the adjectives we use to describe Bicolano cuisine as a whole. At its best, the Bicolanos have come up with dishes like Bicol Express, Sinantol, and the Pili Roll, among others. Well known for being spice lovers, as well as innovative with their use of coconuts, their cuisine is nothing short of a national treasure. And what better example of this vast and flavorful cuisine than the ever popular, ever delicious laing?

Taro leaves, shrimp paste, pork, and gata come together for this dish that’s a perfect balance of sweet and savory. While the Bicolanos refer to it as pinangat, this local stew has become a Filipino favorite across the country! Its green exterior catches one’s eye when it makes an appearance at the dining table. But that’s not all that makes this dish stand out –– one bite and you’ll see why everyone across the country has gone absolutely crazy for this refreshing bite!

Going nuts for coconuts

As we mentioned before, Bicolanos love themselves a dash of coconut milk or gata in almost anything they make. We can classify laing under an array of dishes we call ginataan. Quite literally, this means that these kinds of dishes are cooked in a generous amount of coconut milk. Gata’s sweet, creamy taste sets it apart as an ingredient in Filipino cuisine. Its nutty fragrance makes your dishes more aromatic, so not only do they taste great –– but they smell amazing, too! And laing is no exception.

Even other Filipino classics, other than the ones conceptualized in the Bicol Region, make use of this delightful ingredient. For instance, Chicken Kare-kare sa Gata is a great way of combining two things FIlipinos love: kare-kare and coconut milk! The creaminess of the gata pairs perfectly with the rich flavors we love so much in kare-kare.

Coconut milk is also wonderful in adobo! Rich, creamy, and oh so flavorful, adobong manok sa gata may be one of my favorite renditions of adobo yet! By taking a classic dish like adobo and adding gata, you’re able to practically create a new dish entirely –– one everyone will enjoy! This is especially delicious when you have steaming white rice to fully absorb the nutty and fantastic flavors.

Laing, adobong manok sa gata, and chicken kare-kare sa gata are just some of the many ingredients coconut milk graces its presence with. But not only does this taste incredible –– it’s also super nutritious! Coconut milk is packed with an assortment of vitamins and nutrients, with health properties that will keep your body healthy and strong. It’s more than just for satisfying your stomach!

For one, coconut milk is incredibly rich in antioxidants. Its high amounts of vitamin C and E help neutralize harmful substances that might corrupt your body. These are also important in keeping your immune system strong and healthy, so it may effectively fight against diseases.

Gata is also rich in electrolytes! If you don’t know what these are, you can commonly find electrolytes in sports drinks, like Gatorade. What these are able to do is keep your system hydrated, as well as control your nervous-system functions and regulate muscle contractions. Electrolytes battle fatigue and low energy, and are also important in balancing your body’s pH levels, which means that it prevents acid reflux and other related diseases. In dishes like laing, then, not only are you getting a filling meal –– you’re getting an energy boost, too!

Lastly, did you know that gata aids in weight loss? Coconut milk’s properties translate more into energy than they do in fatty acids. By assisting in keeping your metabolism working at optimal speed, you’re able to enjoy laing and other dishes with a slightly less guilty mindset!

With the amount of health benefits and properties stored in coconut milk, it’s no wonder why this creamy substance is so beloved around the country. Apart from laing, what’s your favorite gata dish?

How to Cook Laing

To start, let’s get all your ingredients together. Cut your half a pound of pork into thin strips, then do the same to your quarter cup of ginger. Chop up one medium-sized onion, and mince a tablespoons worth of garlic. Be sure to have your other ingredients on hand as well: your dried taro leaves, your shrimp paste, your coconut milk, your fish sauce, and salt and pepper to taste. Make sure to have half a pound of shrimp ready, too, if you choose to add it here.

Let’s cook laing together. In a large pan, pour in 3 cups of gata and bring it to a boil. Add your garlic, onion, and ginger right after, then let that simmer for about 10 minutes. When that amount of time is up, add your pork and shrimp paste, or bagoong. Stir your mixture continuously, before adding in your Thai chili (as much or as little as you like). Let your dish simmer for another 10 minutes.

Then, add in 2 tablespoons of fish sauce, and your dried taro leaves. By now, you should let your laing simmer for 40 to 60 minutes to . As we mentioned earlier, it’s important not to stir it right away, as you don’t want that itchy feeling to surface later.

When your time is up, and you decide to add in your shrimp, now would be the time to do so. After tossing your shrimps in, let your laing simmer for about 5 minutes. Otherwise, after the 20 minute mark –– your dish is finally ready.

Turn the heat off your stove and serve your laing hot. Enjoy it with crispy lechon kawali, or a rich bangus belly, and –– of course –– a cup (or two!) of warm, white rice.

Warm and comforting with a bit of a kick, this laing is sure to be a family favorite! Let us know what you thought of this quintessential Bicolano dish.