4. 10 LITTLE-KNOWN KAPAMPANGAN “PAMANGAN KALULU” (POOR MAN’S DISHES)

Below are some pamangan kalulu (poor man’s meals) served in villages; they are characterized by the simplicity and scarcity of ingredients, yet as still as tasty as any other Kapampangan culinary delights.

1. ABRIU. Soup with sweet kamote and bitter ampalaya leaves, broiled tinapa.

2. GATAS TIGRI. Instead of carabao’s milk, tap water is poured on cooked rice plus a dash of salt; so named because, well, who’s really seen a tiger’s milk.

3. TIM.  Ground pork boiled in carabao’s milk, until the milk coagulates and the pork settles down.

4. PAKSING DEMONYUS. No fish, just eggplant, ampalaya, okra, cooked in vinegar, black pepper and ginger.

5. BISTIG UTAK BABI. Pig brain’s stewed in soy sauce and kalamansi juice.

6. POSTRI. Sautéed ripe guava fruits, simmered with string beans.

7. TULUD MANGGA, TULUD BALUBAD. Shoots of mango or kasoy leaves, blanched and mixed with alubebe and vinegar.

8. SABO TALILUNG, SABO MALIGOSO. Soup of sardines and common herbs, from the roadside.

9. BOBOTU SASMUAN. Tiny, bite-size tamales appearing only during the Kuraldal festival and only in front of the Sta. Lucia chapel in Sasmuan.

10. DAING TALUNASAN.  Giant eel brought down from the hills by Aetas, sundried and fried.