Laing Recipe
Laing is a spicy Filipino dish made of taro leaves stewed in coconut milk. This famous dish from Bicol only needs a few ingredients but requires a lot of patience. Fire up the stove, and embark on a journey to craft an authentic Filipino laing.
How To Cook Laing
Laing is a straightforward process as long as you have the right ingredients and follow the proper steps. Once the taro leaves have softened and the coconut milk has thickened, you will have a pot of delicious laing to enjoy. The mixture of creamy coconut milk and the earthy flavor of the taro leaves creates a dish that is uniquely Filipino. When you serve the laing with a side of rice to soak up the rich sauce, the flavors and textures come together in a perfect combination. By putting in the effort to make laing from scratch, you can gain a new appreciation for this traditional Filipino dish and understand why it has remained popular for generations. With some practice, you will soon be making laing like a pro and sharing it with friends and family.
Ingredients You'll Need for Laing
To make laing, you will need the following ingredients:
- Dried taro leaves – The main ingredient, gabi leaves give laing its distinct flavor and texture.
- Coconut milk – Laing gets its creaminess from coconut milk. It is very recommended to make your own fresh coconut milk from shredded coconut meat and water.
- Chili peppers – Laing typically contains green and red chilies to give it a spicy kick. Adjust the number of chilies according to your desired heat level.
- Garlic – Minced garlic adds flavor to the coconut-based sauce.
- Ginger – Provides a zingy undertone.
- Onion – Finely chopped onion helps enhance the flavor of the coconut milk.
- Pork – Pork belly are commonly added to laing to give more flavor.
- Patis or fish sauce (optional) – A few dashes of patis helps boost the savory flavor. Add according to your taste.
- Shrimp paste – Adds more flavor to your laing.
How to Prepare the Coconut Milk for Laing
To prepare coconut milk for laing, you will need the following ingredients:
- 2 cups shredded coconut (preferably fresh, not sweetened)
- 4 cups warm water
By extracting your own coconut milk, you can control the consistency and flavor. Homemade coconut milk also tends to be more nutritious as it is made from fresh coconut without any preservatives or stabilizers. When cooked in dishes like laing, the natural creaminess of fresh coconut milk enhances the texture and overall taste. With some patience and a little effort, you can make coconut milk for laing that is far superior to anything store-bought.
Alternatively, you may use canned coconut milk that you can buy in grocery stores.
Laing
Course: MainCuisine: FilipinoDifficulty: MediumServings
6
servingsPrep time
20
minutesCooking time
1
hour45
minutesTotal time
2
hours5
minutesLaing is a mixture of creamy coconut milk and the earthy flavor of the taro leaves. Serve the laing with hot and steamy rice to soak up the rich sauce, the flavors and textures come together in a perfect combination.
Ingredients
Dried Taro Leaves
Coconut Milk / Cream
Pork Belly
Shrimp Paste
Garlic
Onion
Ginger
Green Chili
Red Chili
Fish Sauce
Ground Black Pepper
Pork Bouillon Cube
Directions
- Add pork belly slices in a pan and cook until brown and oil starts to come out.
- Add ginger, garlic, and onion. Saute for a few minutes.
- Season the pork with fish sauce and ground black pepper.
- Add shrimp paste and continue sauteing for a minute.
- Add coconut milk and bring to a simmer.
- Add pork bouillon cube and dried taro leaves.
- Push down the taro leaves and let it absorb the coconut milk. Simmer until the sauce almost dries out.
- Add coconut cream and cook until liquid is reduced.
- Season with salt as needed. Add green and red chilies.
Recipe Video
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About Me
Ryan Serrano
Kusinero | Digital Advertising Specialist | Web Designer and Developer
Hi, my name is Ryan!
Welcome to my little space of the internet!
I'm the creator and author behind Kuserrano. This website is my humble way of sharing easy Filipino recipes that I usually prepare for my family.
This all started from an idea that hit me while preparing a meal for my family. Since I have an experience in the world wide web, and I cook everyday for my family, I thought of why not use my skills and share my passion to everyone.
I live in Quezon City, Metro Manila with my wife and kids. My favorite things in life are extra rice, a glass of Coke with a lot of ice and a quick run on a treadmill.
