How To Cook The Best Adobong Labong

What is Adobong Labong

These days many of us wanted a delicious dish yet a nutritious one that is good for our body. Well, this is the dish that you are looking for. Adobong Labong or the Bamboo Shoot Adobo is one of the best various dishes of Adobo here in the Philippines. We are familiar with Adobong chicken, pork, beef, eggplant, string beans, spinach, and tofu. It is also similar to this dish but in a way suitable for vegetarian people. 

Guess you are not familiar with the Bamboo shoots or "Labong" in Filipino. It is the soft, and fresh good bamboo sprouts sprung on the ground. I assume that I did not frighten your appetite away. But it is a good and healthy dish that will satisfy our body. Also the benefits of this is it is easy and less time for preparing. The way of cooking Adobong labong is the bamboo shoots sliced and steamed, then cooked in a combination of soy sauce and vinegar, seasoned with sugar, salt, and pepper.

Ways to Cook

There are several ways to prepare for this dish. When cooking this meal course, Certainly, the affordance and what you have in the kitchen. Here are the three traditional ways to cook to maintain the authentic taste of “Adobong Labong or the Bamboo shoot adobo.”

Stovetop

It is the multi-cooker that made your cooking much more manageable. You don't need to look for any appliances. In other words, it is all of the above or one package. Including the pressure, slow, rice cooking, steaming, warming, and sautéing.

Instant pot

The food preparation process relies on applying low-heat for an extended amount of time. It is preparing for 'one-pot' recipes, which means they demand minimal food preparation. Chopping up the ingredients in approximately large chunks adds seasoning and liquid, and that's it.

Slow Cook

There are many several versions of Adobong Labong recipes all over the Philippines. Filipinos are indeed very creative enough to make these kinds of recipes. Here are the top five recipes that surely satisfied your cravings!

Other Delicious Variants

Spicy Adobong Labong

Filipino is known to love spicy food. Well, if you want some spicy kick on your Adobong Labong, you can put some chili, either green or red chili depending on your mood. If you want moderate spiciness, you can add just two green chilies, but you can use red chili if you want extreme spiciness. Also, it adds flavor to your dish.

Labong Adobo with Saluyot

For more nutritious and healthier Adobong labong, you can add saluyot or corchorus. Saluyot is a vegetable popular in cooking in many provinces and an herbal plant native to the Philippines. It is rich in vitamins E and C and packed with antioxidants. So if you are a vegetarian person, it is the best dish for you. And also, it is suitable for kids.

Labong Adobo with Pork

Suppose you want some meatier and healthy meal. In that case, you can mix it up with pork when you are not a vegetarian and find Adobong Labong boring because it is chock-full of vegetables and you are more familiar with pork's taste. You can add some pork, either fried or steam. It's up to you.

Adobong Labong with Gata/ Coconut Milk

The Philippines is rich in Coconut trees, so it is more common in some provinces that there are fresh Coconut milk or gata mix up in the dish. Suppose you want more healthy and creamy sauce in the Adobong Labong. You can add some gata/coconut milk, and it has more that will please your meal course.

Adobong Labong with Shrimps

When you are in an area beside the sea, it is the best mix with your Adobong Labong. It is the best option if you can't afford pork, and it is healthier than pork. But if you afford shrimp and pork, it is also the best partner with Adobong Labong. It adds the freshness of shrimp.

Trivia

Did you know that Adobong Labong originated in the province of Bicol? Bicol province is known as rich in Bamboo shoots that eventually adapt and are used for cooking.  The variety dish of adobo was famous and known not just in the Philippines but also in other countries. And until they discover that bamboo shoots and adobo can combine.

Tips

Here are some tips to make this recipe perfect:

• Some types of bamboo shoots have cyanide content. Make sure to peel the skin and boil the bamboo shoots before using them to reduce or waive the toxin.

• If you want some more effortless way, purchase canned bamboo shoots instead of fresh ones. Instead of boiling, dip them in freshwater an hour before using them because they are already pre-boiled.

• If you use the fresh bamboo shoots, do not neglect to boil them first for around 20 minutes.

• Bamboo shoots have that gross smell once it ages, but if you don't choose to buy the packed ones, boil them multiple times to get freed of the smell. Make sure to always choose the best quality.

• If you use gata/coconut milk, check the color and smell of the coconut milk.

• If you use shrimp, the shell should have a firm and glossy appearance. Look for black spots on the head first, then the body.

• Always regard the people who will eat this dish.

Troubleshooting

To avoid ruining your dish too much, here are some specific measures:

• Always check your time in boiling bamboo shoots to avoid overcooked.
• You don’t need to measure every single ingredient

Best Serve With

Here are some of the best partners of this recipe to highlight its flavor, balance, and taste.

• White rice -  It is always the best partner with the dish. Filipino love to eat rice that they can’t live without.
• Garlic rice - The Filipino Garlic Rice or Sinangag is the perfect way to use leftover rice. Because of its delicious flavor, you can partner it with Adobo Labong.
• Java Rice - The yellow-colored rice in the Philippines, a flavor of turmeric and annatto. It is tastier because of the balanced flavor of the delicate taste of Java and Adobong Labong. 
• Minatamis na Saging - The best dessert you can partner with is its sweetened caramel and banana. It is the perfect balanced meal because of the taste of salt and sour flavor of Adobong labong. 

Conclusion

This dish portrays that the Philippines is rich in natural resources and culture. Including that bamboo shoots, coconut milk, etc., This is one of the healthiest dishes you can prepare.  You can serve it to your family that will benefit their body. It is easier and less time to cook. But in preparing ingredients, make sure to provide them for a day. 

You can make this recipe at home whenever you want. You could also serve this dish any time of the day. If you're not here in the Philippines, maybe this dish will not satisfy your taste buds, but you will surely love it. You could never go wrong with this dish. And you can share this recipe with your friends!

Recipe