Holy Week favorite: Beloved Binignit

If you ask me what food best remind me of Holy Week. My answer would definitely be Binignit. Binignit is a sweet vegetable soup that is very popular in the Visayas especially in Cebu. This local favorite is similar to the guinataan of Luzon. The main ingredients of binignit are root crops like Camote (sweet potato) and Gabi (taro), "Saba" Banana, landang (Palm flour jelly balls), sago, coconut milk, and sugar.  The soup becomes a Holy Week favorite because it does not contain meat and it is usually prepared on Good Friday.  It is very easy to make and it tastes so good that is considered one of the favorite afternoon snack foods of Cebuanos.

camote and gabi peeled and cleaned

Gabi

camote

banana

landang

coconut

sago

peeled saba

First step: Put camote, gabi, then the saba in boling water

When the hard ingredients are soft enough put coconut milk, and the rest of the ingredients.

I like mine soupy

Chunky is also good!

With the availability of ingredients, you can practically enjoy some delicious and hearty binignit all year round. So, what is your favorite local snack???

Links:

Cebuano binignit recipe (via PinoyRecipe)
Torta and Tableya from Argao
The Ngohiong of Cebu
Binignit and Biko (from Everything Cebu)
Chicken BBQ at Matias Barbecue