Backpacking Philippines: Minani: Paete's Unique Street Food

Minani: Paete's Unique Street Food

It was mentioned countless of times in this blog about minani in Paete but no picture nor description of it was ever posted here so for your appreciation, Tutubi would like to share one of his favorite snacks you can buy only on the narrow streets of Paete: the minani

Minani, in Tagalog, means made like mani (peanuts) and aptly describes the way people of Paete prepare cassava (kamoteng kahoy) to be deep fried and mixed with garlic, salt and sometimes MSG (some people think it's evil but Tutubi thinks otherwise)

Minani being cooked at a roadside store near Paete's Plaza Edesan (Nikon D80 18-200 VR)

Small serving of minani can be bought at a mere P5. Some locals love to put vinegar on their "Paete Fries." (Canon Ixus 30)

It's a simple recipe but the secret is the selection of kamoteng kahoy (cassava) to get the perfect, translucent and fudge-like minani. Remember also to soak the diced cassava in water to remove natural cyanide in linamarin form (linamarin protects the cassava plant from predators) usually released into the air when processed.

The next time you set foot on Tutubi's hometown, try to sample this unique delicacy as well as other Paete culinary treasures. Should you happen to catch the elusive Tutubi, he may even buy some for you. :P

Labels: Calabarzon, Laguna, Paete, Southern Tagalog, Street Food

posted by GingGoy @ 10:29 PM,

28 Comments:

At Apr 8, 2008, 11:48:00 PM, Anonymous said...: it looks yummy! but i think it's better when there is sugar or isawsaw sa sugar.
At Apr 8, 2008, 11:50:00 PM, Photo Cache said...: Tutubi, this looks like a good way to eat cassava. I should try this next time I see fresh cassava in the market. I dont believe we have this in my province and I have not seen this in Manila either. Thanks for sharing.
At Apr 9, 2008, 5:21:00 AM, pieterbie said...: OMG, you made me feel hungry again.
At Apr 9, 2008, 8:47:00 AM, carlotta1924 said...: looks yummy! mahuhuli din kita--libre is libre hehehe :D thanks for sharing =)
At Apr 9, 2008, 1:30:00 PM, Anonymous said...: i missed minani... sayang i wasn't able to taste it again when I was in paete during holy week.
At Apr 9, 2008, 2:09:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Looks very luscious to me; and it's certainly very nutritious.
At Apr 9, 2008, 3:28:00 PM, Sidney said...: Will do !!!

How was your trip?
At Apr 9, 2008, 4:28:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Hi Tito, ka chat ko si Alex and Mhel kanina...ikaw na lang wala...sarap talaga ng minani, pwede rin kaming magluto nyan dito he he he siempre taga Paete kami di ba...regards to misis...
At Apr 9, 2008, 8:39:00 PM, Vlado&Toni said...: this is a very interesting way to eat cassava.looks yummy and also exotic in a way. i only know cassava cake or boiled cassava with coconut milk.
btw, you have an interesting blog. i got here thru lifecruiser's blog. will sure come back for more.
At Apr 10, 2008, 5:13:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Cassava with vinegar? I wonder how that tastes like.
At Apr 10, 2008, 5:43:00 PM, Kyels said...: Sarap! Simple but it looks delicious. However, cassava reminds me of tapioca though.

:D
At Apr 10, 2008, 11:10:00 PM, Anonymous said...: I was in Paete last Saturday. I'll definitely try this delicacy the next time I visit your town. Thanks for sharing this info.
At Apr 11, 2008, 9:04:00 AM, Anonymous said...: meron pala ganito sa Paete. I'll try to taste this one when I get to go back.
At Apr 11, 2008, 7:38:00 PM, Toe said...: I've never seen that before and it looks really delicious. I love anything crunchy and with garlic. Nice name... minani... so it's only like peanuts, right? But no peanuts in it because it's actually made of cassava... very interesting.
At Apr 11, 2008, 9:35:00 PM, Anonymous said...: I've passed by Paete several times and with this post about "Minani", I will make it a point to look for one next time. Thanks!
At Apr 13, 2008, 10:36:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Uy! Naka D80 na sya. Paired pa with a 18-200 VR! HEhe. Sweet!
At Apr 14, 2008, 2:29:00 PM, Mari said...: My first time to hear of minani or fried cassava. It looks good. Perhaps I should try making it. We have cassava in our local market here.
At Apr 14, 2008, 3:29:00 PM, gmirage said...: Hmm, this is like kamotecue but smaller and without the sugar? I certainly need to go home now...=(
At Apr 15, 2008, 3:47:00 AM, Gypsy said...: Looks delicious! Hmm..wonder if I could take this recipe back home...:)
At Apr 15, 2008, 4:49:00 AM, x said...: that LOOKS SOOOO GOOD!!!
At Apr 22, 2008, 1:57:00 PM, aldrinbee said...: yup, prepared and cooked like peanuts complete with lots of garlic.

botits, i wonder if "ginataang kamote" (cassava simmered on coconut milk) could be considered as another one of our unique foods. but i have not eaten it anywhere else except in our town. my dada (granparents) used to cooked if very slowly on a kalan de uling. the more slowly it cooks the better the taste until it is simmering on it's own coconut oil (nagmamantika sa gata). i hope you can post some pictures with a more meaningful description, or, if you have posted already (sorry naman) just please link me.
At Apr 24, 2008, 7:35:00 PM, GingGoy said...: aldrin, naalala ko nga sya naglaway tuloy ako :P
At Apr 30, 2008, 8:14:00 AM, Nicely said...: Oh, yes. I'm sorry, it's a barangay in Majayjay municipality.
At Jan 14, 2010, 5:02:00 AM, Anonymous said...: I hope to see this "minani" being served in
clean, safety, presentable street food vendors in Metro Manila.

Street food vendors in the Philippines should use more locally produce naturally grown herbs and green leafy vegetables (preferably not overcooked).

I hope also that street vendors in Metro Manila should be required to cover hair, wear apron, with clean short nails, wearing shoes (with stainless steel made carts). Dapat may mga health practices na dapat sundin ang mga street vendors (especially food vendors)

Next Christmas and New Year Season dapat ang paggamit ng mga firecrackers ay concentrated lang sa isa or dalawang areas lang per city. Marami ring na-scare na mga turista sa mga pagpapaputok - tapos hindi pa environmentally friendly. Na-Scare din natin iyong mga migratory birds - eh iyan pa naman ang pinupromote ng Department of Tourism.

Personally, I say MSG - Monosodium Glutamate - is toxic, rock salt/natural salt is better. Simpleng Timpla (na nakalagay sa bottle) ay puwede ring magamit ng mga food vendors.

Laing and Bicol express should be served regularly in
Street foods. Mas gusto ko talaga iyong pancit palabok na walang MSG.

Let's also promote our local fruits. I forgot the name of this fruit (colored dark brown) and taste like singkamas - recommended for diabetic.

There is not much pension houses, guesthouses for backpackers (Foreign and Local)sa Metro Manila at Cebu. Maraming mga vacationing OFWs na gustong pumunta sa Metro Manila at Cebu na naghahanap ng place to stay na very affordable ang mga room rates -something like Thailand is offering to backpackers.

Dapat mayroon ding mga testimonials (interviews) na mga Pilipino at mga ibang lahi sa You tube or sa ibang social media tungkol sa kanilang vacation sa Philippines.

For 2010 - more electric tricycles, electric jeepneys, electric taxis in the streets of Metro Manila, Cebu, Baguio, Tagaytay, and Davao. Improved transportation - with appropriate bus and jeepney stops. Tapos mae-experience ko iyong pag-pila sa bus stops wow! Clean Pasig river, clean Laguna and Manila Bay.

MMDA Chairman Inocentes - excellent job para sa mga street vendors - para ala-Hongkong, Singapore, Thailand type - Galing!!!!! 5 star.

God bless the Philippines.
At Jan 14, 2010, 9:47:00 AM, GingGoy said...: anonymous, you mayy be referring to yacon, looks like cassava but tstes like singkamas. It's not local though, it came from south america on the slopes of the andes. I'll be able to eat minani again on the 30th or 31st :p
At Apr 22, 2010, 7:33:00 AM, ador said...: Uh I have a first taste of this in Majayjay when my late father use to bring us in his hometown when we are young, been there last January but didnt find somebody selling sayang I want my wife pa naman to taste it baon sana papuntang Taytay falls :).
At Oct 13, 2010, 12:18:00 PM, Resty Odon said...: psst! AHA, bat di mo kami pinakain nito nuon when we went to your place!?
At Oct 13, 2010, 12:56:00 PM, GingGoy said...: r.o., next time...wala ako makita dati e katamad naman magluto pa hehe

Minani: Paete's Unique Street Food

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