Binungey: Rice in Bamboo of Bolinao, Pangasinan

A visit to the local market is always recommended by Tutubi for first time visitors to a place. There you can see various delicacies and local specialties unknown to Manila denizens that locals are not aware are sought after by "intrepid" explorers like Tutubi always on the lookout for something fresh and new. In front of Bolinao town hall and Bolinao church, there are several stalls chanced upon by Tutubi selling Pangasinan's version of suman: binungey



Similar in manner of cooking to the tinubong of Ilocos, binungey recipe involves cooking sticky rice and coconut milk inside bamboo tubes roasted in fire. Prices range from PhP20.00 each to PhP33.00 (3 for PhP100.00) depending on size of the bamboo tube container.



How does binungey taste like? It's something similar to the sinaing sa gata of Paete, Laguna without the chocolate dip. Binungey though has the slight taste of bamboo, unlike sinaing sa gata cooked in metal cookware and dipped in hot chocolate, often served for breakfast at Paete Public Market.

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How to make Binungey (Source: Alaminos government website):

"1. Soak glutinous rice in coconut extract for a few hours.
2. Then, fill the bamboo tubes with glutinous rice, ¾ full.
3. Top the glutinous rice either with a banana leaf or the coconut shavings that was extracted for the coconut extract.
4. Arrange bamboo tubes in a row in an upright position. Then, lit up a fire on each side, using either wood or coal, just near enough to allow the heat to reach the tubes.
5. Let it steam for a few hours. Then, you can either top it with sugar, nuts or milk upon serving"

Related posts on Bolinao, Pangasinan:

Bolinao Catholic Church
Puerto del Sol