Linarang
{{Short description|Filipino cuisine}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Use Philippine English|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox prepared food
| name = Linarang
| image = File:Larang na bakasi (Philippines).jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Linarang na bakasi, made with little morays
| alternate_name = nilarang, larang, gilarang
| country = Philippines
| region = Central Visayas
| creator =
| course = Main course
| served = Hot
| main_ingredient = fish, garlic, tomato, red onion, fermented black beans, unripe mangoes or bilimbi, chilis, coconut milk
| variations =
| calories =
| other =
}}
Linarang, also known as larang or nilarang, is a Filipino fish stew originating from the Central Visayas islands. It is made with fish in a spicy and sour coconut milk-based broth with garlic, red onions, tomatoes, fermented black beans (tausi), chilis, and sour fruits.{{cite web |title=Larangan sa Pasil – Best Larang |url=https://bestofcebu.sunstar.com.ph/2015/02/18/larangan-sa-pasil-best-larang/ |website=SunStar Best of Cebu 2017 |access-date=April 11, 2019}}
Etymology
The name linarang or nilarang (lit. "done as larang"), is the affixed form of the Cebuano verb larang, meaning "to stew with coconut milk and spices".{{cite web |title=larang [lá.rang.] |url=http://www.binisaya.com/cebuano/larang |website=Binisaya |access-date=April 11, 2019}} The word is originally a synonym of the ginataan cooking process (ginat-an or tinunoan in Cebuano), but has come to refer exclusively to this particular dish.{{cite web |title=tinunoan |url=http://www.binisaya.com/cebuano/tinunoan |website=Binisaya.com |access-date=April 11, 2019}}
Description
Linarang is prepared by first sautéing the fish with garlic, red onions, and tomatoes. It is then added to a broth with fermented black beans (tausi), chilis, and a souring agent. The souring agent is usually bilimbi (iba), unripe mangoes, or tamarind (sambag), but can also be any sour fruit.{{cite web |title=Linarang |url=https://myislandcebu.wordpress.com/2017/01/04/linarang/ |website=My Island Cebu |date=January 4, 2017 |access-date=April 11, 2019}}{{cite web |title=Bakasi Recipe |url=http://madeincebu.blogspot.com/2010/09/bakasi.html |website=Made in Cebu |date=September 2010 |access-date=April 11, 2019}}
Variations
Linarang can vary depending on the type of fish used. The most commonly used are porcupinefish (tagotongan), stingrays (pagi), barracuda (rompe), triggerfish (pakol, pugot, and tikos), marlin (malasugui), cobia or snakehead (tasik), parrotfish (molmol or isda sa bato), and Spanish mackerel (tanguigue).{{cite book |last1=Fenix |first1=Michaela |title=Country Cooking: Philippine Regional Cuisines |date=2017 |publisher=Anvil Publishing, Incorporated |isbn=9789712730443 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qI04DwAAQBAJ&q=linarang+bakasi&pg=PT91}}
A notable variant from Cordova, Cebu is linarang na bakasi or nilarang bakasi, which is made from moray eels (bakasi); specifically the little moray (Gymnothorax richardsonii), which is abundant in the waters around the municipality. The eels are commonly referred to as "baby eels" in English due to their size, even though they are fully-grown adults.{{cite web |title=Larang Bakasi ( Baby Ells ) Sauteed with mix herbs and spices |url=https://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=2526828 |website=SparkRecipes |access-date=April 11, 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Albano |first1=Jhoanna Lou |title=Cebu is among the nine cities featured in new Netflix documentary series, 'Street Food' |url=https://www.msn.com/en-ph/kids/other/cebu-is-among-the-nine-cities-featured-in-new-netflix-documentary-series-street-food/ar-BBVPf01?li=BBr8Mkn |website=MSN.com |access-date=April 11, 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Padayhag |first1=Michelle Joy L. |title=Cordova folk hopeful 'bakasi' will survive |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/471931/cordova-folk-hopeful-bakasi-will-survive |website=Cebu Daily News |date=August 22, 2013 |publisher=Inquirer.net |access-date=April 11, 2019}}{{cite web |title=Bakasi / Baby Eels |website=Market Manila |date=May 2008 |access-date=April 11, 2019|url=http://www.marketmanila.com/archives/bakasi-baby-eels}}
In popular culture
Linarang was featured on the Netflix TV series, Street Food (TV series) in the Cebu, Philippines episode.{{cite web |last1=Radovan |first1=Jill Tan |title=This New Netflix Show Proves Cebu's Food Scene Isn't All Lechon |url=https://www.spot.ph/entertainment/movies-music-tv/77653/netflix-street-food-cebu-episode-a3438-20190425-lfrm |website=Spot |publisher=Summit Digital . |access-date=February 28, 2021}}