Nilusak/Nilubak
This delicious delicacy is called by different names depending on what province or region in the Philippines you are in. In the provinces of Bohol and Cebu, it is called Nilusak or Nilubak Saging (pounded boiled banana). People in other provinces have their own name for this tasty, affordable delicacy.
Among the Filipino delicacies, the Nilusak/Nilubak may not be that popular and available as compared to other delicacies like the Puto Maya, Bibingka, and Biko, but it doesn't mean it's not delicious.
This delicacy has been the favorite snacks among Filipinos, particularly in the Philippine countryside. Its soft, sticky, and sweet taste make it a favorite, especially for children.
Back in the province of Bohol, during class recess, schoolchildren would race outside the classroom to buy this tasty delicacy from vendors selling different native delicacies. During those years, Nilusak was only priced less than a P1 Peso.
Ingredients
The Nilusak is a mixture of boiled banana (Saba variety), brown or white sugar, and grated matured coconut. If you were on a tight budget or if you want less cost, brown or refined sugar and banana will do. Even without grated coconut, Nilusak still tastes delicious.
How to prepare Nilusak?
Like any other delicacies, preparing Nilusak is also physically tiring. In the absence of the mechanical pounder, one has to manually pound the boiled banana. Peeled the boiled banana, pound them using wooden mortar and pestle. Mix the grated coconut into the pounded banana.
The prepared Nilusak appears in two colors depending on the color of sugar used. If you use brown sugar, the Nilusak will appear color brown, and if you use white sugar it will appear white.
For Nilusak sellers, after pounding they mold them Nilusak in cellophane before molding them in a plastic cap of the sandwich spread bottle so the Nilusak will not stick to the plastic cap.
The molded Nilusak will form the plastic cap. Before selling, they place freshly grated matured coconut on top of the Nilusak.
Taste
The Nilusak is soft since it is pounded. One can feel the taste of the grated banana mixed with the brown or refined sugar. It also tastes sweet because of the sugar mixed into it.
Favorite Snack
In the Philippines, the Nilusak is a favorite snack among Filipino children and adults for its deliciously sweet, soft, and sticky taste and affordability.
Affordable Price
Aside from its delicious taste, the beauty of Nilusak is it is affordable that even children can afford. In the Philippine provinces, pounded bananas are sold for only P5 pesos or less depending on the seller and the mixture of ingredients.
In the city, Nilusak is priced higher, ranging from P10 to P15 pesos, especially if the seller is renting a stall and it also depends on the ingredients used. Nilusak still tastes delicious even without the grated coconut.
The answer to the question, " Who was the King in the Philippine action movies? The answer was the late Fernando ' Da King' Poe Jr.