ILOCOS NORTE | Ilocos Empanada at Batac

Wednesday, May 09, 2012

A tour of Ilocos Norte would not be complete without tasting its famous orange-colored empanadas.

While the empanadas most Manileños know are made of crusty bread, the ones being sold in the streets Ilocos are quite different. Instead of bread, the crust is made of rice flour and in place of the usual giniling, its filling is stuffed with egg, bean sprouts and garlic longanisas.
There are actually two versions of the famed Ilocos Empanada, those that are made in Vigan and the ones beng sold in Laoag and Batac. One can immediately see the difference between the two by just looking at them; Vigan’s has a more subtle color than the orangeier version of Batac.
Batac’s Empanada, which is commonly referred to as the Ilocos Empanada uses achuete to color its crust. It’s also much thicker than its Vigan counterpart; making it somewhat harder to eat when it gets cold.

But who would want to eat cold empanadas right? The best way to gobble these orange delights would be to head to Batac City and check the stalls some meters from the Marcoses ancestral house.
The place is an empanada haven, stalls upon stalls of glowing orange half-moons line its corridors and they’re all freshly made. One can order a regular serving which has a filling of grated green papaya for a lesser price or get a special order with bean sprouts and Ilocos longanisa for a few pesos more. But wait there’s more, one can have an even more special empanada by having its stuffing doubled! Customize your fillings with a single egg and double longanisa (single double), a double egg and a single longanisa (double single) or two eggs and longanisa (double double). Sinful, I know, but once those orange things get in your hands and you have your first crunchy bite, you’ll definitely forget how bad this stuff probably is for your health.

But we only live once, so indulge I say.
So how do you want your empanada? Single Double? Double Double? How about adding a bowl of piping hot Miki with it? And don’t forget to put in some of those spicy Ilocos Vinegar too! Yumm!

    Batac Empanada
    Batac City, Ilocos Norte
    GPS Coordinates: 18.053882,120.563917 | Click to view location on Google Maps

       LAKBAY NORTE IS AN ANNUAL MEDIA FAMILIARIZATION TOUR AROUND NORTH LUZON 
       ORGANIZED BY NORTH PHILIPPINES VISITORS BUREAU

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16 comments

  1. Nice and yummy post :) Kamiss ito sa Laoag.

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  2. What's that in the center of the bowl?

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  3. IDOL na kita! galing ng Photography style mo!

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  4. Sulit siguro to empanada na to, ang laki at mukang nakakabuasog agad.

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  5. This is one of the best things that I missed.

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  6. I have tried that last holy week at the Heritage Village, Vigan Kulay orange nga at malake! very unusual when you're in Manila. The empanada makes more special if with suka!

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  7. I'll definitely go for the double double. (yumyum) :-)

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  8. i'm curious why kaya orange ang food coloring? that reminds me kasi of the orange-colored street food here in manila.

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  9. Heeey! Ngayon lang ako ulit nakapag-comment dito sa iyong ever-awesome blog. Hehe!

    Love this post. Made me hungry. Hehe! May small stall called Empanada Nation near OSMA. Actually, the stall's in Pearl Drive, near Starbucks, across from University of Asia and the Pacific. They have huge empanadas that go well with their vinegar. I normally order Double Double. 2 eggs and 2 longganisa. Yummy! You should try it out if ever you're in the area. :)

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  10. Yung orange nyang color pleasing sa mata kaya parang sarap kumain ng empanada.

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  11. Jerome
    According to our dear readers, madami rin nito sa Manila, specially on Sunday Markets :)

    Itin
    It's an egg :)

    Olan
    Shucks naman, thanks!

    Justin, Henry
    Yup masarap ang empanada ng Ilocos, very filling din!

    Ding
    Meron daw sa mga Sunday Market Ding!

    Mitch
    Yup, it pairs perfectly with suka :)

    Yamie
    Double double for me too!

    Turista Project
    May atsuete sir :)

    Mojita_yanipot
    Nice meron pala sa may pearl drive! Di na na update blog mo ah..

    Ian
    Pampatakaw tingin kumbaga :)

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  12. Yum!!! Kakagutom! =)

    Wonder if there's one that's sold in Manila? Para naman malapit lapit. =D

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  13. Tin
    Yup there are places in Manila na may ganyan; check the comments above :)

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  14. Ilocos without empanadas is like Boracay without swimming. Never leave Ilocos without tasting its famed empanadas!

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