{{short description|Filipino eggplant salad}} {{Use Philippine English|date=March 2021}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}} {{Infobox food | name = Kulawo | image = File:Patis Tito Garden Cafe San Pablo Kulawo.jpg | image_size = 160px | caption = | alternate_name = Minanok | country = The Philippines | region = | creator = | course = Main course, side dish | served = Warm | main_ingredient = Coconut milk, banana blossom/eggplant, red onion, salt, black pepper, vinegar | variations = ''Kulawong talong'', ''kulawong puso ng saging'' | calories = | other = | similar_dish = }}
'''''Kulawo''''' is a Filipino salad made with either minced banana blossoms ('''''kulawong puso ng saging''''') or grilled eggplant ('''''kulawong talong''''') cooked in coconut milk which distinctively is extracted from grated coconut meat toasted on live coals. It is a pre-colonial dish originating from the provinces of Laguna and Quezon. ''Kulawo'' is a type of kilawin and ginataan.<ref name="Fenix">{{cite book |last1=Fenix |first1=Michaela |title=Country Cooking: Philippine Regional Cuisines |date=2017 |publisher=Anvil Publishing, Inc. |isbn=9789712730443}}</ref><ref name="Ignacio">{{cite news |last1=Ignacio |first1=Iyay |title=Kulawo |url=https://sigla.ph/recipe/kulawo |access-date=August 11, 2022 |work=Sigla |date=September 21, 2020}}</ref> It is fully vegan and has a unique smoky taste sometimes compared to smoked meat or fish dishes.<ref name="gloss">{{cite web |title=Kulawo |url=https://www.glorious-food-glossary.com/cms/glossary/44-glossary-k/9292-kulawo.html |website=The Glossary about the World of Food |access-date=August 11, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Ignacio"/><ref name="FEATR">{{cite AV media |people= FEATR|date= August 9, 2022 |title=How Burnt Coconut is used in Laguna Philippines (Kulawo and Minanok) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syhH-NFZuJs |publisher= Youtube}}</ref>
==Description== ''Kulawo'' uses either banana blossoms or eggplant. When preparing banana blossoms, it they are finely diced or julienned and mixed with salt for a few minutes and then squeezed dry and washed to remove the bitter sap. With eggplant, the vegetable is first grilled until soft and then peeled and mashed. Then grated coconut is placed in a container with live coals (usually from burning coconut husks) until the grated coconut is toasted brown and emits a slightly burned odor. In modern versions, coconut may also be toasted briefly in an oven. The toasted and grated coconut is removed from the coals and moistened with vinegar.
It is allowed to cool down and squeezed to extract coconut milk which has a smoky flavor. The coconut milk is heated slowly with vinegar (usually coconut or cane vinegar), red onions, salt, and black pepper. Other spices may be added to taste including garlic, ginger, shallots, fish sauce, and chili peppers. The coconut milk must be heated slowly and not allowed to boil to avoid curdling. The banana blossoms are then added last and cooked until tender.<ref name="Fenix" /><ref name="as">{{cite web |title=Easy Kulawo (Puso ng Saging) Recipe |url=http://www.angsaraprecipes.com/easy-kulawo-puso-ng-saging-recipe/ |website=Ang Sarap! Pinoy Recipes |date=June 9, 2017 |access-date=August 11, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Ignacio" /><ref name="as talong">{{cite web |title=Kulawong Talong |url=https://www.angsarap.net/2018/03/12/kulawong-talong/ |website=Ang Sarap |date=March 12, 2018 |access-date=August 11, 2022}}</ref>
==Variations== ''Kulawong puso ng saging'' is sometimes known as ''minanok'' ("done like chicken"), due to its texture being similar to shredded chicken. Despite the name, it does not contain any meat.<ref name="FEATR"/>
Some versions add cooked meat like pork belly (''liempo''), especially in adaptations in other regions. This is non-traditional.<ref name="abs">{{cite news |title=RECIPE: Kulawong puso ng saging |url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/life/04/25/18/recipe-kulawong-puso-ng-saging |access-date=August 11, 2022 |work=ABS-CBN News |date=April 25, 2018}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Food}} *Kinilaw *Poqui poqui *Tiyula itum *Tortang talong
==References== {{reflist|40em}}
==External links== {{Filipino food}} {{Eggplant dishes}}
Category:Eggplant dishes Category:Vegetarian dishes of the Philippines Category:Vegan cuisine Category:Flower dishes Category:Foods containing coconut Category:Salads