Products inspired by malunggay took centerstage here Friday as the city paid tribute to the famous Ilocano backyard tree.

With free tasting available to the public, various malunggay recipes were spread out at a long table inside the Laoag multi-purpose hall as part of the Dulang Food Fair.

Several Ilocano food favorites, such as chicharon, dudol, patupat, cascaro, miki, sushi, pandesal, and puto, were given a new twist with malunggay additives.

The Dulang Food Fair coincided with the annual Marunggay Festival, now in its fifth year of championing the health and nutrition of the locals while paying tribute to the malunggay (Moringa oleifera).

“The Dulang Food Fair serves as a gastronomic showcase, putting the spotlight on marunggay, our very own nutrient-packed superfood as the featured ingredient in an assortment of snacks, delicacies, desserts, and savory dishes,” Mayor Michael Keon said.

From traditional favorites to contemporary twists, the array of food creations on display at the food fair “underscored just how versatile marunggay can be in our everyday meals,” he said.

Aside from the food fair, this year’s festival also featured a cooking competition where participants showcased their creativity in cooking malunggay-inspired dishes such as ginataang malunggay, malunggay crispy chicken tofu kare-kare, and nutri crispy malunggay balls.

Keon said he is hoping that through the festival, more ways would be discovered to entice more farmers and investors to maximize the potential of malunggay, which is easy to grow in Ilocos Norte, in the global market.

All 80 barangays of Laoag City have malunggay plantations. (PNA)