Hotta Ulam | Lechon Binagoongan

If you’re from a non-English speaking country pronouncing “Binagoongan” is a already a tongue twister by itself. Actually, this is a Filipino dish made of sautéed pork that’s flavoured with shrimp paste (“Bagoong”). It is rare to have it paired with your steamed rice as most would have the spicier Bicol Express. It’s considered one of the dishes you’ll find in a Carinderia (Food Stall), and 7 Eleven adds this as part of diverse choices under the Hotta Ulam range. It’s barely notices and possible underappreciated for those health conscious due to the pork. It’s another Rico’s Lechon collaboration by the famed convenient store as an exclusive.

Not the most appealing dish if you hoped for that photographic aesthetic, but it is flavourful dish that you must have once in a while. It’s not as popular as Bicol Express, where it’s more spice than the use of meat. Rico’s Lechon knows how to create great tasting dish with pork, because they’re known for their crispy lechon.

The usual packaging is possibly familiar by now that it is only a viand that needs to be served with steamed rice. The dish is resting on a tiny black tray wrapped in a vacuum sealed non-spill plastic wrapping that’s appears to look like a zip lock bag minus the resalable lip to close it.

Not-Picture-tastic but Good

In a perfect world, the image of a Binagoongan product image would certainly be like the product itself. But in the real world don’t judge the meal from its product picture. You pop it in the microwave and let the food judge by itself than base it from how it looks like that really way different once you have it.

This was quite mouthwatering once you have it and it is unfortunate that it was only served in this product, which deserves an actual meal. If you’re into exploring local cuisine in another country other than your own then try this Filipino dish. Even those locally have been around and haven’t tried one surely will suit your curiosity.

Don’t Overcook It

For some reasons not all food meals have the same setting when you put it in the microwave, hence the reason why this dish is a little bit beat up. Be careful on how you have it set to the appropriate setting not to overcook the dish as not all microwave ovens are created equal with their settings.

The ones in 7 Eleven have been set to the products timer on how to heat them with the case of the Binagoongan, this dish must not be put on the oven for more than 3 minutes as it contains fatty pork that were dying to get out of the oven. But it still is good just don’t overdo it.

Overall it is entirely different from Bicol Express, and for those curious wan ting to explore Filipino dishes this is one of them that deserves a second look. The portions in this one is understandable for the cost, but 7 Eleven might want to take advantage and have a full meal offering of this with rice in the future.

• Food Quality: 4 out of 5
• Affordability: B+
• Overall: Small Portions and Don't Overcook it.

Lenchon Binagoongan | Retailed at: ₱ 75.00 Pesos [$ 2.01 AUD | $ 1.41 USD]**

** - Currency Converter via Google.com