Lauya
Lauya is a Filipino meat stew or soup characterized by a savory, slightly sweet-and-sour, and gingery broth. It is typically prepared using slow-cooked beef or pork knuckles, along with vegetables such as cabbage or bok choy, potatoes, or green papaya. The dish is seasoned with garlic, onion, ginger, fish sauce, and sugarcane vinegar. It is commonly served as a main dish and eaten with steamed rice. Lauya originates from the Ilocos Region in northern Luzon, Philippines, where it is considered a traditional comfort food. A dish also known as lauya exists in Ilonggo cuisine in western Visayas region and is characterized by a savory and sour, vivid orange, and slightly sticky broth, typically prepared with large chunks of unripe jackfruit.
Lauya is often compared to and regarded as a cousin of Nilaga and Bulalo due to similarities in ingredients and cooking methods; however, it is distinguished by the prominent use of ginger, which gives the dish a distinctive aromatic and flavor. The dish has numerous regional variations and names depending on locality, with some versions prepared using carabao, chicken, or goat, some seasoned with fermented anchovy sauce, and in certain areas it is also referred to as caldo.Etymology
The name lauya is derived from the Spanish-Filipino term la olla, likely referring to the native clay pots traditionally used to cook the stew. These pots allowed meat, vegetables, and spices to simmer slowly, creating a flavorful broth. The term reflects the fusion of indigenous Filipino cooking techniques with Spanish culinary influence, and has persisted in regional languages such as Ilocano and Hiligaynon, even as the dish evolved with local ingredients and preparation styles.Ingredients
Meats
Ilocano lauya is characterized by its simplicity and few ingredients, a product of Ilocano resourcefulness. Historically, Ilocanos were typically given the less desirable cuts of bony meats during the History of [the Philippines (1565–1898)|Spanish colonial period]. Today, various cuts of pork or beef may be used including: pigs feet, ham hock, pork butt, spare ribs, short ribs, shank, oxtail, chuck steak, and brisket. Chicken and carabao can also be used. The meats are cut into larger chunks in order to be simmered and braised for a longer period.Vegetables
Very few vegetables garnish Ilocano lauya, often limited to one or two choices. Stews containing pork and beef may be accompanied by potatoes and cabbage. Chayote and green papaya can be used in stews containing pork or chicken. Bak choy or mustard greens can substitute for cabbage in beef stews while the leaves of moringa, bittermelon, and chili peppers are favored in chicken stews.Seasonings
A subtle amount of vinegar is commonly added to the braising liquid to limit the gaminess of the meat rather than as a souring agent. Salt is used along with a small amount of fish sauce and soy sauce, in addition to whole or coarsely ground peppercorns. Ginger is used in beef and chicken stews, while pork stews uses garlic. Bay leaves are optionally added to pork and chicken stews when leafy greens are not added.