Fried Suman with Butter, Panucha and Queso de Bola

Here's my family's traditional merienda fare we serve guests. It's so simple and delightful it's been requested time and time again. Enjoy!

Serves 2  Prep Time 30 minutes

vegetable oil
4 white suman
1/2 cup grated queso de bola
1/2 cup melted butter
3/4 cup panucha or muscovado sugar
honeycured ham slices (optional)

1  In a frying pan, heat a little vegetable oil.

2  Place the suman in the pan, and fry each side until it turns golden brown.

3  Transfer the suman to a plate. Top with melted butter, panucha, or muscovado sugar. Then top with grated queso de bola and set honeycured ham on the side. Serve warm.

Tips:
• Instead of melted butter and muscovado sugar, you can drizzle heated cocojam or latik on top of the fried suman.

• For a touch of Asian fusion, drizzle warm gata then place ripe mango slices on top a la sticky rice and mango.

• You can also use flavored suman to add variety to the dish. These are usually sold in Tiendesitas in Pasig City and Market! Market! in Taguig City.

Want to set up a suman buffet?
On a table, set different kinds of suman, different sauces (coco jam, latik, gata, mango sauce), and toppings (sesame seeds, pinipig, ube, muscovado sugar, fresh fruit slices).

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Photography by Ocs Alvarez