MANILA: Widely known as a popular breakfast street food in the Muslim south of the Philippines, pastil has evolved from being a staple of the halal cuisine to becoming a ubiquitous snack found in many parts of the country.
Also known as pater, patel, or patil, it is a compact block of rice with shredded meat — usually chicken, beef or fish — wrapped in a banana leaf. Originally from Maguindanao province, it has spread to other regions of the Muslim-majority island, where local communities have added to it their own unique flavors and twists.
“You see the change in spelling, different inflections of language,” Datu Shariff Pendatun, chef and food writer who traces his roots in the region, told Arab News.
“They say things differently and then add different ingredients as well to it to make it more palatable to them or to give it their signature flair by adding different spices.”
The most basic pastil recipe consists of steamed white rice and shredded meat that has been sauteed on top, and occasionally a boiled egg.
