Top 30 Northern Marianan Foods

This refreshing Chamorro salad is best when prepared in hot and humid weather. It is also a staple at most Chamorro festivities and consists of only a few ingredients – sliced cucumbers, onions, garlic, soy sauce, vinegar, and salt. The salad should be left to rest for a few minutes before serving, so that all of the flavors get combined. It is recommended to serve it with red rice and meat dishes such as barbecued chicken.Expand

This type of Chamorro kelaguen is made with chopped sardines, either fresh or canned. They are seasoned with lime or lemon juice, salt, lots of onions, and hot peppers. Optionally, grated coconut can also be added to the dish. Once the dish has been prepared, it can be served on its own, as a filling for tacos, or as a delicious dip with tortilla chips.Expand

Pado'lalo' is a Chamorro dish made with an unusual combination of ingredients. It consists of grilled eggplants, chopped green onions, local hot peppers, lemon juice, and coconut milk. The dish is suitable for vegetarians and is typically seasoned only with salt. It is recommended to serve it chilled with other festive Chamorro dishes.Expand

The Chamorro version of tamales is made with corn meal and corn flour (masa harina). Each half of the tamales is colored differently – one side is orange, colored with annatto seeds, and the other half is white. The orange half is traditionally flavored with bacon and chicken stock, while the white half represents starches and has no significant flavorings. Tamales gisu is wrapped in a banana leaf or aluminum foil, then steamed and served warm as a side dish.Expand

Consisting of potatoes, ground beef, onions, pimento (cherry) peppers, olives, raisins, milk, butter, and seasonings, riyenu is a delicious Chamorro side dish that is traditionally served at festivities, celebrations, and holidays. It is often used as a stuffing that accompanies roast pork, turkey, or ham. Sometimes, riyenu is enriched by the addition of toasted bread pieces. If there are any leftovers, they can be refrigerated and reheated the next day.Expand

Månha pie is a decadent Chamorro dessert consisting of a pie crust, a flavorful filling, and a fluffy, airy meringue. The word månha refers to the tender and sweet meat of young green coconuts which goes into the delicious filling along with butter, sugar, egg yolks, vanilla, and evaporated milk. The pie is baked until the meringue turns golden brown, and the pie is then left to cool off until it is ready to be served.Expand

This Chamorro dish consists of taro leaves that are combined with coconut cream. Coconut cream is produced by squeezing grated coconut flesh in water. The dish is typically flavored with turmeric and lemon juice. Gollai hågon suni is a popular festive dish due to its bold flavors which pair nicely with bland or mildly-flavored fish dishes.Expand

Kadon gamson is a traditional Chamorro dish made with an octopus that is cut into pieces and combined with chopped onions, cherry tomatoes, salt, and lemon juice in a pot. The dish is cooked for a short while until the octopus becomes tender, and then coconut milk is added into the pot until the concoction is boiling. Removed from heat, kadon gamson is served warm and enjoyed as a delightful and fragrant seafood dish.Expand

Tinala' katne is a Chamorro version of beef jerky, consisting of dried and cured beef strips. The Spaniards introduced meat to Guam, and the word katne from the name of the dish is derived from the Spanish word carne, meaning meat. Tinala, on the other hand, is derived from the root tåla, meaning to dry, so tinala' katne can be translated as dried and exposed meat. Beef strips are typically rubbed with a combination of salt, black pepper, and garlic, and are then left to dry over a fire or they get placed in the sun for a few days.Expand

Originating from the tiny island of Guam, kå'du fanihi is a truly unique specialty. The dish is made with Mariana fruit fox (fanihi in Chamorro) in a coconut milk soup. The bat is boiled alive, with all of its parts intact, before being served up with coconut milk and, preferably, vegetables. Everything but the fur, teeth, and bones is supposed to be eaten. Due to the way the dish is prepared, it is recommended to be careful while consuming it as there are serious diseases that can be passed along to humans.

MARIANA FRUIT FOX (FANIHI) IS AT RISK OF EXTINCTION.Expand