''Curacha Alavar'', sometimes referred to as ''curacha con salsa Alavar'' ("Curacha with Alavar sauce") in

Chavacano Chavacano or Chabacano is a group of Spanish-based creole language varieties spoken in the Philippines. The variety spoken in Zamboanga City, located in the southern Philippine island group of Mindanao, has the highest concentration of speake ...

Spanish-based creole language A Spanish creole, or Spanish-based creole language, is a creole language (contact language with native speakers) for which Spanish serves as its substantial ''lexifier''. A number of creole languages are influenced to varying degrees by the Spa ...

, is a

Filipino Filipino may refer to: * Something from or related to the Philippines ** Filipino language, standardized variety of 'Tagalog', the national language and one of the official languages of the Philippines. ** Filipinos, people who are citizens of th ...

dish made from

spanner crab ''Ranina ranina'', also known as the Huỳnh Đế crab, (red) frog crab or spanner crab, is a species of crab found throughout tropical and subtropical habitats. It is often fished for its meat, and is the only known species in its genus. Desc ...

s ('' curacha''), garlic, ginger, salt, and Alavar sauce. The key ingredient is the Alavar sauce, a secret blend of coconut milk, '' taba ng talangka'' (crab roe paste), and various spices. It is a regional specialty of the

Zamboanga City Zamboanga City, officially the City of Zamboanga (Chavacano and es, Ciudad de Zamboanga, Tausūg: ''Dāira sin Sambuangan'', fil, Lungsod ng Zamboanga, ceb, Dakbayan sa Zamboanga), is a city in the Zamboanga Peninsula region of the Philippi ...

. The sauce was invented by Maria Teresa Camins Alavar and is originally served in the Alavar Seafood Restaurant. The restaurant now sells the original Alavar sauce recipe in packets. It is a variant of the traditional ''

ginataang curacha ''Ginataang hipon'' is a Filipino seafood soup made from shrimp in coconut milk and spices. It differs from other types of ''ginataan'' (which also commonly include shrimp), in that it does not use vegetables. It is a type of ''ginataan''. Varia ...

'' (curacha in coconut milk). The recipe can also be made with mud crabs (''cangrejo'') or prawns (''locon'').

References

{{Seafood Philippine cuisine

See also

References