The purple back flying squid is locally known as the Lumayagan. It is a type of squid that is definitely my favorite. It is a lot smaller than the usual size of a regular squid and it's meat is very soft. Sea Urchin is locally known in Cebu as swaki. These two are some of my favorite sea foods.
Come and join me in my blog today as we search for the elusive purple-back flying squid and sea urchin at Carbon Market in Cebu City.
At 3:00 in the morning, my work ends, and it's the perfect time to hit up Carbon Market. This is when the vendors start displaying all their goods, and we're on the lookout for the purple back flying fish and the sea urchin. We can't get enough of those and are willing to go the extra mile to snag some. Fingers crossed that we'll find everything we need at Carbon Market.
Cebu City's Carbon Market is the biggest market in the area where vendors and buyers converge. The market is a hub for budget-friendly goods, particularly for cheap vegetables and wholesale products. What's great about this place is that it caters to business owners and provides a variety of affordable options. Today, we're on a mission to purchase a purple back flying squid, and sea urchin for breakfast. Let's go!
17B Modern Jeepney
In Cebu City, the jeepneys have codes for destinations. I just left work at Cebu IT Park and I'm headed to Carbon Market. I took the 17 B modern jeepney, which costs 20 pesos from Cebu IT Park to Carbon Market. The ride is comfortable and air-conditioned. Here's a glimpse of what the inside of a modern jeepney looks like in Cebu City, Philippines.
Carbon Market has two fish markets, one inside the main market and the other on the side of the road. After work, I was too tired to walk the mile to the main market, so we went to the second location. The fish stalls were situated on the side of the streets, as shown in the pictures above. There were many buyers waiting in line, and numerous vendors selling a variety of fish and seafood. I love how many options there are at Carbon Market, it can be overwhelming to decide what to buy! The best part is that the prices are cheaper than supermarkets and groceries, and the seafood is fresh.
The highlight of today's journey was discovering the elusive purple-back flying squid! We were lucky to find it at Carbon Market Cebu City for only 100 pesos per kilo, which is a steal compared to the usual price range of 150 to 180 pesos. Amazing! isn't it ?
Fortunately, I was able to purchase a bottle of sea urchin at a reasonable price of 120 pesos. Although I forgot to take photos of the stall, I can attest that the sea urchins we bought from our regular vendor in Carbon Market are always clean, safe, and fresh. My beau and I are huge fans of sea urchins, and we always know where to go to satisfy our cravings.
We then happily went home with our purple back flying squid and our sea urchin.
HOW TO COOK SAUTÉD PURPLE BACK FLYING FISH?
Today's menu features sautéd purple back-flying squid. To start, we heated the pan and added oil. Once the pan was hot, we sautéd the ginger and onion. Adding onion and ginger to the dish not only provides a perfect aroma and flavor but also reduces unwanted smell.
We then added the purple back flying squid and mixed it well with the onion and ginger.
Next, we added some oyster sauce.
Then we seasoned it with ground pepper.
And Voila! That's it! It is how to cook sautéd purple back flying squid. It is that fast and easy.
Here is the finished product.
In the Philippines, rice is a staple food and no meal is complete without it. That's why this menu is perfect for breakfast, lunch, or even dinner. It's easy to prepare and straightforward. A good-tasting variant of rice would make it even better. This vayand is best paired with rice.
Bottle of Sea Urchin and The Sautéd Purple Back Flying Squid for Breakfast
Finally, after many days of craving purple-back flying squid and sea urchins, it has come to life. You don't know how much this simple meal made me so happy. It is one of the best breakfasts I had in my life. Nothing compares to eating fresh seafood.
Sea urchin is a highly nutritious seafood that is rich in protein and vitamins C and A, making it an excellent addition to any healthy diet. While it tastes delicious, it's important to remember that moderation is key and that it should be balanced with other healthy foods on the table. Additionally, staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water is important to maintain overall health.
Time to eat breakfast! Ciao!