Hello Hivers, Good day, my name is 
Our dish for today is "Kinilaw na Balat (Sea Cucumber)." I'm not sure what the exact English term for "Kinilaw" is, but it's like a raw sea cucumber salad that is bathed with vinegar.
When we observed a low tide in the calendar, my family usually go to the sea to look for food like fish, shells, and other edible seafoods.
This is our catch:
Sea Cucumbers are more accessible during low tide, especially in shallow waters and sandy area.
We cook a soup of seashells, but we're not focused on it because my major dish to share is Kinilaw. First, I wash the sea cucumber to remove any debris, then prepare a boiling pot of water and boil the sea cucumber for 5-10 seconds to make it slightly tender and chewy. If you're wondering why it's boiling for such a short period of time, it's because it tastes better with a little crunch. After boiling, set aside the sea cucumber and let it cool. Then, cut it into little cubes. Then, add minced green tomato, onion, garlic, and calamansi. Then add the Coconut Vinegar and season with any spices you desire.
Kinilaw na Balat has a mild neutral flavor that complements the vinegar and spices. The vinegar and calamansi provide an acidic taste, while the balat or sea cucumber provides an oceanic flavor. Its texture may be chewy or not, depending on how it is made.
We partner it with rice and boiled sweet potatoes.
Additional information: Sea cucumbers are high in protein and have other health advantages. It's worth trying if you're intrigued about the flavor of sea cucumber!
Additional Dish: KINILAW NA BULINAW
Yum!