The Cuisine of Mayon

A staple ingredient in this region of central Philippines is the spectacular plant food from the tree of moringa. A global phenomenon, especially among fitness/longevity/wellness seekers, this ultra-nutritious greens (as fortuitous an addition to soups, particularly) has a hidden recipe beneath this "smoking cauldron." (Mayon is an active volcano, and a national landmark for its perfectly symmetrical beauty; it is also where my secret sharer hails from, she taking a picture of this view from her recent visit, and she telling all her awesome eats.) 

It is called the mung beans mulligatawny in coconut milk and moringa.    

Here's what you need to prepare for a simple but beautiful vegan offering: 

• cloves of garlic finely minced (1 tsp full)
• a medium sweet onion nicely diced
• pinches of coriander, nutmeg, ginger powders, respectively
• split mung beans (half a cup)  
• pure coconut water (2 cups)
• coconut milk (1 cup)
• chayote squash (a small one is enough, cut on a bias, like an avocado on salad)
• chili flakes (a pinch), salt and pepper to taste/to balance
• some leaves of the chili pepper plant (for a "basil" effect; use basil if you can't find these leaves)
• and, naturally, the moringa leaves

In this order, gently sauté the mung beans in olive oil à la arborio rice (as if making risotto) until the onions are translucent and perfumed heady by the spices. Then add the juices, letting it boil to simmering, covered, achieving breaking-tenderness texture to the beans (importantly: halfway in the simmering of your mulligatawny, you must add the chayote squash to cook through with the soup, to lend its deeper minerality in the broth - not for thickness, but for wellness). When done before shutting out the heat, add chili flakes and S&P, fold in, then drop the leaves. Taste for tonic richness and soothing comfort, warm and floral to the palate, and perfect to the waiting belly, for health and strength. 

Don't forget the edible bouquet. Serve soup in a dinner bowl garnished with the flowers of, yes, the moringa tree herself - they are very similar in form as the lilacs, except their color is bridal white.