Legazpi Sunday Market: Trying Moroccan Food, Deep-Fried Watermelon, and More

I’ve heard good things about Legazpi and Salcedo weekend markets of Makati. There are interesting finds, fresh produce, and of course, delicious food. But due to weekend work, I couldn’t visit these food paradises. This set-up changed when the pandemic hit. My work became flexible and weekend work was either lessened or removed.

So I knew what to do and visited these markets. In this article and the next one, I will write about the food I tried. I’ll start with the Legazpi Sunday Market. It used to be located at the now multi-level Legazpi Car Park before it moved to a smaller parking lot in between Corinthian Plaza and Washington Sycip Park.

Unlike its Salcedo counterpart, there are no tables available. So it will be good bring picnic mats and enjoy your food at the nearby parks. We went to Legazpi Active Park.

But before I continue, let me lay down the game plan. Prior to my visit to the Legazpi Market, I didn’t do any research. Also, my good old trusted technique of looking for queues wouldn’t work because there were virtually none. So here’s the strategy: Find the food that I wouldn’t normally find anywhere else. It’s good to have a bit of adventure!

Here’s the food I tried:

Deep-Fried Oreos and…drumroll…Watermelon at Maryland ChickAn

You may have heard of Oreos that are battered and deep-fried, and some of call them “Wicked Oreos”. But have you heard of deep-fried watermelon? Maryland ChickAn (yes, that’s the spelling) sells these bad boys. Fred Corder, one of the co-owners, hails from Maryland, U.S. and brought his grandma’s recipes with him.

Their poster claims that the deep-fried watermelon “sound disgusting, taste delicious.” That piqued my curiosity so I tried them. But here’s an interesting story behind the dish. The recipe of Corder’s grandma deep fries watermelon on a stick. But he modified it for the Filipino market and ended with a deep-fried balls similar to Kwek-Kwek (deep-fried battered quail eggs), only slightly bigger.

So how did I find it? Honestly, there’s nothing spectacular about it. BUT I love the batter, which is chewy, doughy, and fluffy (yes, a lot of textures going on). It’s nicely crisp on the outside as well. The watermelon lacks sweetness so I’m assuming the batch that I got wasn’t the best. I wished it was sweeter; maybe that would be the game changer.

I also tried Oreos and they’re amazing! I guess the batter makes all the difference. You can get any sweet treat, dunk it into that batter, and elevate it to the next level. It’s too bad that the deep-fried Twinkies aren’t available.

Suggestion: Banana? Ube? Pop Tarts? The possibilities are endless!

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Durian at a Fruit Stall

You’ll find several stalls selling fresh seafood, fruits, and vegetables. I passed by a fruit stall and immediately whiffed the pungent smell of durian.

While the odor is repellant to some, it is magnetic to me! I can’t skip on eating a fresh piece of the King of Fruits!

Jams at Oya Homemade Goods

If you want a break from the usual strawberry jam and orange marmalade, then head over to Oya Homemade Goods. They sell unique jams such as a Piña Colada and Spiced Apple.

But I got the Butt Monkey Jam. No, it’s not made with monkey but! LOL. It’s a banana and butter jam! Can you imagine putting it on your PB&Js? Yum!

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Kikiam at Shang kee Delicacies

This is not the Kikiam (fish cake) sold in the streets. Rather, this is the minced pork roll wrapped with beancurd skin. Shang Kee’s version has a nice flavor and crisp skin.

They actually call this Ngohiong. But this is more known as kikiam in Manila and is different from the ngohiong of Cebu. However, this is accepted as “ngo hiang” in some Southeast Asian countries. So that’s a little knowledge bomb for you.

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Kofte at Evet Kofte

Kofte (or Kofta) are Turkish meatballs typically made with beef or lamb. It’s flavored with spices and usually paired with pita and vegetables. You can think of this like a Kebab without the stick.

The beef meatballs of Evet Kofte has a strong cumin flavor and I like it. I got the one with salad, which gives crunch and freshness. I just wished the kofte were juicier. (In my experience, the authentic kebabs that I tried so far were flavorful but dry. I’m beginning to think that Middle Eastern meat, at least the minced and grilled types, are like this. Can someone educate me on this?)

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Moroccan Food at The Moroccan Lady

When I was scouting for food, I saw this Moroccan stall and the Tagines (a Moroccan cookware) that are spread on the table. Instantly, I knew I had to try some of its dishes. This is probably the most uncommon cuisine you will find in the Market.

A Tagine (the cookware) — A *Tagine* (the cookware)

Of course, I had to try their tagine (yes, that’s the name of the dish). It is any stew that is cooked in its namesake cookware.

I got their Chicken Tagine, which is made of chicken breast that are juicy and tender, swimming in a light and flavorful stew that’s made yellow with saffron. It’s hard to pin down the flavors but my guess is that there’s fennel and turmeric (I gotta train my palette more). There are also olives in it.

I got a side of pita and Baba Ghanouj, which is a dip made with roasted eggplant, tahini or sesame paste, and olive oil. It’s creamy and smoky!

Pita (price to follow) and Baba Ghanouj (P100)

Overall, my Moroccan meal was a good experience. The flavors are definitely new to my palette. So maybe I would need to visit The Moroccan Lady again or try more Moroccan food. Any suggestions where to find authentic ones?

By the way, The Moroccan Lady has a halal certification.

Mutton Biryani, Samosas, and Gulab Jamun at Saffron Plates

Whenever I have the opportunity to eat Indian food, I always grab it especially when its affordable. Saffron Plates offer a spread of Indian dishes and snacks, including my favorites Biryani (a flavorful rice dish), Samosas (a stuffed pastry), and Gulab Jamun (a dessert).

One of their bestsellers is the Mutton Biryani. For just P350, you get tub full of aromatic and flavorful rice that can feed 2 persons. The mutton is fork-tender, the shallots give a nice sweetness and burnt flavor, and the mint cuts through the flavor. What a deal!

Think of samosas as an Indian empanada. Saffron Plates’ version has a nice crumbly pastry. And think of gulab jamun as deep-fried pastillas (a Filipino milk-based confectionery) balls that’s soaked in rose syrup. I’m not a fan of mushy things. But for gulab jamun, I’ll make an exception. Every bite of it is an explosion of syrupy goodness!

Now, I’m missing Singapore where I get to eat cheap and authentic Indian food.

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Before I end this article, let me give you tips on how you can maximize your Legazpi Sunday Market visit:

Take a walk and check out the stalls first. Resist the temptation to buy right away (unless it’s something you really want to eat or went to the Market for).
If you’re okay with free tastes, avail them. But in these times of pandemic, remember to be cautious.
If you don’t know what to eat, just look for queues and hopefully you find them. In my experience, there were no queues. Probably because I went at a later time.
You’ll find a lot of not-so-usual cuisines in the Market, such as Moroccan and Turkish. So be adventurous and try them out.
There are no tables in the Market. So bring a picnic mat and set it up at the nearby parks.

I hope this articles helps. What food above would you like to try? What should I try next at the Legazpi Sunday Market? Comment them below!