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kakang-gata

kákang-gatâ with stress marks

pure coconut cream; most important

noun KA-kang-ga-TA Compound origin Less Common

Usage Note

Kakang-gata is the first and richest pressing of coconut milk — thick, pure coconut cream with no added water. In Filipino cooking it is the prized ingredient used to enrich dishes like kare-kare, ginataang langka, and bibingka. The term is also used figuratively to mean the best or most essential part of something, much like 'the cream of the crop.'

Examples

Beginner

" Masarap ang kakang-gata. "

Natural Translation

The thick coconut cream is delicious.

Literal Translation

Delicious the coconut-cream.

Intermediate

" Gamitin ang kakang-gata para mas masarap ang kare-kare. "

Natural Translation

Use the thick coconut cream to make the kare-kare richer.

Literal Translation

Use the coconut-cream for more delicious the kare-kare.

Advanced

" Sa bibingka, ang kakang-gata ang nagbibigay ng lalim ng lasa na hindi kayang gawin ng karaniwang gata. "

Natural Translation

In bibingka, it's the pure coconut cream that gives a depth of flavor ordinary coconut milk can't achieve.

Literal Translation

In bibingka, the coconut-cream the gives of depth of flavor that not can do by ordinary coconut-milk.

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