[1][2][3] Tinutuan is a congee made from rice, pumpkin, and sweet potato or cassava cooked up into a pulp.

[4] It is then mixed with corn kernels and various leafy vegetables such as gedi (Abelmoschus manihot), kangkung (water spinach), kemangi (lemon basil), melinjo (Gnetum gnemon), and bayam (amaranth).

[5] Finally, it is served with many toppings that may include fried shallots, fried tofu, spring onions, leeks, coriander, chili, and condiments like sambal, dabu-dabu, and a smoked or salted fish, usually skipjack tuna, anchovies, or nike (a small species of fish from nearby Lake Tondano).

[4][3] The local government of Manado made tinutuan an official icon of the city in 2005[5][1][3] and assigned a "traditional food area" lined with tinutuan stalls at Wakeke Street.

At its place of origin, Manado, tinutuan usually served with cakalang fufu (smoked skipjack tuna), shrimp paste or smoked garfish sambal, or meatballs.