Filipino cuisine is a reflection of the country's rich cultural heritage. Its history is shaped by centuries of trade and colonization, and this is evident in the variety of flavors and ingredients that make up the Filipino culinary tradition. Whether you are new to Filipino food or a seasoned connoisseur, there are a number of simple yet flavorful dishes that you must try. Here are 20 Filipino dishes that are easy to prepare, delightful to taste, and represent the heart and soul of Filipino cooking.
1. Adobo
Adobo is widely considered the unofficial national dish of the Philippines. It's a savory stew made with chicken, pork, or beef marinated in soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, bay leaves, and peppercorns. This dish is simmered until the meat becomes tender, and the sauce thickens into a tangy, salty concoction that pairs wonderfully with steamed rice.
How to make it:
Marinate your choice of meat in soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, bay leaves, and peppercorns for at least an hour.
Cook in a pan until the meat is tender and the sauce has reduced to a rich glaze.
Tip: Adobo can be cooked in advance and tastes even better the next day, making it a great dish for leftovers.
2. Sinigang na Baboy (Pork Sinigang)
Sinigang is a sour soup that is perfect for warm, rainy days. Pork Sinigang, made with pork (typically pork belly or ribs), is one of the most popular variations. The broth gets its tanginess from tamarind, which is balanced with vegetables like radish, string beans, and water spinach (kangkong).
How to make it:
Boil pork in water with onions and tomatoes until tender.
Add tamarind paste or fresh tamarind, then throw in vegetables like radish, string beans, and eggplant.
Season with fish sauce, salt, and pepper to taste.
Tip: You can substitute pork with shrimp or fish depending on what you have available.
3. Pancit Canton
Pancit Canton is a stir-fried noodle dish with a base of egg noodles, vegetables, shrimp, and pork. It’s often served at birthdays and special occasions because of its symbolic meaning—long noodles represent long life.
How to make it:
Stir-fry pork, shrimp, garlic, onions, and vegetables in oil.
Add cooked pancit noodles and toss them with soy sauce, oyster sauce, and chicken broth.
Tip: Customize your Pancit Canton with your favorite protein, such as chicken or beef, for a personal twist.
4. Lechon Kawali
Lechon Kawali is deep-fried pork belly that is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. This dish is often served with a side of vinegar or soy sauce for dipping, making it a savory delight.
How to make it:
Boil pork belly with garlic, bay leaves, and salt until tender.
Dry out the pork, then deep fry it until the skin is crispy and golden brown.
Tip: Serve with a side of atchara (pickled papaya) for added flavor and crunch.
5. Lumpiang Shanghai
Lumpiang Shanghai are Filipino spring rolls filled with ground pork, shrimp, and vegetables, then deep-fried to golden perfection. These crispy delights are a crowd favorite at parties and gatherings.
How to make it:
Mix ground pork, shrimp, onions, carrots, and seasonings together.
Wrap the filling in spring roll wrappers, then deep-fry until crispy and golden.
Tip: Serve with sweet and sour sauce or vinegar for dipping.
6. Kare-Kare
Kare-Kare is a Filipino stew made with oxtail, tripes, and vegetables, all cooked in a creamy peanut sauce. It’s a rich and flavorful dish, usually accompanied by shrimp paste (bagoong) to balance the creamy texture.
How to make it:
Boil oxtail and tripe until tender, then simmer in a peanut butter-based sauce.
Add vegetables such as eggplant, banana blossom, and string beans.
Serve with bagoong (fermented shrimp paste) on the side.
Tip: Some variations of Kare-Kare also include pork hocks or chicken.
7. Bicol Express
Originating from the Bicol region, Bicol Express is a spicy and creamy dish made from pork or shrimp cooked in coconut milk and chilies. This dish is perfect for those who love a kick of spice.
How to make it:
Stir-fry pork or shrimp with onions, garlic, and chili peppers.
Add coconut milk and simmer until the sauce thickens and the meat is tender.
Tip: You can adjust the spice level by adding more or fewer chilies to suit your taste.
8. Tinola
Tinola is a comforting chicken soup flavored with ginger, garlic, and fish sauce. It’s made even better with green papaya and malunggay (moringa leaves), making it both nutritious and delicious.
How to make it:
Sauté ginger, garlic, and onions in oil, then add chicken pieces.
Pour in water or chicken broth and simmer until the chicken is cooked.
Add papaya and malunggay leaves before serving.
Tip: You can also use chili leaves or spinach as a substitute for malunggay.
9. Puto (Filipino Steamed Rice Cake)
Puto is a Filipino rice cake that’s steamed and typically served as a snack or dessert. It’s light, fluffy, and can be topped with cheese, salted eggs, or coconut for added flavor.
How to make it:
Mix rice flour, sugar, coconut milk, and baking powder to form a batter.
Pour the batter into molds and steam for about 20 minutes until cooked through.
Tip: Experiment with toppings like grated cheese or sweetened coconut flakes for extra flavor.
10. Bangus Sisig
Sisig is a Filipino dish made from chopped meat (often pork), but Bangus Sisig uses bangus (milkfish) as the main ingredient. It’s a popular dish for those who enjoy a crispy, tangy, and spicy flavor.
How to make it:
Grill or fry bangus, then chop it into small pieces.
Sauté with onions, garlic, and chili, then top with a raw egg and serve sizzling on a hot plate.
Tip: You can also add mayonnaise for a creamier texture.
11. Laing
Laing is a dish from the Bicol region made from dried taro leaves simmered in coconut milk with chili peppers. It’s a perfect example of the rich flavors that coconut milk brings to Filipino cuisine.
How to make it:
Sauté garlic, onions, and chili peppers, then add dried taro leaves and coconut milk.
Simmer until the sauce thickens and the leaves are tender.
Tip: If you can’t find dried taro leaves, fresh ones will work too, but you may need to adjust the cooking time.
12. Pancit Malabon
Pancit Malabon is a seafood noodle dish from the Malabon region. It’s made with thick rice noodles and a savory shrimp and seafood sauce, topped with hard-boiled eggs, shrimp, and vegetables.
How to make it:
Boil rice noodles, then set aside.
Make a seafood sauce with shrimp stock, annatto oil, and fish sauce.
Toss the noodles in the sauce and garnish with shrimp, boiled eggs, and vegetables.
Tip: Pancit Malabon is best served with a squeeze of calamansi (Filipino lime) on top for extra zest.
13. Chop Suey
Chop Suey is a stir-fry dish that includes a variety of vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, and bell peppers, often with meat like chicken, pork, or shrimp. It’s a great dish to incorporate different veggies into your diet.
How to make it:
Stir-fry your choice of meat, then add vegetables like cabbage, carrots, and green beans.
Season with soy sauce, oyster sauce, and a bit of cornstarch to thicken the sauce.
Tip: Add a dash of sesame oil for a fragrant, nutty flavor.
14. Turon (Banana Lumpia)
Turon is a sweet Filipino snack made by wrapping ripe bananas (usually saba) and jackfruit in a spring roll wrapper and frying them until crispy. It’s a delicious treat, often served as a snack or dessert.
How to make it:
Place a slice of banana and some jackfruit in a lumpia wrapper.
Roll tightly, then fry until golden and crispy.
Tip: Sprinkle sugar on the turon after frying for a caramelized finish.
15. Tocino
Tocino is sweet cured pork that’s often served for breakfast, paired with garlic rice and a fried egg. The sweetness of the pork comes from a mixture of sugar, salt, and garlic.
How to make it:
Marinate pork slices in sugar,
salt, garlic, and soy sauce for several hours.
Fry the pork until golden and crispy.
Tip: Serve with a side of atchara (pickled papaya) for extra tanginess.
16. Adobong Kangkong
Adobong Kangkong is a vegetable version of the classic adobo, made with water spinach (kangkong) simmered in a tangy mixture of soy sauce and vinegar. It’s a quick, healthy dish that’s perfect with rice.
How to make it:
Sauté garlic and onions, then add kangkong.
Season with soy sauce, vinegar, and pepper, then simmer until the spinach is tender.
Tip: Serve with fried fish for a more complete meal.
17. Ginisang Munggo
Ginisang Munggo is a simple yet hearty dish made with mung beans. It’s often cooked with pork or shrimp and served with rice. This dish is especially popular during Lent when many people observe meatless days.
How to make it:
Sauté garlic, onions, and tomatoes, then add mung beans and water.
Simmer until the beans are soft, then add pork or shrimp, and cook until done.
Tip: Top with fried pork skin (chicharrón) for added crunch.
18. Balut
Balut is a famous Filipino street food consisting of a fertilized duck egg. It’s boiled and then cracked open to reveal the embryo inside, which is eaten with salt and vinegar.
How to make it:
Boil fertilized duck eggs until cooked.
Crack the shell open and eat with a sprinkle of salt and a dash of vinegar.
Tip: Some people also enjoy balut with a bit of chili and garlic.
19. Puto Bumbong
Puto Bumbong is a festive Filipino delicacy usually served during Christmas. It’s made from purple sticky rice steamed in bamboo tubes, then topped with coconut, sugar, and butter.
How to make it:
Steam purple sticky rice in bamboo tubes.
Top with grated coconut, brown sugar, and butter.
Tip: You can find ready-made puto bumbong rice in Filipino stores, making preparation easier.
20. Bopis
Bopis is a spicy and savory dish made from pork lungs and heart. It’s typically served with rice and is often a favorite among those who love offal.
How to make it:
Sauté pork lungs and heart with onions, garlic, and chili.
Simmer with vinegar, soy sauce, and other seasonings until tender.
Tip: Serve with warm rice and a cold drink for a balanced meal.
Filipino cuisine offers a wide variety of dishes that are rich in flavor, history, and culture. Whether you're craving something hearty like Kare-Kare or a light snack like Puto, there’s something for every palate. These 20 simple dishes are just a glimpse of what Filipino food has to offer. Try them out and explore the delicious world of Filipino cooking!
.jpg)
0 Comments