October is Filipino American History month. π΅π
And while I'm big advocate of celebrating Filipino culture year-round (π), I'll never pass up an opportunity to highlight one of its finest features: the food!
So whether you're already a total pro when it comes to Filipino cuisine, or you're just getting started, here are some favorites to feast on β from dinners, to desserts, to drinks. Kain tayo!
1.Pancit
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Pancit is the blanket term for Filipino noodle dishes. This version from Jeepney in New York City is pancit bihon β with thin rice noodles, lechon (pork), and vegetables, all cooked in soy sauce and citrus, and garnished with crispy chicharrΓ³n.
Recipe: Pancit
2.One-Pot Chicken Adobo
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If you haven't tried Filipino food yet, adobo is a great place to start. The tangy marinade of soy sauce, vinegar, and plenty of garlic is a solid introduction to the flavors of the cuisine. (It's also incredibly simple to make!)
Recipe: One-Pot Chicken Adobo
3.Arroz Caldo
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This classic chicken and rice porridge is incredibly comforting and flavorful β thanks to things like fresh ginger and fish sauce.
Chef Angela Dimayuga shared her Filipino Christmas menu here β and one of the centerpieces is this simple (yet incredibly flavorful) steak and onion dish.
Calamansi β also known as Philippine lime β is one of the most commonly used fruits in the cuisine. Combine it with whiskey and honey over ice for an amazing three-ingredient co*cktail.
The filling of these Filipino-style spring rolls may vary, but one thing remains the same: You can (and will) inhale them by the dozen. Don't forget the sweet chili and vinegar-soy dipping sauces!
Ube β or purple yam β has definitely been having a ~moment~ as of late. (See: Trader Joe's churning out ube ice cream.) Adding to that list of ube-centric dessert glory? These homemade glazed donuts.
Many countries have their version of picadillo β and here, the Filipino edition is made with ground beef and pork, veggies, tomato sauce, fish sauce, and a fried egg. (Over rice, of course!)
Traditionally, kare kare is a rich stew made with slow-simmered oxtail and savory peanut sauce. But this version swaps oxtail for easier-to-find beef chunks β then tosses everything into the Instant Pot so you can get all the same flavors in much less time.
Roast pig is a party favorite, but the traditional spit-roasted preparation takes a *ton* of work. If you want all the best things about lechon β shatteringly crispy skin, tender and juicy meat inside β try this clever weeknight-friendly version, which starts in a Crock Pot and finishes in the oven.
Hopia are little moon-shaped pastries with sweet, paste-like fillings like ube or mung bean. Fair warning that they're a bit of work when you make them from scratch. (But they're worth it!)
With a marinade that includes soy sauce, vinegar, chili peppers, and (low-key Filipino pantry favorite π¨) 7Up, these are equal parts salty, sweet, and spicy.
Sisig β or chopped pork that's been boiled, grilled, and fried β is a staple of the cuisine. And here, Amelia Rampe shares the breakfast version she makes every year for Christmas. She uses pork belly (instead of pork bits), streamlines the cooking method, and tops it all with fried eggs.
Ginataan translates to "done [or cooked] with coconut milk." This version spikes shrimp with garlic and chili βbut you can swap in any protein or vegetable you'd like.
Tapsilog is a popular Filipino breakfast that includes beef, garlic fried rice, and fried eggs. Serve it with fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, or a lime or vinegar dipping sauce.
Like many dishes on this list, you can find cross-cultural variations everywhere β and steamed buns are no exception. The Filipino version is siopao, often filled with pork.
Think of this as a Filipino variation on cinnamon rolls or even babka. A sweet paste of coconut and purple yam is swirled into flaky dough, then baked.
Filipino spaghetti is sweeter than what you're used to. That's because the sauce often contains banana ketchup, a favorite condiment of the cuisine. (If you want to go real homestyle, you gotta add sliced hot dogs, too.)
Often called Filipino bacon, tocino is pork that sits for several hours (or days) in a mixture of sugar, salt, garlic, and oil. Then it's fried up in a hot pan until the coating caramelizes.
Halo-halo means "mix mix" in Tagalog, and that's exactly what you're supposed to do with it. The dessert is a hodgepodge of ingredients, including shaved ice, sweet beans, fruit, and ube ice cream.
1. Adobo. No list of the top 10 Filipino foods can begin without the famous Adobo on top. The unofficial Philippines national food is made with pork or chicken simmered in soy sauce and vinegar with loads of black pepper and crushed garlic.
The most popular main dish in the Philippines is adobo, which contains chicken, pork, or both. Besides adobo, there are several other main dishes to try.
One of the most iconic dessert βthingβ in the Philippines that became a global food trend is ube, which became popular due to its Instagrammable purple color. Ube ice cream is a smooth and creamy Filipino dessert that features the distinctive flavor and color of ube, a purple yam from the Philippines.
The most popular beverage in the Philippines besides water is coffee. Filipinos love their coffee, and it is a staple of many people's daily routine. Coffee is typically consumed in the morning and after meals.
A typical Filipino lunch (tanghalian) is composed of a food variant (or two for some) and rice, sometimes with soup. Whether grilled, stewed, or fried, rice is eaten with everything. Due to the tropical climate of the Philippines, the preference is to serve ice-cold water, juices, or soft drinks with meals.
#1 Lumpias. Lumpias typically come in numerous variations but the average lumpia is filled with a savory filling made from ground pork, carrots, and cabbage. ...
#2 Taho. You can't go wrong with a sweet, refreshing dessert. ...
What is Kamayan? Kamayan is a communal-style buffet of delicious Filipino food: it features seafood, grilled meats, vegetables and garlic rice served on fresh (or frozen and thawed) banana leaves. In Tagalog, kamayan means βby handβ β and refers to how the meal is eaten.
Food is a central part of the Filipino lifestyle. Most people here eat five meals a day: 1) breakfast, 2) miryenda, 3) lunch, 4) miryenda and 5) dinner. Miryenda translates to snack. Families come together over food.
Pampanga holds the title of being the Culinary Capital of the Philippines as they offer some of the best Filipino dishes, but there's more to this Central Luzon province that just good food.
As of Q3 2022, hamburgers, mashed potatoes, and cheeseburgers were the most popular American dishes in the United States. About 84 percent of respondents had a positive opinion of each of the three dishes.
Introduction: My name is Chrissy Homenick, I am a tender, funny, determined, tender, glorious, fancy, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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