Famous Filipino Food: 10 Must-Eat Dishes in the Philippines
Filipino cuisine is a delightful fusion of flavors influenced by various cultures, including Spanish, Chinese, Malay, and American. Here are 10 must-eat Filipino dishes that showcase the country's culinary diversity:
Adobo: Often considered the national dish of the Philippines, adobo is a flavorful stew typically made with chicken or pork marinated in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and spices. It's slow-cooked until tender and served with rice.
Sinigang: Sinigang is a sour soup made with tamarind, tomatoes, and various vegetables. It can feature pork, shrimp, fish, or even beef as the main protein. The sour and savory flavors make it a comforting and refreshing dish.
Lechon: Lechon is a whole roasted pig, often cooked during festive occasions. The skin becomes incredibly crispy, while the meat remains tender and flavorful. It's usually served with liver sauce or vinegar dip.
Kare-Kare: A rich and creamy stew made with oxtail, tripe, and vegetables, kare-kare is flavored with a peanut sauce. It's typically served with bagoong (fermented shrimp paste) on the side for added depth of flavor.
Pancit: Pancit refers to a variety of noodle dishes in Filipino cuisine. Pancit Canton, Pancit Malabon, and Pancit Bihon are just a few examples. These dishes are often stir-fried with vegetables and meat or seafood.
Balut: Balut is a popular street food in the Philippines. It's a fertilized duck egg with a partially developed embryo inside. It's typically boiled and eaten with a pinch of salt and sometimes vinegar. It's considered an exotic delicacy.
Halo-Halo: Halo-halo means "mix-mix" in Filipino, and this dessert lives up to its name. It's a delightful concoction of crushed ice, sweet beans, jellies, fruits, and a scoop of purple yam (ube) ice cream, all drizzled with condensed milk.
Bicol Express: This spicy dish hails from the Bicol region and features shrimp or pork cooked in coconut milk, shrimp paste (bagoong), and plenty of chili peppers. It's a flavorful and fiery dish.
Laing: Laing is another dish from Bicol made with dried taro leaves cooked in coconut milk, shrimp paste, and chili peppers. It's a rich and creamy side dish or main course.
Lumpia: Lumpia are Filipino spring rolls, available in various forms. Lumpiang Shanghai is filled with ground pork and vegetables, while Lumpiang Sariwa is fresh spring rolls filled with vegetables and shrimp, served with a garlic-peanut sauce.
These are just a few of the many delicious Filipino dishes you can savor during your visit to the Philippines. Filipino cuisine is known for its bold flavors, unique combinations, and warm hospitality, making it a memorable culinary experience for any food lover.
Adobo: Often considered the national dish of the Philippines, adobo is a flavorful stew typically made with chicken or pork marinated in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and spices. It's slow-cooked until tender and served with rice.
Sinigang: Sinigang is a sour soup made with tamarind, tomatoes, and various vegetables. It can feature pork, shrimp, fish, or even beef as the main protein. The sour and savory flavors make it a comforting and refreshing dish.
Lechon: Lechon is a whole roasted pig, often cooked during festive occasions. The skin becomes incredibly crispy, while the meat remains tender and flavorful. It's usually served with liver sauce or vinegar dip.
Kare-Kare: A rich and creamy stew made with oxtail, tripe, and vegetables, kare-kare is flavored with a peanut sauce. It's typically served with bagoong (fermented shrimp paste) on the side for added depth of flavor.
Pancit: Pancit refers to a variety of noodle dishes in Filipino cuisine. Pancit Canton, Pancit Malabon, and Pancit Bihon are just a few examples. These dishes are often stir-fried with vegetables and meat or seafood.
Balut: Balut is a popular street food in the Philippines. It's a fertilized duck egg with a partially developed embryo inside. It's typically boiled and eaten with a pinch of salt and sometimes vinegar. It's considered an exotic delicacy.
Halo-Halo: Halo-halo means "mix-mix" in Filipino, and this dessert lives up to its name. It's a delightful concoction of crushed ice, sweet beans, jellies, fruits, and a scoop of purple yam (ube) ice cream, all drizzled with condensed milk.
Bicol Express: This spicy dish hails from the Bicol region and features shrimp or pork cooked in coconut milk, shrimp paste (bagoong), and plenty of chili peppers. It's a flavorful and fiery dish.
Laing: Laing is another dish from Bicol made with dried taro leaves cooked in coconut milk, shrimp paste, and chili peppers. It's a rich and creamy side dish or main course.
Lumpia: Lumpia are Filipino spring rolls, available in various forms. Lumpiang Shanghai is filled with ground pork and vegetables, while Lumpiang Sariwa is fresh spring rolls filled with vegetables and shrimp, served with a garlic-peanut sauce.
These are just a few of the many delicious Filipino dishes you can savor during your visit to the Philippines. Filipino cuisine is known for its bold flavors, unique combinations, and warm hospitality, making it a memorable culinary experience for any food lover.
