10 Best Traditional Philippine Recipes • Our Big Escape

Try these top 10 Traditional Philippine Recipes. All of these were part of our day to day diet while living in the Philippines. The tradition in all of SE Asia is not to have a center item with side dishes as in the west but more like a Tapas Bar in Spain. 10 or more dishes to pick and taste from during every meal.

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Filipino cuisine (Filipino: lutuing Pilipino/pagkaing Pilipino) is composed of the cuisines of more than a hundred distinct ethnolinguistic groups found throughout the Philippine archipelago. However, a majority of mainstream Filipino dishes that compose Filipino cuisine are from the cuisines of the various ethnolinguistic groups and tribes of the archipelago.

The include the Ilocano, Pangasinan, Kapampangan, Tagalog, Bicolano, Visayan (Cebuano, Hiligaynon, and Waray), Chavacano and Maranao ethnolinguistic groups.

The style of food making and the food associated with it have evolved over many centuries from their Austronesian origins (shared with Malaysian and Indonesian cuisines) to a mixed cuisine of Indian, Chinese, Spanish and American influences.

These are in line with the major waves of influence that had enriched the cultures of the archipelago, as well as others adapted to indigenous ingredients and the local palate. Traditional Philippine recipes is a mishmash of so many origins it is sometimes difficult to determine what the mixtures are.

Traditional Philippine Recipes range from the very simple, like a meal of fried salted fish and rice, to fish curry, chicken curry, complex paellas and cozidos of Iberian origin created for fiestas.

Popular Traditional Philippine Recipes dishes include lechón (whole roasted pig), longganisa (Philippine sausage), tapa (cured beef), torta (omelet), adobo (chicken or pork braised in garlic, vinegar, oil and soy sauce, or cooked until dry), dinuguan (pork blood stew).

Others include kaldereta (meat stewed in tomato sauce and liver paste), mechado (larded beef in soy and tomato sauce), pochero (beef and bananas in tomato sauce), afritada (chicken or pork and vegetables simmered in tomato sauce) kare-kare (oxtail and vegetables cooked in peanut sauce), pinakbet (kabocha squash.

Others includeeggplant, beans, okra, and tomato stew flavored with shrimp paste, crispy pata (deep-fried pig’s leg), hamonado (pork sweetened in pineapple sauce), sinigang (meat or seafood in sour broth), pancit (noodles), and lumpia (fresh or fried spring rolls).

Various food scholars have noted that Filipino cuisine is multi-faceted and is the most representative in the culinary world for food where “east meets west”.

1. Traditional Philippine Recipes For Chicken Adobo

Chicken Adobo: The Filipino Comfort Food Everyone Argues About

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2. Mais con Yelo

Mais con Yelo

In the Philippines, mais con yelo is a traditional dessert of crushed ice layered with corn kernels and sweetened milk. For this version, inspired by the “special halo-halo” served at chef Jonathan Dario Salvador’s restaurant Inapuyan in Candon City, the milk and ice are combined with puréed corn to make a delicious granita, which is piled over fresh corn in syrup and topped with crunchy cornflakes.

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3. Traditional Philippine Recipes For Filipino Picadillo

Filipino Picadillo

Filipino Picadillo is a delicious, one-skillet dinner made with ground beef, potatoes, raisins and vegetables in a flavorful sauce.

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4. Shrimp in Coconut Milk

Shrimp in Coconut Milk

Ginataan na Hipon (Shrimp in Coconut Milk). This recipe today is very easy to prepare. It is done in less than 30 minutes and boy, the taste and smell of this meal are just awesome. This Ginataang Hipon is a hearty soup meal that I always prepare when I don’t have time to whip some meal after work. Easy, delicious, and smells good.

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5. Traditional Philippine Recipes For Sisig

Sisig

Sisig — or chopped pork that's been boiled, grilled, and fried — is a staple of the cuisine and one of the most often prepared of all traditional Philippine recipes. 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.

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Now that you are checking out the Top 10 Traditional Philippine Recipes, what’s next? Let’s learn more about Other Country’s Top Recipes.

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6. Pork and Shrimp Pancit

Pork and Shrimp Pancit

A Traditional Philippine Recipes dish called Pancit taught to me by a Filipino friend while stationed overseas. Delicious and easy! Thanks, Jesus! A delicious and easy stir fry using rice noodles, veggies, and either shrimp, chicken, or pork or beef. This was a family favorite to make, and I love how easy it is to throw together.

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7. Traditional Philippine Recipes For Ground Pork Menudo

Ground Pork Menudo

Menudo is a Spanish-influenced stew that is popular in Filipino cuisine. Traditional Menudo is commonly eaten for lunch or dinner and consists of cubes of pork simmered in tomato sauce, with vegetables added afterward. This recipe uses ground pork instead, which is a practical variation and an easy way of making Menudo.

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8. Bistek With Onion and Bay Leaves

Traditional Philippine Recipes for Bistek With Onion and Bay Leaves

Filipino Christmas menu here — and one of the centerpieces is this simple (yet incredibly flavorful) steak and onion dish.

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9.Traditional Philippine Recipes For Pesang Isda with Ginisang Miso

9 Pesang Isda with Ginisang Miso

Pesang Isda with Ginisang Miso is one combination that I enjoy eating with rice. The main dish is fish that was cooked in the ginger broth along with green leafy vegetables. It has a nice and mild flavor. Ginisang miso, on the other hand, is sautéed yellow miso with tomato and crumbled tofu. It is quite flavorful. This is the reason why both dishes go well when eaten together.

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10. Ginisang Ampalaya na May Itlog at Hipon (Sauteed Bitter Gourd)

Ginisang Ampalaya na May Itlog at Hipon (Sauteed Bitter Gourd)

I understand that one might need to develop an acquired taste in order to appreciate bitter gourd (also referred to as bitter melon).

I am one of those people who were trying hard to configure their taste buds for this vegetable. Eventually, I was able to adapt. I started by making the bitter gourd less bitter (in a way that I can call it semi-bitter gourd). This involves slicing it in thin pieces and soaking in water with salt. The salt helps take the bitterness out. I then wash it in running water to remove the salty taste. How about you? What do you do to make this vegetable less bitter?

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