Are you ready to explore some serious comfort food? This collection of 30 authentic Filipino recipes ranges from savory stews to sweet desserts.
You will find bold flavors like fatty proteins and rich broths that turn dinner into an event. These dishes might not fit a strict diet but they will definitely make you happy.
It is time to transform your meal routine with these traditional plates.
1. Lumpiang Shanghai
This dish draws inspiration from Chinese cuisine and stands as a beloved Filipino favorite. You mix ground meat with onions plus carrots before stuffing the blend into egg roll wrappers.
Fry them deep until they turn a beautiful golden color. Limiting yourself to just three pieces poses a real challenge. Serve them with sweet and sour sauce for the ultimate party food.
2. Pininyahang Manok
You marinate chicken in pineapple juice to create this savory yet sweet meal. The poultry cooks in milk alongside bell peppers and carrots plus plenty of pineapples.
It serves as the ultimate comfort food for your table. Rice soaks up the rich broth beautifully so you will surely want seconds.
3. Beef Pares
Imagine ultra tender beef simmering away in a broth that balances sweet and savory notes. I am talking about brisket so soft it practically dissolves when you eat it.
You marinate the meat in soy sauce plus brown sugar for incredible flavor. Don’t be surprised if you finish every drop of the spiced liquid.
4. Sizzling Sisig
No drinking session feels complete without a hot platter of this pork dish. You chop up various pig parts before flavoring them with chili peppers plus onions.
Fry everything until it sizzles to create a truly delectable delicacy. Ingenuity allows locals to turn simple scraps into a mind blowing meal.
5. Filipino-Style Chicken Adobo Recipe
Many dishes from the Philippines show Spanish influence due to three centuries of colonization. This version features browned chicken cooked in vinegar plus soy sauce.
Season the meat with peppercorns and garlic for a savory taste with a touch of acid. The liquid thickens into a glaze that tastes perfect with steamed rice.
6. Sago at Gulaman
You will find this sweet beverage sold alongside other street foods. It acts as a perfect thirst quencher since summer lasts almost all year there.
The sugary drink features tapioca pearls plus cubes of gelatin. Beat the heat with a refreshing glass of this treat.
7. Adobong Balut
Locals often offer this fertilized duck embryo boiled right in the shell to visitors. It might sound intense but the delicacy tastes quite good.
You marinate the peeled eggs in vinegar plus soy sauce to cook them adobo style. Removing the shell helps the embryo absorb more flavor.
8. Filipino Spaghetti
This version tastes much sweeter and cheesier than the classic Italian dish. You cook ground beef or pork in a sweet tomato sauce.
Load it up with cheddar cheese for a ridiculously rich meal that kids adore. Some people even add cut hot dogs to the mix.
9. Leche Flan
This treat stands as the most common dessert throughout the country. It resembles crème caramel with its velvety smooth custard base.
A luscious caramel glaze tops the dish for a perfect finish. You only need eggs plus sugar and milk to make it.
10. Dinuguan
The name translates to cooked with blood because the sauce relies primarily on pig blood. It looks black and features diced pork simmered with vinegar plus spices.
This rich savory dish pairs perfectly with sweet rice cakes. Give it a chance and you will find it incredibly tasty.
11. Buko Pandan Ice Cream
This recipe transforms a classic dessert into a frozen treat. You combine pandan flavored gelatin with young coconut meat.
It is easy to whip up this addictive sweet even without an ice cream machine. Everyone loves a good scoop of ice cream.
12. Kare-Kare
Tripe and oxtail swim with veggies in a thick peanut sauce for this umami packed stew. You pair it with sweet shrimp paste to create an explosion of flavor.
The tender meat and hearty sauce make the effort worthwhile. It counts as one of my favorite banana blossom recipes.
13. Buko Pie
This tropical treat features tender young coconut in a sweet filling. A buttery flaky crust encases the delicious center.
It highlights the sweet flavor of coconuts which grow abundantly in the region. This is the ultimate pie for anyone who loves island flavors.
14. Pork Chicharon
You make this classic snack by deep frying pork rinds. The result is fatty and crunchy plus impossible to stop eating.
These cracklings taste even better when you dip them in vinegar. It is honestly one of the tastiest snacks on earth.
15. Beef Mechado
This super saucy stew comes loaded with carrots plus potatoes and tender beef. You create the rich base using canned tomato sauce combined with soy sauce.
Garlic plus onions and bay leaves round out the flavor profile. The meat softens beautifully as it absorbs the liquid.
16. Tinolang Manok
You serve this chicken soup alongside rice. The broth gets its flavor from ginger plus garlic and salty fish sauce.
Chili pepper leaves add a bit of heat to this affordable meal. It ranks among the simplest yet most flavorful dishes to cook.
17. Iskrambol
This street food combines shaved ice with powdered milk. Pink food coloring gives the sweet drink a mesmerizing hue.
It captures odd yet satisfying flavors that every local kid knows well. The origins remain a mystery but the taste is captivating.
18. Pan De Sal
These bread rolls are incredibly popular throughout the nation. The Spanish name means salt bread but the taste is actually sweet.
You can fill them with jam or meat for a satisfying breakfast. Locals love eating them alongside fried rice.
19. Cheese Puto
You make this small round cake using glutinous rice. The result is fluffy and sweet plus simply amazing.
A topping of cheddar cheese adds a salty contrast to the treat. Enjoy it as an afternoon snack or pair it with savory stew.
20. Pineapple Coleslaw
This version tastes much sweeter than standard recipes because it contains raisins and pineapple tidbits. You coat everything in mayonnaise.
Vinegar in the dressing balances the flavors perfectly. One try might make you switch to this style for good.
21. Monggo Guisado
This umami packed stew uses mung beans as the star ingredient. You soak the legumes in water for hours to ensure tenderness.
Sauté them with onions and garlic until they melt in your mouth. It creates a ridiculously flavorful dish.
22. Arroz Caldo
Picture this dish as a local version of congee. The rice porridge fills you up with chicken plus scallions and a hard boiled egg.
Ginger flavors the broth to make it cozy for rainy days. It acts as the ultimate comfort food.
23. Taisan (Filipino Chiffon Cake)
This chiffon cake feels incredibly soft and fluffy. You smear it with butter before topping it with sugar plus grated cheese.
The simple combination tastes absolutely divine without needing heavy frosting. It serves as a sweet and buttery delight.
24. Filipino Coconut Macaroons
You create these classic confections using eggs plus desiccated coconut and sweetened condensed milk. The little mounds turn out chewy and sweet.
Toasted coconut adds a nutty flavor that complements the cake. They are perfect little bites of pleasure.
25. Eggplant Omelet
You grill the vegetable first to give it a smoky flavor. Coat it in an egg mixture before frying to create a savory meal. It serves as a common side dish alongside rice.
Combining these two ingredients might seem odd but it works perfectly.
26. Filipino Beef Omelet (Torta)
Mix ground beef with diced potatoes plus carrots and egg batter. You pan fry the mixture until it turns golden brown.
The phenomenal flavor tastes ten times better when you add ketchup. This classic dish truly deserves fame worldwide.
27. Ginger Tea (Filipino Salabat)
This hot tea relies on ginger flavored with a bit of sugar. The main ingredient provides a soothing flavor profile.
People often use it to help cure laryngitis or a sore throat. It is a simple yet effective beverage.
28. Sinangag (Filipino Garlic Fried Rice)
You fry day old rice in oil plus garlic to create this breakfast side dish. The aroma is the best thing to wake up to.
Feel free to add peas or corn and bits of ham for extra flavor. Locals usually eat it with eggs and sausage.
29. Beef Pochero
This special occasion meal features tender beef plus chickpeas and chorizo in a tomato stew. You also add carrots and potatoes to the rich mix.
Saba bananas give the dish a unique sweet profile. The plantain is native to the area.
30. Banana Fritters
Locals call this classic snack maruya. You mix mashed saba bananas with a flour batter before deep frying them.
Coat the treats in sugar for a sweet and crunchy finish. It makes for a perfect afternoon treat.
