Filipinos are known for their love of food. There are so many delicious dishes to choose from when dining out. In this article, we take a look at some of the most popular dishes ordered by my family members.
Pako (Fern Salad)
For starter dishes, it is very common to have some kind of salad. Like the above image is Fern salad(or we call it Pako salad)
There are many versions of these dishes. The main ingredient is the young fern tips. If you're looking for a fresh and healthy salad while in the Philippines, you should try pako salad.
Pako, are a popular vegetable in the Philippines and is used in many dishes. The salad is made with shredded pako, onions, green ripe mangoes, tomatoes, and a simple vinaigrette dressing.
It's a light and refreshing dish that's perfect if you are looking for a simple and light meal.
Usually, these types of Ferns are not easily available in common supermarkets and even in Palengke (Wet Markets). It came from the mountainous part as Ferns grows in a cooler and forestry environment. This dish is my favorite among others.
Raw Fish Malasugue Salad - Blue Marlin fish (Kinilaw) Mala-su-gue is one of my favorite dishes as well. This type of fish is caught from the open sea. It can be cooked in many ways. The Malasugue Kinilaw is also popular as an appetizer for many Filipinos and for foreigners. Once the fish is washed with Coconut vinegar, it is considered as already cooked.
The vinegar is the main and a must-have in the kinilaw recipe. Added with onion stripes, chopped young ginger root, white radish, and cucumber. Salt to taste, which makes it a very blending companion with white Sauvignon or Chardonnay.
Some Filipino main dishes to order
Crispy Pata - Crispy Pata is a Filipino dish made of pork leg that has been boiled and then pounded until it is flattened. It is then deep-fried and served with a dipping sauce.
The dish is popular in the Philippines and can be found in restaurants that serve Filipino food.
Dragon Meat Balls - Dragon meatballs are Filipino dishes made from beef, pork, or chicken. The meat is mixed with seasonings and rolled into small balls, which are then deep-fried. The result is a crispy, flavorful appetizer or main course.
Fried Prawns with Salted eggs is a popular dish as it is easy to eat compared to other prawn dishes. You can eat almost everything aside from the head part of the prawns. I have tested it and the shell is soft and crispy.
The prawns are cooked in a garlic-butter sauce and served with boiled eggs that have been seasoned with salt. This dish is simple to make and bursting with flavor.
When you order the larger prawns it is more flesh rather than just oily.
Plain White rice - Filipino never eat any dishes without rice. When comes to rice, in the Philippines, it is common to serve UNLI RICE meaning you pay for round-up fees and you can get as much rice as you can.
Popular Filipino Desserts
**Halo Halo **
Halo Halo is a dessert that originated in the Philippines It consists of shaved ice, evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and various fruits and flavors. The dessert is usually served in a bowl or a glass and can be eaten with a spoon or straw. The first time I saw snow in Austria, I said to myself, I want to make Halo Halo as I see so many fines crashed ice.
**Mango Float **
This dessert is made with layers of Graham's biscuits, fresh mango, and cream (Filipino use Nestle cream). It is often served with ice cream on top. Because of the biscuits and sweet mango as the main ingredients, it can be very filling to the stomach.
**Wrapping up **
The dishes I mentioned here are just a few that is widely available in many restaurants which both foreigners and local can enjoy. I will be writing the most traditional food in my next article. Such as Kare Kare, Sinigang, Adobo and a lot more.
Thank you for reading.
All images presented here are taken by me. You may like to visit my Opensea Images. please help me like my photos. Thank you in a millions.