Hey, foodies!
In this article, I will be sharing with all of you my favorite Filipino cuisines that you must try right now!
I am born and raised in the Philippines. It is a beautiful country that is made of 7,100 islands. Our country is famous for beautiful beaches, happy people, and of course, food!
Without further ado, let’s begin!
Sinigang
Sinigang is a soup cooked with the main protein of pork, shrimp, or fish. The soup is a sour flavor from guava or tamarind. In English, it can be called sour soup.
In our household, our version of sinigang is pork with kangkong (swamp cabbage). We do not use tamarind or guava, instead, we use an instant tamarind mix. It can be bought in grocery stores and it is very common to find it everywhere. It would be nice to have organic tamarind but it is a laborious process to do.
My favorite sinigang version is sinigang sa salmon.
Pork Sisig
Pork is sisig is a famous delicacy of Pampanga, a province of the Philippines. The first recorded existence of sisig was in the year 1732 by the Augustinian friar.
Sisig is a fairly unique culinary creation of the Kapampangans and is made from various pig pieces such as the ears, cheeks, nose, and parts that are frequently wasted.
In reality, it is a well-known meal that reflects the idea that Filipinos would never throw anything out, including less-popular cuts of the pig.
Pinakbet
Hey, proud Ilokana here. This particular cuisine originated in the Northern part of the Philippines. This dish is very healthy because it is made of different vegetables such as squash, okra, eggplant, etc.
Some people put vegetable that is uncommon to standard pinakbet which is totally fine. It has small bits of pork too. Whenever we are on a diet as a family, this dish is on our top list. I like our pinakbet when the squash is not too cooked. I like it a little bit firm.
Spring Roll/Shanghai
Every occasion in the Philippines should serve shanghai or else you will spoil the party. Kidding aside, shanghai is a delicacy made of ground pork, minced carrot, onion, garlic, and seasonings, wrapped in egg crepe or warp. It is then deep-fried until golden brown. Best to dip it in vinegar with a little bit of chili.
Dinuguan
The term "dugo," which means blood in English, is the origin of the name Dinuguan. It is a dish with the main protein of pig intestines, liver, kidneys, and lungs. Traditionally, puto, a steamed rice cake, is served with the meal.
Some people are not really fond of this cuisine but it is understandable because it is against their beliefs. For me, I enjoy eating dinuguan, especially with green chilis. The taste is savory with a hint of sourness because of the vinegar.
Adobo
The all-time favorite adobo! When we introduce food to foreign friends, this dish is the first one to pop into my head. This dish is a no-brainer because you just have to mix every ingredient in a pot, such as the soy sauce, and vinegar. Adobo can be chicken or pork. My favorite version is the chicken adobo with potatoes and boiled egg.
These are just few of Filipino cuisine at are absolutely mouth-watering. The Philippines is a melting pot of different culture and traditons, and so our food too! Some are from Spanish influence, Chinese influence, and moslty the countries that colonized the land.
I am happy to share more Filipino cuisine in the future articles! I hope I shared something that will worth reading.
Thank you for reading. I will see you in the next!
📸 All photos are owned and taken by me. ©️jijisaurart