Philippines Food and Drink: Classic Dishes
Listed below are a few of the many dishes associated with the cuisine of the Philippines. Recipes for these classic dishes and many others can be found in the Recipes section.
APPETIZERS
Lumpiang Sariwa – Lumpiang, or lumpia, are spring rolls made of thin pancakes wrapped around lettuce and a chopped meat and vegetable filling. Lumpiang sariwa are described as "fresh" spring rolls, which have a soft wrapper, as distinguished from Lumpiang prito, which are fried until golden brown.
Sisig Pusit – An appetizer or drinking snack of seasoned grilled squid, onion, and bell peppers.
SOUPS
Batchoy – A pork, garlic, and noodle soup originally from the La Paz area of the Philippines.
Sopang Mais – A corn and crabmeat soup, flavored with garlic. Like most Filipino soups, it is usually served as a full meal.
SALADS
Kinilaw – Kinilaw is a seafood salad. Raw seafood is marinated in vinegar, sometimes with coconut milk, onions, spices, and other ingredients. The acid in the vinegar "cooks" the fish.
MAIN DISHES
Adobo – Adobo is made from chicken, pork, or both, stewed in vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic. It is a distant relative of Spanish adobado.
Bistek – Bistek is thinly sliced beef flavored with a soy and citrus marinade, then fried and served with onions.
Kare-Kare – A special-occasion stew made of meat and vegetables, flavored and thickened with ground peanuts.
Pancit – A dish with Chinese roots, these fried noodles with meat and vegetables are a common quick meal in the Philippines.
Tocino – Pork marinated in a sweet, anise-scented sauce is a common food eaten at any Filipino meal.
SIDE DISHES
Atchara – Atchara, also called achara or atsara, is a Filipino pickle made primarily from green papaya. It is usually served with grilled meat.
Ensaladang Talong – Roasted eggplant with chopped tomato and onions is a widely consumed Filipino side dish, especially popular with meat and fish dishes.
DESSERTS
Bibingka – Bibingka is a popular dessert, a sort of pudding or cake made of ground rice, sugar, and coconut milk.
Ensaymada – Ensaymada is a sweet, rich bread or pastry topped with butter and cheese, commonly served for breakfast or as a teatime snack.
Ginataan – Ginataan is a dessert soup. The base is coconut milk with jackfruit, sweet potato, and plantain or banana.
Halo Halo – Halo halo literally means mix-mix, and it indeed mixes a range of sweet ingredients topped with ice, milk, and ice cream. It is usually a sweet snack rather than a dessert.
BEVERAGES
Calamansi Juice – Calamansi is a native citrus fruit. The juice is normally served diluted and sweetened.
Tuba – Tuba, or toddy, is Filipino palm wine. It is a traditional drink widely consumed in rural areas, but often unavailable in cities.
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