Whoever said simple cooking can't be smart has never experienced Filipino cuisine.
Your brain is taxed just as much as your taste buds.
Quantum mechanics, meet Kawali – both require precise timing, but only one ends with fried rice.
If Jeopardy had a category for Filipino dishes, you'd be ahead by now.
Cognitive superpowers come standard with every spoonful, and you don't need a PhD to enjoy chicken adobo.
The only risk? Become the new official chef of the family, apron not included.
1. Adobo
Adobo is the unofficial national dish of the Philippines.
This simple stew only uses soy sauce, vinegar, garlic and bay leaves. You can make it with chicken, pork, or both.
The vinegar keeps the meat tender and gives it that spicy kick that Filipinos love. Most families have their own secret adobo recipe that is passed down through generations.
2. Pancit Canton
Pancit Canton is the Filipino version of fried noodles.
You can find these thick wheat noodles in every Filipino kitchen. Just mix them with vegetables, meat and soy sauce.
Long noodles symbolize long life in Filipino culture. That's why Pancit appears at every birthday party and celebration.
3. Fried Rice (Sinangag)
Sinangag transforms leftover rice into something amazing.
All you need is yesterday's rice, garlic and a little oil. The rice becomes crispy and golden brown in the pan.
Filipinos eat this for breakfast with eggs and sausage. But here's the deal: It tastes great any time of day.
4. Tinola
Tinola is a soothing chicken soup that warms you from the inside out.
This clear broth contains chicken, green papaya and malunggay leaves. Ginger gives it a gentle spiciness.
Filipino mothers make tinola when someone in the family feels unwell. The ginger helps with digestion and the broth keeps you hydrated.
5. Lumpia Shanghai
These crispy spring rolls are the star of every Filipino party.
Minced pork mixed with vegetables is wrapped in thin dough. Then they are fried until golden brown.
You can make and freeze hundreds of them at once. That's why Filipino families always have lumpia ready for unexpected guests.
6. Menudo
Menudo is a hearty tomato-based stew that fills many people.
Pork, potatoes and carrots swim in rich tomato sauce. Some versions contain liver for added flavor.
This dish becomes even better the next day when all the flavors meld together. Filipino families often make it for Sunday dinner.
7. Giniling
Giniling is basically Filipino-style ground beef with vegetables.
Minced meat is cooked with tomatoes, onions and potatoes. Some families add green peas or carrots.
This versatile dish goes well with rice or in rolls. It's better to make more because it disappears quickly.
8. Mechado
Mechado is a tender beef stew in tomato sauce.
Pieces of beef are braised with a fork until they fall apart. Potatoes and peppers provide color and texture.
The name comes from the Spanish word for “wick,” as traditional recipes involved pulling strips of pork fat through the meat. Modern versions skip this step.
9. Pork Tocino
Tocino is sweet Filipino bacon that tastes like candy.
Pork strips are marinated in sugar, salt and food coloring. The result is bright red meat that is sweet and salty.
Filipinos eat tocino for breakfast with fried rice and eggs. This combination is called “Tosilog” in Filipino restaurants.
10. Chicken Afritada
Afritada is a colorful chicken stew that looks as good as it tastes.
Simmer chicken pieces in tomato sauce with potatoes, carrots and peppers. Some cooks add green peas for extra color.
This dish originated under Spanish influence, but the Filipinos made it their own dish. The vegetables make a complete meal in one pot.
11. Bicol Express
Bicol Express brings the heat with coconut milk and chili peppers.
Pork belly is cooked in creamy coconut milk with green chilies. The dish has its origins in the Bicol region, which is known for its spicy dishes.
Don’t worry – you can control the heat by using less pepper. The coconut milk definitely helps cool down the spice.
12. Pork Sisig
Sisig is crispy pork served on a sizzling plate.
Pork belly and pork cheeks are finely chopped and mixed with onions. A raw egg on top is cooked by the heat of the plate.
This bar food became so popular that it is now served everywhere. You can cook it at home in a regular frying pan.
13. Chicken teriyaki
Filipino-style teriyaki uses soy sauce and brown sugar for the sweet glaze.
Chicken thighs work best because they stay juicy. The sauce caramelizes as it cooks and forms a shiny coating.
This dish shows Japanese influence in Filipino cuisine. But here's the catch: Filipinos make it sweeter than the original.
14. Beef Caldereta
Caldereta is a rich beef stew with vegetables in tomato sauce.
Slowly cook pieces of beef with potatoes, carrots and peppers. Liver spread thickens the sauce and gives it more flavor.
This Spanish-inspired dish is perfect for special occasions. The long cooking time makes the beef incredibly tender.
15. Tortang Talong
Tortang Talong is a Filipino eggplant omelet that is crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside.
Whole eggplants are grilled until tender, then dipped in beaten eggs and pan-fried. The smoky eggplant goes perfectly with the fluffy egg shell.
This comfort food reminds many Filipinos of their childhood. Street vendors serve it hot with rice or eat it plain as a snack.
16. Sweet and sour fish
Any white fish tastes fantastic with this colorful dish.
Fish fillets are fried until crispy and then garnished with sweet and sour sauce. Peppers, pineapple and onions add crunch and sweetness.
The sauce uses ketchup, vinegar and sugar for the perfect balance. You can use tilapia, bangus, or any other firm white fish.
17. Chicken Macaroni Soup
This comfort food soup combines chicken broth with elbow macaroni.
Shredded chicken, carrots and celery make it savory. The noodles are cooked directly in the broth, making them thick and filling.
Filipino children eat this when they are sick. The warm broth and soft noodles relieve stomach discomfort.
18. Pork barbecue
Filipino barbecue is sweet, sticky and irresistible.
Marinate pork strips in soy sauce, brown sugar and garlic. The marinade caramelizes on the grill and provides the typical Filipino taste.
Street vendors sell this on bamboo skewers all over the Philippines. You can also cook it in your oven if you don't have a grill.
19. Monggo
Monggo is a hearty mung bean stew that is both healthy and filling.
Mung beans are cooked until soft and then mixed with pork, shrimp or fish. Malunggay leaves provide nutrients and color.
Filipinos traditionally eat this on Fridays during Lent. But it's so good that families can make it all year round.
20. Chicken Curry
Filipino curry is milder and creamier than other Asian versions.
Simmer chicken pieces in coconut milk with curry powder and vegetables. Potatoes and carrots make a complete meal.
This dish shows Indian influence in Filipino cuisine. I made a classic mistake and thought it would be too spicy – it's actually quite mild.
