28 Must-Try Filipino Dishes

Pan de Sal, a popular Filipino bread roll, is a staple for Filipino breakfasts and versatile enough to be paired with a variety of fillings like corned beef, egg, cheese, or jam. This recipe, specifically designed for a bread machine, simplifies the process. The key to perfect Pan de Sal lies in the long rising time, usually about five hours, ensuring a soft, fluffy texture. The recipe involves mixing ingredients like milk, butter, sugar, eggs, flour, and yeast in a bread machine, followed by shaping, breadcrumb coating, and baking.

Adobong Balut with Chili Oil is a unique Filipino dish that transforms the traditional balut, a boiled fertilized duck egg, into a spicy, flavorful treat. The recipe calls for ten balut eggs and includes a mix of savory and spicy ingredients like garlic, onion, ginger, soy sauce, vinegar, and chili oil. Bay leaves and peppercorns add depth to the flavor. The process involves sautéing, simmering the eggs in the sauce, and seasoning to taste. This dish offers a spicy twist on a classic Filipino delicacy.

The blog post on "Peachy Mee" describes a quick and easy recipe for Instant Pot Monggo Guisado, a Filipino dish. The author shares their experience of craving a simple, healthy dinner and finding convenience in using an Instant Pot to prepare Monggo Guisado. The post highlights the efficiency of the cooking process, mentioning that the dish was ready in just 20 minutes. Additionally, the author recommends pairing it with fried Bangus (milkfish) prepared in an air fryer.

The recipe for Sisig using pork belly on "Foxy Folksy" offers an authentic Kapampangan twist to this popular Filipino dish. The preparation involves marinating and grilling pork belly and chicken liver, then finely chopping and mixing them with onions, lemon juice, chili pepper, and seasoning. This version of Sisig focuses on achieving a crunchy and spicy texture, served hot, possibly on a sizzling plate. The recipe reflects simplicity and authenticity, appealing to those who enjoy a modern take on traditional Filipino flavors.

The Filipino Spaghetti recipe on "Hungry Huy" offers a sweet and hearty version of the classic pasta dish. This recipe incorporates ground pork, banana ketchup, and hot dogs, delivering a unique Filipino twist with a rich, umami flavor. The spaghetti is topped with a generous sprinkle of cheese, creating a comforting, family-friendly meal. This dish embodies the distinct Filipino adaptation of spaghetti, combining both sweet and savory elements for a truly unique taste experience.

"Pineapple Slaw" from A Southern Soul is a fresh and vibrant twist on traditional coleslaw. It combines the classic ingredients of coleslaw with the tropical sweetness of pineapple, adding a unique flavor profile. This slaw likely includes a mix of cabbage, carrots, and pineapple, dressed in a light, creamy dressing. It's a perfect side dish for barbecues and summer gatherings, offering a sweet and tangy taste that complements a variety of dishes.

The Filipino Cheese Rice Cakes recipe on AlmostNordic offers a delightful version of 'Puto,' a traditional Filipino steamed cake. This recipe is a simple yet flavorful dish made with common ingredients like flour, sugar, baking powder, egg, milk, butter, vanilla extract, and cheese. The process involves mixing these ingredients, steaming in molds, and topping each cake with a slice of cheese for a perfect melt. The result is a light, fluffy, and slightly sweet snack with a cheesy twist. Ideal for various occasions, this recipe showcases the versatility and simplicity of Filipino cuisine.

The "Beef Pares" recipe featured on Foxy Folksy is a classic Filipino dish that combines tender braised beef with fried garlic rice and a flavorful beef soup. This comforting meal is a popular roadside food in the Philippines, traditionally served as an all-in-one, budget-friendly set. The recipe on Foxy Folksy includes detailed instructions for making the beef soup and braised beef, using ingredients like beef brisket or shank, soy sauce, star anise, and five-spice for a rich, savory stew. Accompanied by garlic fried rice, it makes for a hearty and satisfying meal.

The Drift Stories blog presents a traditional Filipino dish called Dinuguan, also known as Blood Pudding Stew. This savory stew is made with pork offal and simmered in a rich, spicy gravy of pig blood. The dish's name is derived from the Filipino word 'dugo,' meaning blood. For those who prefer, pork belly or shoulder can substitute the offal. Dinuguan is often served with hot steamed rice or Puto, a Filipino rice cake. The recipe includes ingredients like pork meat, pork blood, pork liver, garlic, onion, ginger, and spices to create its distinct flavor.

The Buko Pandan Salad recipe on Riverten Kitchen is a delightful Filipino dessert combining young coconut strips with pandan flavored jelly, kaong, and nata de coco, all smothered in a creamy and sweet dressing. This extra creamy version is less sweet than most recipes, with the coconut and pandan flavors as the stars. It's a popular treat in the Philippines, especially during holidays like Christmas and New Year.

The Filipino Style Chicken Adobo recipe on Creme De La Crumb offers a bold and flavorful take on a classic Filipino dish. It features simple ingredients and seasonings like chicken breasts or thighs, garlic, sriracha sauce, ground ginger, rice vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, and optional bay leaves. This easy-to-follow recipe involves marinating the chicken, cooking it in a skillet, and serving it over rice, garnished with green onions. This dish is perfect for bringing a taste of the Philippines to your dinner table.

The Beef Mechado recipe on What To Eat PH is a classic Filipino beef stew cooked in a rich, tomato-based sauce. The recipe requires marinating beef in calamansi juice, soy sauce, and black pepper, then cooking it in a pressure cooker until tender. It includes searing potatoes, carrots, and bell peppers, and sautéing with garlic, onion, and tomatoes. The dish is simmered to reduce the sauce and served hot, making it a flavorful, satisfying meal.

Sinangag, or Filipino Garlic Fried Rice, is a simple yet flavorful dish, perfect for breakfast or as a side. This recipe on No Recipes involves sautéing minced garlic in oil until golden, then stir-frying cold, day-old rice to get the perfect texture. Seasoned lightly with salt, it's a versatile base that can be paired with a range of Filipino breakfast foods like tocino, longganisa, or a fried egg. This dish is a staple in Filipino cuisine, known for its aromatic, garlicky flavor.

The Taisan recipe on Amiable Foods is a Filipino chiffon cake known for its soft and fluffy texture. It's uniquely brushed with butter and topped with sugar and cheese, making it a delightful treat. The recipe includes a step-by-step guide on preparing the meringue and batter, using ingredients like egg whites, cream of tartar, sugar, egg yolks, milk, cake flour, and vegetable oil. This easy and approachable recipe is perfect for both novice and seasoned bakers.

The Filipino Coconut Macaroons recipe on Kawaling Pinoy is a delightful baked treat, different from its American counterpart. These mini cupcakes are soft, chewy, and full of coconut flavor. The recipe uses simple ingredients like butter, sugar, eggs, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, flour, and desiccated coconut. They are baked to a golden crisp outside while remaining moist inside. This recipe, perfect for snacks or desserts, yields four dozen mini cupcakes

The recipe for Vegan Lumpiang Shanghai on Sweet Simple Vegan offers a plant-based version of the traditional Filipino spring rolls. It uses a mix of flax eggs, water chestnuts, green onions, carrot, nori, and vegan ground beef, wrapped in lumpia wrappers. These ingredients create a similar taste and texture to the non-vegan version. The recipe provides options for both deep frying and air frying, ensuring a crispy finish. It's a unique take on a classic Filipino snack, perfect for those following a vegan diet.

The Buko Pie recipe featured on Foxy Folksy is a beloved Filipino dessert known for its flaky pastry crust filled with young coconut meat in a creamy and sweet filling. This recipe guides through making the flaky pastry from scratch, combining ingredients like flour, shortening, butter, and vinegar. The filling, rich in coconut flavor, is made using young coconut meat, sweetened condensed creamer, coconut water, and flour. The pie is baked to achieve a golden-brown finish, creating a dessert that's perfect for various occasions.

The Sago at Gulaman recipe on Kawaling Pinoy is a traditional Filipino refreshment combining chewy sago (tapioca pearls) and sweet gulaman (agar jelly) in a brown sugar syrup. The recipe outlines making the components from scratch, including cooking the sago, preparing the gulaman, and creating a flavorful syrup using brown sugar or panutsa. It's served chilled, making it a perfect, refreshing drink for hot days. This drink is a staple in the Philippines, often found at street stalls and family gatherings.

The Tortang Talong recipe by Recipes by Nora presents a Filipino version of an eggplant omelet. This dish involves grilling eggplants over an open flame to achieve a smoky flavor, then peeling and flattening them. The eggplants are dipped in an egg mixture seasoned with fish sauce, salt, pepper, scallions, and optional chilies, and fried until they form a fluffy omelet with crispy edges. This simple yet flavorful dish elevates the humble eggplant into a satisfying meal.

The Crispy Pork Belly Chicharon recipe on Panlasang Pinoy is a Filipino delicacy, offering a crispier version of the traditional lechon kawali. The recipe involves boiling pork belly with seasonings until tender, air drying, then deep frying to achieve a crunchy texture. The dish is known for its crispy skin and juicy meat, often served with spicy vinegar. It's a perfect snack or main dish that pairs well with rice. This recipe is simple yet delivers a satisfying crunch and flavor.

The Chicken Tinola recipe on Hungry Huy is a traditional Filipino soup that features tender chicken, flavorful ginger, and leafy greens. The recipe emphasizes marinating the chicken in fish sauce to enhance its flavor and includes ingredients like garlic, onion, and chayote. It is a comforting dish, often served to soothe those feeling under the weather. The recipe provides detailed instructions for achieving a rich, flavorful broth, making it a comforting and nourishing meal.

The Filipino Torta, an omelet with potatoes and ground meat, is a nostalgic dish for the writer who reminisces about childhood meals in the Philippines. Initially not a favorite, the dish gained appreciation over time. Commonly served with rice and ketchup, the torta consists of sautéed ground meat and potatoes, enhanced with green peas for color and nutrition. It's adaptable, pairing well with white rice or as a sandwich filling, and embodies a blend of simplicity and comforting flavors, evoking memories of home-cooked meals.

"Pininyahang Manok: Filipino Chicken Stew" on Adora's Box is a recipe that showcases a quintessential Filipino dish. It features chicken simmered in a flavorful sauce made with pineapple, providing a delightful balance of sweet and savory. This stew also includes rich coconut milk, creating a creamy texture. Vegetables like bell peppers and carrots add color and nutrition. This dish is a staple in Filipino cuisine, known for its tropical flair and comforting warmth.

The article "Homemade Fresh Ginger Tea: Filipino Salabat" on Kitchen Confidante details a comforting and healing beverage, particularly beneficial during cold and flu season. This Filipino Salabat, made with fresh ginger, water, and honey, is not only soothing for sore throats and helpful for digestion but also serves as a nostalgic reminder of the author's mother's home remedy. Its simplicity and health benefits make it a perfect choice for moments of calm and self-care.

The Foxy Folksy website presents a Filipino Pork Pochero recipe using pork belly, a tomato-based stew distinguished by the inclusion of ripe plantain bananas, which adds a unique sweetness. This dish, influenced by Spanish cuisine, combines meat with vegetables, root crops, and legumes. The preparation involves pre-boiling pork belly for tenderness, frying vegetables and bananas, and simmering them in a broth to create a rich, thick sauce, served ideally with rice.

The "Maruya" recipe featured on Kawaling Pinoy is a delightful Filipino snack made from ripe saba bananas. These bananas are sliced, dipped in a simple batter, and fried to a golden crisp. The resulting banana fritters are a popular street food in the Philippines, known for their sweet flavor and fluffy texture. Often enjoyed as a snack or dessert, Maruya can be dusted with sugar and paired with a hot drink for a comforting treat.

The "Vegan Arroz Caldo" recipe on Sweet Simple Vegan reinvents the classic Filipino rice porridge with plant-based ingredients. Traditionally made with chicken, this vegan version uses a meat substitute, maintaining the dish's hearty and comforting essence. The recipe includes fresh ginger, garlic, onion, and optional vegan fish sauce, creating a rich flavor profile. Served with toppings like crispy garlic and green onions, this dish is a wholesome and satisfying vegan adaptation of a beloved Filipino comfort food.

The "Ice Scramble (Iskrambol) Recipe" on Ping Desserts is a guide to making a classic Filipino street food dessert. This sweet, creamy, and refreshing shaved ice treat is made with skim milk, sugar, banana extract, and pink food coloring. The recipe also suggests various toppings such as powdered milk, chocolate syrup, mini-marshmallows, sprinkles, and wafer sticks. Ice Scramble is a popular and affordable summertime delight in the Philippines, often enjoyed by students and served in colorful plastic cups.