Do you need easy Filipino recipes?
I have gathered authentic dishes ranging from appetizers to desserts that feel hearty and comforting.
Filipino food focuses on intense flavors like fatty proteins plus creamy sauces and umami rich broths.
These meals might not fit a diet but they will make your tummy happy.
You should try something new if your weeknight routine feels boring.
These 30 traditional dishes will transform your meal from meh to memorable.
1. Pork Chicharon
Deep frying pork rinds creates the classic Filipino snack known as pork chicharon. You will find this treat crunchy and fatty plus seriously addictive. Stopping at just one is impossible.
Vinegar makes a perfect dip for these irresistible cracklings. I am not exaggerating when I say this is one of the tastiest snacks on earth.
2. Lumpiang Shanghai
Chinese cuisine inspired this Filipino favorite called Lumpiang Shanghai. You mix ground meat with onions and carrots then stuff the blend into egg roll wrappers before frying them until golden. That is the essence of this dish.
Be careful because these rolls are dangerously addictive. Eating only three pieces presents a real challenge. Ketchup or sweet and sour sauce makes this the ultimate finger food for parties.
3. Filipino-Style Chicken Adobo Recipe
Spain colonized the Philippines for over three centuries so many local dishes have Spanish influences. Adobo is one example since the name comes from the Spanish word meaning to marinade. This Philippine version features browned chicken cooked in vinegar and soy sauce then seasoned with peppercorns plus garlic.
Savory flavors with a hint of acidity come from that marinade. Cooking thickens the sauce into a golden glaze that pairs perfectly with steamed rice.
4. Sizzling Sisig
No drinking session in the Philippines feels complete without a platter of sizzling sisig. Chopped pork parts get flavored with onions plus chili peppers then fried until sizzling hot. This meal stands out as one of the most delectable delicacies available.
Grilled pig face and ears plus brains make this dish extra special since you might not normally eat those parts. Local ingenuity turned what some consider scraps into a mind blowingly delicious meal to avoid food waste.
5. Arroz Caldo
Think of Arroz caldo as Filipino congee since it is a rice porridge filled with chicken plus scallions. Toasted garlic and a hard boiled egg finish the dish.
People consider this the ultimate comfort food for cold or rainy days. Ginger flavors the broth alongside other seasonings to make it cozy.
6. Sago at Gulaman
You will find the sweet and refreshing beverage known as Sago at gulaman sold on streets alongside other classic foods. Refreshing drinks are essential since it feels like summer almost all year round in the Philippines.
This sugary drink contains tapioca pearls and cubes of gelatin. It works perfectly to quench your thirst and beat the heat.
7. Filipino Spaghetti
Filipino spaghetti differs from the classic version because it is sweeter plus meatier and cheesier. Italians might question this but you must try it.
Sweet tomato based sauce cooks with ground pork or beef before getting loaded with cheddar cheese. The sauce is ridiculously rich and addictive. Adding cut up hot dogs makes kids love it even more.
8. Pininyahang Manok
Marinating chicken in pineapple juice creates a sweet and savory dish called Pininyahang manok. You will find it downright delicious. The chicken cooks in milk with pineapples plus carrots and bell peppers after marinating to create ultimate comfort food.
Serving this dish with rice is best. That rich milk based broth soaks into the rice beautifully so you will ask for seconds.
9. Banana Fritters
Maruya or banana fritters are another classic snack from the Philippines. You mix mashed saba bananas with flour batter then deep fry them and coat them in sugar.
This sweet and crunchy item makes a perfect treat for breakfast or the afternoon.
10. Beef Mechado
Tender beef plus potatoes and carrots fill the super saucy stew known as Beef mechado. Canned tomato sauce combines with soy sauce and garlic plus onions and pepper to form the base.
Preparation takes a while so the beef has time to soften and absorb those flavors. Your reward is fork tender beef swimming in a rich stew packed with flavor.
11. Filipino Beef Omelet (Torta)
You mix ground beef with diced potatoes and carrots in egg batter then pan fry it until golden brown. Torta is a classic Filipino beef omelet that deserves fame worldwide.
Making an omelet from ground beef is a simple idea. However the flavor is truly phenomenal. It tastes amazing alone but ketchup makes it ten times better.
12. Eggplant Omelet
Have you ever thought about combining eggs with eggplant for a single dish? This idea creates a common weeknight side dish in the Philippines even if it seems new to you. Tortang Talong is a savory eggplant omelet made by frying the vegetable in egg batter.
Grilling the eggplant before coating it gives the dish a smoky flavor. Locals commonly serve this as a side dish with rice and meat.
13. Ginger Tea (Filipino Salabat)
Salabat is a hot tea made using ginger and flavored with sugar. Ginger provides a soothing flavor profile.
People widely use this drink to cure sore throats and laryngitis.
14. Pineapple Coleslaw
Filipinos enjoy sweetness in savory dishes and this recipe is no exception. Pineapple tidbits mix with raisins and a mayonnaise coating to make Filipino coleslaw much sweeter than standard versions.
Vinegar in the dressing ensures the flavors remain perfectly balanced. Trying this might make you switch to this style for good.
15. Kare-Kare
Oxtail and tripe join vegetables in a thick peanut sauce to create the umami rich stew called Kare-Kare. Sweet shrimp paste pairs with the dish to give your taste buds an explosion of flavor. You will need the lining of a cow stomach known as tripe.
This ingredient has a uniquely soft and chewy consistency. Adding tender fatty oxtail makes the dish even more flavorful.
I love this unique mix of veggies and hearty sauce plus tender meat. It takes effort to prepare but the flavor makes it worthwhile.
16. Tinolang Manok
Tinolang manok is a chicken soup that you serve with rice. Salty fish sauce flavors the broth along with ginger plus garlic and onions.
Chili pepper leaves add a bit of heat. This dish is one of the easiest and most affordable Filipino meals to cook while remaining incredibly flavorful.
17. Taisan (Filipino Chiffon Cake)
Taisan is an incredibly soft cake smeared with butter then topped with grated cheese and sugar. You will find it sweet and buttery plus simply divine.
This cake does not need overly sweet frosting to be delightful. Butter combined with sugar and cheese makes the cake amazing on its own.
18. Pan De Sal
Bread is huge in the Philippines and Pan de sal is one of the most popular rolls in the country. The Spanish term means salt bread. That name is strange because the bread is actually sweet.
Filling it with jam or butter or meat creates a hearty breakfast meal. This is the favorite breakfast side dish for locals right next to fried rice.
19. Beef Pochero
Pochero is a special occasion tomato based stew made with tender beef plus potatoes and carrots. Chorizo and chickpeas also go into the mix. Adding saba banana makes it extra special.
Saba is a native Filipino sweet plantain that is shorter and fatter than regular bananas with a milder flavor. People commonly use it in desserts but it works perfectly in beef pochero.
20. Buko Pie
Buko Pie features tender young coconut milk and sweet filling inside a flaky buttery crust to create the ultimate tropical treat. Coconut is abundant in the Philippines so it appears in many recipes.
This pie is one of the best ways to highlight that sweet flavor.
21. Iskrambol
Ice scramble or Iskrambol is a street food made from powdered milk and shaved ice plus pink food coloring. Every Filipino kid knows about this sweet treat. That mesmerizing pink hue always grabs attention.
The true origins of this popular street food remain a mystery. This recipe captures the oddly satisfying flavors of the sweet drink perfectly so you will fall in love with it.
22. Beef Pares
Ultra tender beef cooks in a sweet and savory broth to create Beef pares. I mean melt in your mouth tender.
Marinating the brisket in brown sugar and soy sauce gives it wonderful flavor. The broth is also absolutely to die for thanks to a special blend of spices.
You might find yourself slurping it directly from the bowl. Pares is Filipino for pair because this dish works best when paired with rice.
23. Monggo Guisado
Mung beans create a thick and umami packed stew called Monggo guisado. You soak the beans in water for several hours to tenderize them for cooking.
Sauteing the beans in garlic and onions before simmering makes them melt in your mouth. This results in a ridiculously rich dish.
24. Buko Pandan Ice Cream
Combining young coconut meat with pandan flavored gelatin creates an addictive dessert called Buko pandan. This recipe transforms that classic treat into ice cream.
Everyone loves ice cream. You do not need a machine to whip up this dessert without churning.
25. Adobong Balut
Combining two local favorites creates this extra special dish. Locals often offer balut to visitors first thing. Balut is a fertilized duck embryo boiled and eaten in the shell so brace yourself.
Many people cringe at the thought but this delicacy is actually tasty. You marinate the balut in soy sauce and vinegar then cook it adobo style for this recipe. Peeling off the shells helps the eggs absorb more flavor.
26. Dinuguan
Discovering the ingredients might put you off but you should give this delicious dish a chance. Dinuguan means cooked with blood. Pig blood creates the black sauce.
Diced pork cooks in the blood along with vinegar and spices to make the dish rich and savory. This makes a perfect afternoon snack when paired with the sweet rice cake called puto.
27. Filipino Coconut Macaroons
Sweetened condensed milk combines with eggs and desiccated coconut to form classic Filipino macaroons. These little mounds are sweet and chewy.
Toasted nutty flavor from the coconut complements the sweetness perfectly.
28. Sinangag (Filipino Garlic Fried Rice)
Garlic fried rice or Sinangag is the ultimate breakfast side dish in the Philippines. Frying day old rice in oil and garlic creates the best aroma for waking up.
The basic formula involves rice plus oil and garlic. However locals often add ingredients like peas and carrots or corn and ham to make it more flavorful. You often serve this with a fried egg and traditional meat dishes like Filipino sausage.
29. Cheese Puto
Puto is a small round rice cake made with glutinous rice. You will find it sweet and fluffy as well as amazing.
Slices of cheddar cheese often top the cake to add salty contrast. You can enjoy it as a snack or eat it as a side dish with dinuguan.
30. Leche Flan
Leche flan appears everywhere as a dessert in the Philippines for good reason. It is the local version of crème caramel. A luscious caramel glaze tops the smooth and velvety custard.
You can eat it alone or pair it with other desserts like ube jam. Making it is easy since you only need milk and sugar plus eggs and a steamer.