5 Dish Filipino Way of Cooking

One of the most vibrant and flavorful cuisines that you should try is Filipino way of cooking. With over 7,107 islands, Philippines has a lot to offer in terms of food. Each region, province, and even town has their own distinct cooking style, ingredients, and flavors, making Filipino food a gastronomic adventure that you should not miss!

If you haven’t tried garlic longganisa before, then you’re missing out on one of the best Filipino dishes there is! Longganisa is a popular Filipino sausage with a sweet and savory flavor that has been around for decades! Garlic longganisa, in particular, is a favorite among Filipinos and tourists alike. It is best eaten with garlic rice, fried egg, and vinegar dipping sauce.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground pork
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp vinegar
• 5 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup cold water
• 2 tsp cornstarch
• 10-12 sausage casings

Directions:

1. In a bowl, mix the ground pork, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, salt, sugar, and black pepper until well blended.
2. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight to allow the flavors to blend.
3. In a separate bowl, mix brown sugar, cold water, and cornstarch.
4. Take the sausage casings and rinse well under cold water.
5. Stuff the sausage mixture into the casings and tie into 4-inch links.
6. Dip the links into the brown sugar mixture and let it marinate for 30 minutes.
7. In a pan, heat oil over medium-high heat.
8. Fry the longganisa until golden brown and fully cooked.

Now, you have made your own authentic garlic longganisa! Top it over garlic rice, fried egg, and dipping sauce. Enjoy it with your friends and family and share the Filipino taste!

Filipino Adobo is one of the most popular and beloved dishes in the Philippines. It is a savory and tangy stew that combines chicken or pork with vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and other spices. This iconic dish has been around for centuries and has been passed down through generations of Filipino families. Many Filipinos consider adobo as a comfort food that reminds them of home and their childhood memories.

Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients

To make the best Filipino Adobo, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• 1 kilo of chicken or pork
• 1 cup of vinegar
• 1 cup of soy sauce
• 1 head of garlic
• 1 tablespoon of peppercorns
• 2-3 pieces of bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon of sugar (optional)

Step 2: Marinate the Meat

In a large bowl or container, mix the vinegar, soy sauce, minced garlic, peppercorns, and bay leaves. Add the chicken or pork into the mixture and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes (or overnight for best results).

Step 3: Cook the Adobo

In a pot or a pan, heat the marinated meat and the marinade. Bring it to a boil and then let it simmer for 40-50 minutes (or until the meat is tender and cooked). You can also add a tablespoon of sugar if you want your adobo to have a sweet taste.

Step 4: Fry the Meat

Once the adobo is cooked, take out the meat and set it aside. Heat some oil in a pan and fry the meat until it’s crispy and golden brown. You can also fry some garlic and onions and mix it with the adobo.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy

Once the meat is fried, you can pour some of the adobo sauce on top of it. Adobo is best served with white rice and some vegetables on the side. You can also garnish it with some fresh cilantro or chopped green onions.

Sisig is a flavorful and spicy dish that is usually made with chopped pig’s head, liver, onions, and vinegar. Don’t be intimidated by the unusual ingredients, once you try this dish you won’t be able to resist it! Keep on reading to find out how to prepare a mouthwatering sisig the Filipino way!

The Ingredients
To prepare an authentic sisig, you will need the following ingredients:
-1 kilogram of chopped pig’s head and liver
-2 onions, chopped
-4 cloves of garlic, minced
-3 tablespoons of vinegar
-3 tablespoons of soy sauce
-3 bird’s eye chili, chopped
-1 lemon or calamansi, juiced
-Salt and pepper to taste

The Preparation

1. In a large frying pan, cook the chopped pig’s head and liver until they are crispy. Make sure to stir frequently to avoid burning.
2. Remove the cooked meat from the pan and set it aside. In the same pan, sauté the garlic and onions until they are soft and translucent.
3. Add the crispy meat back into the pan with the onions and garlic. Mix everything together.
4. Pour in the soy sauce and vinegar into the pan and cook for 5 minutes.
5. Add the chopped bird’s eye chili and mix everything together.
6. Season your sisig with salt and pepper to taste
7. Squeeze the lemon or calamansi over the sisig before serving.

Serving Suggestions
Traditionally, sisig is served on a sizzling plate with a raw egg on top. The heat from the sisig will cook the egg and create a creamy consistency. You can also add some chopped green onions or fresh chili for some extra flavor.

Variations
Sisig can be prepared with different meats like chicken or beef. You can also add some vegetables like bell peppers and carrots for some crunch. Some people like to add mayonnaise or cheese on top of their sisig for a creamy texture.

One of the most famous and iconic Filipino dishes is the sinigang sa baboy or pork sinigang. It is a sour soup made from tamarind and other vegetables and meats. It is a popular Filipino comfort food that’s perfect for any season. If you’re looking to try out a Filipino dish, then you should definitely try making this one.

Ingredients:

• 500 g pork ribs
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 2 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 pack tamarind mix
• 1 litre of water
• chili peppers (optional)
• 1 cup potatoes, chopped
• 1 cup radish, chopped
• 1 cup green beans, chopped
• 1 cup kangkong (water spinach), chopped

Step 1: Season the pork ribs with salt and let it sit for a few minutes. In a pot or a deep pan, pour the water and let it boil.

Step 2: Add the pork ribs to the boiling water and let it simmer for 20 minutes. Foam might form on the surface. You can use a spoon to remove it.

Step 3: Add the chopped onions and tomatoes, and let it simmer for 10 more minutes.

Step 4: Add the tamarind mix and fish sauce. It will give the soup its sourness. You can adjust the taste according to your preference. If you want it more sour, you can add more tamarind mix. If you want it less sour, you can add water or sugar.

Step 5: Add the chopped potatoes, radish, and green beans. Let it cook for 5-10 minutes.

Step 6: Add the chopped kangkong last, and let it cook for 1-2 minutes. Kangkong cooks quickly, so you don’t want to overcook it.

Step 7: Taste and adjust the flavor if needed. If you want it spicier, you can add chopped chili peppers.

Step 8: Serve hot with a bowl of rice.

When it comes to Filipino desserts, it’s hard to not think of biko. This traditional rice cake is a popular treat in the Philippines, especially during celebrations like weddings, birthdays, and fiestas. It’s a simple dish made with glutinous rice, coconut milk, and lots of brown sugar. But what makes biko special compared to other rice cakes? It’s the chewy and sticky texture that makes it truly irresistible.

So how is biko made the Filipino way of cooking? Here’s a simple recipe that you can follow:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups glutinous rice
• 2 cups water
• 2 cups coconut milk
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

1. Rinse the glutinous rice and soak it in water for at least 20 minutes. Drain afterwards.
2. In a pot, combine the soaked rice, water, and coconut milk. Bring to a boil and then lower the heat to a simmer. Cook the rice until the liquid is fully absorbed and the rice is cooked through, around 20-30 minutes.
3. Add the brown sugar and salt to the pot and mix well. Keep stirring until the mixture thickens and turns into a sticky texture.
4. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Transfer the biko mixture into a greased baking dish and bake for 20-30 minutes until the top turns golden brown.
5. Once done, let it cool down before cutting it into squares or diamond shapes. Enjoy!

Now that you know the basic recipe, let’s talk about some variants and twists you can do with biko. You can add toppings like grated coconut, latik (coconut milk curd), sliced mangoes, or even chocolate chips. Some people also mix in other flavors like ube (purple yam), jackfruit, or pandan leaves. You can also experiment with the topping and filling by making it savory instead of sweet. Biko can truly be a versatile dish that you can customize to your liking.

Filipino way of cooking is indeed a gastronomic adventure that everyone should try. Through experiencing the unique blend of flavors, ingredients and cooking techniques, you will discover how Filipino way of cooking is a reflection of the country’s culture, history, and people. A trip to the Philippines would not be complete without trying some of these delicious dishes, but if you’re not able to visit the country yet, cooking them yourself will still allow you to experience the taste of Filipino way of cooking.