Three distinct flavours – sweet, sour, and salty – combine to create the distinctive flavour of Filipino cuisine.
Spices and heat are not as dominant in traditional Filipino food as they are in other Southeast Asian nations.
The most frequently used ingredients are garlic, ginger, bay leaves, and black pepper, and what makes Filipino cuisine distinctive is its fusion of various influences.
The nation is well renowned for its popular meals, which include:
Lumpia is the local equivalent of spring rolls. It is a well-known Filipino dish that’s frequently offered as an appetiser at events, get-togethers, and formal family meals. A thin, paper-like crepe called lumpiang sariwa is used to make Filipino lumpia, which is often deep-fried. Fresh versions are also quite popular.
Torta is a Spanish word for food that can also apply to flatbreads, sandwiches, pies, cakes, but in Filipino cuisine it refers to a type of omelette. In the Philippines, tortas are frequently served as a side dish with banana ketchup and can be cooked with eggs and a variety of other ingredients.
Chicken Inasal is prepared by marinating chicken in calamansi, vinegar, pepper, and achuete, then grilling it over charcoal while basting it with the marinade. Originally from Bacolod City and the western Visayas region, chicken inasal has now spread throughout the entire country.
Adobo is one of the most well-known Filipino dishes and possibly the most significant one, which is frequently referred to as the national meal of the Philippines. To make adobo, vinegar, soy sauce, black peppercorns, bay leaves, and garlic are braising ingredients that are marinated with meat, fish, or vegetables. After that, the mixture is simmered over low heat until the ingredients are broken down and fork-tender in a rich, fragrant sauce.
Arroz caldo is a rice porridge that is made up of a delicious broth, ginger, garlic and onions. It is usually consumed for breakfast and comes with chicken slices and hard-boiled eggs. Fried garlic bits, chopped green onions, and a drizzle of kalamansi are added to each portion before eating.