Philippine cuisine - a vivid combination of tropical ingredients, rich aromas and piquant combinations of flavors. Gourmets around the world enthusiastically describe the bold duets of fruits, meat, fish, rice ... In this article - a description of the most popular traditional dishes, as well as simple recipes.
Briefly about the important! Location, tourism
So where are the Philippines? This question excites many gastronomic travelers. The island nation is located in Southeast Asia, in the western Pacific. A paradise country is adjacent to Indonesia and Taiwan.
Travelers love to relax on the islands, because there is azure water, warm sand, mesmerizing reefs and natural landscapes ... The Philippines are famous for their fauna, flora and, of course, a variety of national delicacies. Read more about kitchen delights read below.
Interesting facts: what you need to know about cuisine in the Philippines
Philippine food is a mixture of Asian and Western influences, transformed into original treats. Do you know that:
- Main dishes are always served with rice. Grains are considered the staple food of Filipinos. Due to its simple, starchy taste, rice goes well with a lot of salty and sour ingredients.
- Sauce is a must! The most common dressings are soy sauce and kalamansi (mixed together), fish sauce (patis) and spicy vinegar.
- Cutlery is prohibited. Although in the West people rarely eat with their hands, in the Philippines it is a tradition.
- Nothing is thrown away. Foreigners are often surprised to learn that locals use “non-traditional” parts of animals, such as legs and tails, in cooking.
The traditional cuisine is very sophisticated. It was formed under the strong influence of former colonialists and neighboring Asian countries. Because of this, among the national dishes there are many Chinese, Indian, Spanish, Japanese traditional delicacies.
Duck or egg? Balut is the strangest beer snack
A trip to the Philippines will not be considered complete if you do not try this traditional snack. The balut egg is one of the most controversial products, because it is ... a 17-day-old germ of a duck. The ingredient is boiled, served with coarse salt or hot sauce.
The taste resembles scrambled eggs, but with a very faint aftertaste of fish. This may be due to the habitat of the duck or, possibly, to its embryonic state. There are certain techniques (for example, adding 1 tablespoon of vinegar to a boiling liquid) designed to neutralize the smell.
How to Make Filipino Chicken: Adobo with Rice
Once the Filipino housewives found that cooking meat (often chicken and pork) in vinegar, soy sauce and other spices is a practical way to keep it without cooling. This culinary style can be applied to various types of meat and even to seafood.
Philippine cuisine is famous for its meat treats. But how to cook this unusual treat from chicken?
Products Used:
- 670 g of chicken legs;
- 250 ml of water;
- 170 ml of soy sauce;
- 80 ml of white vinegar;
- bay leaf, garlic.
Chicken marinated in soy sauce for about an hour (the longer, the better). Tender fillet is fried in a pan, poured with spicy marinade, water. Boil for 30-40 minutes, then add vinegar, cook for 8-10 minutes. The meat is served with friable rice.
Traditions of national cuisine ... Lechon, Sisig, Bulalo
Lechon - a classic table decoration during the winter holidays. The whole pig is fried on charcoal, seasoned with liver sauce. On Cebu Island, the stomach is filled with star anise, pepper, green onions, laurel leaves and lemongrass, resulting in a very tasty dish.
Filipino cuisine also has first courses. Despite the hot climate, many people like hot beulo soup made from beef. The broth is rich in flavors leaked from beef after cooking for several hours. Often, sweet potato, carrots, corn, and cabbage leaves are added to the first dish.
In the culinary capital of Pampanga, local chefs turn pork cheeks, head and liver into a hot Filipino dish called sisig. The crispy and chewy texture of this appetizer is perfect for cold beer.
Not just coffee! Familiar Filipino breakfast
A hearty Filipino breakfast usually consists of meat, Sinangaga (garlic fried rice), and total (eggs). The name of each dish varies slightly depending on the meat served with the main ingredients.
So, for example, a plate of tapa (beef jerky), Sinangag and the result are called tapilogue. A plate of tachino (pork) is called tosilog. While the dish, in the process of cooking which uses longganisa (sausages), is known as longsilog. This fragrant combination is a great way to start the day.
What is prepared from fish? Gourmet Seafood Treats
The freshness of the rich marine life of Cebu can be tasted in fish tinole. A simple sour broth is seasoned with onions, tomatoes and sambag (tamarind) and cooked for hours on coconut milk.
Tilapia is first stuffed with tomatoes and onions. Then boil in coconut milk and wrap in the leaves of the oven. A fish treat is called Sinanglay. The dish stands out from other fish specialties thanks to a sophisticated presentation.
What do you think of fish cakes? Philippine chefs roll tender bread in spices, breadcrumbs. Formed cutlets are fried in a pan or baked in the oven, served with rice.
Spicy Beans - Another Traditional Recipe
Filipino beans are a simple and tasty treat popular on the islands. The dish is prepared from red beans, pork belly, langaki (jackfruit) and leaves of malunggea.
Products Used:
- 200 g of red beans;
- 150 g chopped langaki;
- 100 g pork breast;
- 60 ml of fish sauce;
- 1 small onion;
- lemongrass, garlic.
Red beans and pork are boiled in boiling water. Chopped garlic, onions and lemongrass are fried with the addition of vegetable oil. Pork is added to the aromatic ingredients, stewed until the meat turns golden brown. After adding beans and langaka, continue cooking for the next 4-6 minutes, season with fish sauce.
National desserts: ice-cream, parfait
Many joke that the Philippines has two seasons: hot and very hot. Fortunately, tourists and locals can cool off with a halo-halo cocktail.
This is a mixture of crushed ice, condensed milk and various ingredients, including sweetened beans, coconut julienne, sago, gulaman (seaweed gelatin), pinnipig rice, boiled root vegetables in cubes, pieces of fruit and, of course, ice cream balls.
Another classic dessert is parfait. Usually it is made from cream whipped with sugar and vanilla. Culinary experts add chia seeds, slices of exotic fruits (mango, avocado) to the sweet treat.