13 Edible Reasons To Fall In Love With Philippines
All packed for the next vacation!
11 June 2017
It may not be as popular as its neighbouring cuisines (Chinese or Thai) but Filipino cuisine has its distinct flavours that are hard to find anywhere else in the world.
If you doubt our words then listen to world’s renowned chef, Anthony Bourdain, who believes Filipino food will be the next big trend in the coming year. TBH, with so many expat-Filipino fellows living here in UAE, it was just a matter of time that we got the whiff of their understated Asian cuisine.
Exotic seafood delicacies, deep-fried desserts, tropical fruits slushies and their spices, we wholeheartedly agree with Bourdain, we've got enough reason to visit this colourful and friendly archipelago.
As the country celebrates it National Day today, we look at the 13 scrumptious dishes that define its culture, people and landscape.
1. Adobo
Many consider this meat-marinated-in-sauce dish to be the unofficial national dish of the country and we can see why. It's chicken or pork marinated with vinegar, soy sauce and garlic.
You can't really go wrong here.
image credit: Pinterest
2. Ukoy
It's crispy shrimp fritters with tangy vinegar dipping sauce — we're sold!
image credit: Pinterest
3. Turon
Deep-fried, sweet banana rolls that can usually be seen on the streets being peddled along with banana-cue.
That's it, we're moving to Philipines.
image credit: Pinterest
4. Chicaharon
Dipped in vinegar spiked with chilli peppers, this is Filipino's answer to french fries except, it's pork instead of potatoes.
image credit: Pinterest
5. Halo Halo
Filipinos discovered rainbow trend long before the Instagram did. Halo-halo means "mix mix" in Tagalog, and that's exactly what you're supposed to do with it.
This picture-perfect drink is a crazy blend of shaved ice cream, fruit beans, ice cream and whatever your heart desires.
image credit: Pinterest
6. Kwek Kwek
Deep-fried quail eggs in a spicy orange batter, these are a street-food must!
image credit: Pinterest
7. Taho
Taho is bean curd made of soft silken tofu. It is topped with a sweet syrup, caramelised or liquefied brown sugar with sago or tapioca pearls. Exotic!
image credit: Pinterest
8. Lumpiang Shangai
Like egg rolls? You're going to LOVE this popular mainstay in Filipino food gatherings. It's a heavenly mixture of ground chicken or pork, chopped vegetables such as carrots, onions and jicama wrapped in thin spring roll wrappers.
image credit: Pinterest
9. Sinangag
Fried rice with soup and meat for breakfast, anyone? Head over to Manila and you'll eat as much as you want.
image credit: Pinterest
10. Chicken Skewers
Don't get confused by the name, it's everyone's all-time favourite barbeque chicken skewers served Filipino-style.
image credit: Pinterest
11. Pancit Palabok
This is how the country eats its noodles — with cooked shrimps and shrimp sauce, pork, crushed chicharron, tofu and fried garlic.
And like noodles anywhere around the world, they eat it whenever the mood strikes.
image credit: Pinterest
12. Iskrambol
Iskrambol or Ice Scramble is the Filipino version of slushy made out of banana flavoured frozen condensed milk usually sold by street hawkers.
A perfect summer treat!
image credit: Pinterest
13. Lechon Manak
Nobody can resist the power of a perfectly roasted whole chicken known as Lechon Manok. This street version of roasted chicken is available almost everywhere, especially for dinner-time.
image credit: Pinterest
