The Underrated Must-Try Filipino Cuisine

Let’s start with one of the most dishes (a snack would be a more accurate word) that gets foreigners to literally frown when mentioned.

1. Balut

Balut is not exactly your everyday boiled egg.

It is a very popular traditional snack in the streets of the Philippines. You will be very tempted to try it; however, once you get a closer look at one of those cracked eggs, you will have second thoughts about joining in. Why? Because inside the egg is a 17-day old embryo of a duck. Yes, you are probably picturing it correctly, a baby duck with undeveloped bones or feathers.

Tourists tend to be very reluctant to try it, but always end up loving it!

2. Adobo

Adobo is one of the most famous and mostly loved dishes in the Philippines. The word “Adobo” is Spanish, and it means marinade, which basically explains the dish. It consists of a type of meat (either beef, pork, chicken), or vegetables, marinated in a delicious mixture of vinegar and soy sauce.

A definite must-try!

3. Pansit

This might just be the most popular dish in the Philippines. Because, what do Filipinos consider better than rice? Rice noodle, of course, whether they are thick or thin (even better). Especially, when it’s stir-fried with vegetables, or meat, soaked in both soy sauce and oyster sauce. Best thing about this dish is that it can be eaten for breakfast, for lunch and for dinner.

4. Sinigang

Sinigang is one of the most popular stews made in the Philippines. The stew is mainly sour-tasting, and its main factor is the tamarind. However, sometimes other souring ingredients are used, such as guava and kalamansi, which is Filipino lime. The stew is most commonly made with pork, but also popular with beef, chicken, and fish. All stewed with many vegetables including eggplant and okra, garlic, and tomatoes. It is considered as comfort food, and therefore is served with a side of white rice.

5. Lumpia

Because, who doesn’t like spring rolls?

An awesome snack, and the perfect appetizer with any meal. Inside is usually minced meat, and it is cooked with vegetable chopped into fine pieces, garlic and onions. All ingredients are bundled up with a wrapper made of wafer-thin dough, either fresh or fried.

6. Halo Halo

Now, let’s satisfy your sweet tooth!

Halo Halo is the ideal Filipino dessert. “Halo Halo”, in Filipino, means mixed together. It is THE Filipino dessert to go for. Served in a glass, with vapored milk, shavings of ice and little chunks of tasty treats, all mixed in that glass. The mentioned tasty treats include chickpeas, kidney and sweet beans, sugar palm fruit, jackfruit, sweet potatoes, coconut gel, and of course, purple yam and ice cream, in addition to many more.

Usually served on beaches, as it ends up as a colorful, tropical delight!

7. Ube Ice Cream

This beautiful purple ice cream is made of a root crop ube, and is usually referred to as purple yam.

It’s purple ice cream, that’s really all that needs to be said.