22 Flavorful Filipino Recipes

Filipino cuisine is one of the most fascinating fusion cuisines of the world. Because of its strategic position between China, Southeast Asia, and the South Pacific, many people have left their mark on the country and its cuisine. Many nations have also tried to conquer it, and several were even successful, like Spain and the United States. As such, Filipino cuisine has influences from around the world. You can find many hearty Spanish-influenced dishes, 1950s-style American dishes, Chinese-inspired dishes, and many more dishes that reflect native flavors and techniques. The following list includes some of our best Filipino recipes from creamy ice box cakes and sweet American-inspired spaghetti to complex Spanish rice dishes and pork stews. Wondering where to start? These crispy treats are like dessert spring rolls filled with ripe plantain and sweet jackfruit. If you can’t get a hold of plantains, bananas will also work but the filling will get a little mushy. While not traditional, these are really great topped with some ice cream.

Traditionally, this sizzling plate is made with pork face and ears to which some organ meats are sometimes added. It’s a bit of an involved process that requires braising, chopping, and then pan-frying the meat until it’s crispy and then balancing the richness with calamansi juice, a type of tart, aromatic native citrus. This version calls for pork belly, which is easier to source from US grocery stores.

Banana Ketchup is a uniquely Filipino condiment that most people buy bottled from a store. It’s a necessity for making Filipino spaghetti. This recipe recreates the flavors of banana ketchup but skips the red food coloring and is chunkier than the bottled version.

This is like a Filipino version of arroz con pollo but made with shrimp and Spanish chorizo, which has an intense smokey flavor. The flavors are very Spanish and include white wine, saffron and capers.