Have you ever wanted to dive into the rich, savory flavors of Filipino cuisine? The culinary journey is packed with a blend of Asian and Spanish influences, colors, and delectable dishes offering a unique gastronomic experience. The art of Filipino cooking traditionally involves fresh ingredients, a balance of sweet and sour (and sometimes spicy) tones, and straightforward preparation methods that anyone can master. Here’s your guide on how to start cooking Filipino food.
Essential Ingredients in Filipino Cuisine
Much like other Asian cuisine, Filipino foods are complex and varied, but they do share common ingredients. Here are some staple ingredients to get you started:
- Fish Sauce (Patis)
- Vinegar (Suka)
- Soy Sauce (Toyo)
- Garlic
- Coconut Milk (Gata)
- Calamondin (Calamansi)
- Bagoong (Fermented Seafood Paste)
- Rice
Learning the Basic Dishes
To initiate your journey in cooking Filipino food, you may want to focus first on mastering traditional and easy-to-make dishes. One of these is the national dish Adobo.
Chicken Adobo Recipe
This is a popular dish in every Filipino home and a great start for you to familiarize yourself with the fusion of flavors found in Filipino cuisine. Here’s a simple recipe:
Ingredients
- 1 kg of chicken, cut into serving pieces
- ½ cup vinegar (Suka)
- 1/2 cup soy sauce (Toyo)
- 6 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 teaspoon peppercorns
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 cup water
- 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine chicken, vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, peppercorns, and bay leaves. Marinate for at least an hour or overnight for best results.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade, save the marinade for later. Fry the chicken pieces until brown on all sides.
- Include the saved marinade and water into the skillet and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for about 30 mins or until the chicken is tender.
- Adjust the seasoning if necessary. Discard bay leaves before serving.
This recipe embodies the quintessential flavors of Filipino food. It’s a great starting point and showcases the fundamental role of ingredients like soy sauce, vinegar, and garlic in the cuisine.
Continuing Your Culinary Journey
Now that you’ve had a taste of what it’s like to cook Filipino food, you can delve deeper. Start exploring other traditional Filipino dishes like Sinigang, Pancit, Lechon, and desserts like Leche Flan and Halo-Halo. Remember, like any other cuisine, it’s all about experiencing new flavors and having fun. So, enjoy the process!
