The Philippines is a diverse country with influences from Spanish, Chinese, American and Malay cultures. This blending of cultures is reflected in Filipino cuisine, which has no single national dish but rather multiple popular delicacies that represent different regions and styles of cooking.
What are some of the most popular Filipino dishes?
Some of the most well-known Filipino dishes include:
- Adobo – Chicken, pork or beef braised in garlic, vinegar, peppercorns and soy sauce.
- Lechon – Roasted suckling pig, usually served at festive occasions.
- Lumpia – Spring rolls filled with meat and vegetables.
- Pancit – Noodles, either stir-fried or in soup. There are many varieties featuring different noodles and ingredients.
- Sinigang – A sour soup made with a variety of meats or seafood and vegetables like tamarind, tomatoes, radish and spinach.
- Kare-Kare – A stew with oxtail, vegetables and peanuts, flavored with shrimp paste.
- Crispy Pata – Deep fried pork leg or knuckles.
- Halo-Halo – A dessert made with shaved ice, evaporated milk, and a variety of toppings like boiled beans, jelly, fruit, and ice cream.
What are the criteria for a national dish?
There are no definitive criteria, but factors that contribute to a dish becoming representative of a country’s cuisine include:
- Popularity and widespread consumption across the country.
- Using ingredients native to or strongly associated with the country.
- Reflecting the country’s culture, history and culinary traditions.
- Served during celebrations and special occasions.
- Uniquely representing flavors of the local cuisine.
Why doesn’t the Philippines have a singular national dish?
There are several reasons why the Philippines does not have a single undisputed national dish:
- Regional diversity – There are over 7,000 islands in the Philippines with distinct local cuisine.
- Foreign influences – Spanish, Chinese, American and Malay culinary styles have all contributed to Filipino food.
- Lack of consensus – Different regions champion their own specialties rather than agreeing on one national dish.
- New national identity – After gaining independence in the 1940s, the Philippines went through a period of building a new national identity.
What are some dishes considered to be national dishes of the Philippines?
Some of the top contenders for national dish of the Philippines include:
Adobo
Adobo is a popular comfort food of meat braised in vinegar, garlic, peppercorns, soy sauce and sometimes coconut milk. There are many regional variations using chicken, pork, beef, seafood or even tofu. Despite the variations, the dish is united by the cooking process and blend of salty, sour and savory flavors. Adobo can also be easily adapted as a side dish or flavoring marinade.
Lechon
Lechon refers to a whole roasted pig, usually stuffed with lemongrass and spices. It is a fixture at celebrations like weddings, birthdays and holidays. The use of native pigs, seasoning and roasting method gives lechon a distinct Filipino flavor profile. It is honored as the national dish of the Philippines by many Filipinos.
Sinigang
Sinigang is a sour and savory soup with various kinds of meat or seafood and vegetables. It embodies the Filipino penchant for sour flavors by using ingredients like tamarind, tomatoes, calamansi lime, guava or green mangoes as souring agents. Sinigang can use beef, pork, shrimp, fish and more, allowing flexibility with ingredients while maintaining a distinctive sour profile.
Other contenders
Other dishes that have been considered as a national dish include lumpia, pancit, adobo, kinilaw, kare-kare, crispy pata, and halo-halo. However, none have unanimous consensus from Filipinos as the representative dish.
What are the most popular dishes by region?
While the Philippines does not have a single national dish, there are regional specialties that are icons of specific areas. Here are some of the most popular regional Filipino dishes:
Ilocos Region
- Bagnet – Deep fried pork belly
- Pinakbet – Vegetables like okra and eggplant stewed in shrimp paste and fermented fish sauce
- Dinengdeng – Vegetables in fish broth
Cagayan Valley
- Pancit Batil Patung – Noodles tossed in meat and liver sauce
- Inabraw – Rice porridge with chicken
Central Luzon
- Bopis – Sauteed pig lungs and heart
- Kalamay hati – Sticky rice cake with coconut strips
Metro Manila
- Torta – Omelet with various meat, vegetable and cheese fillings
- Tokwa’t Baboy – Fried tofu with boiled pork
Southern Luzon
- Bicol express – Pork cooked in coconut milk and chili peppers
- Laing – Taro leaves in coconut milk
Iloilo
- Pancit molo – Wanton soup
- KBL – Kesong puti (white cheese), butter, and langka (jackfruit)
Cebu
- Lechon – Roast pig cooked over charcoal
- Tuslob buwa – Pig brain broth
Bacolod
- Chicken inasal – Grilled chicken marinated in lime, pepper, garlic and annatto
- Piaya – Flatbread with various fillings
Mindanao
- Sinuglaw – Grilled tuna collar paired with Kinilaw (ceviche)
- Tiula itum – Beef stewed in burnt coconut and spices
What are some other iconic Filipino dishes?
In addition to regional specialties, other iconic dishes include:
- Lumpiang shanghai – Meat filled spring rolls
- Bibingka – Rice cake baked in clay oven
- Sisig – Sizzling pork with chillies and egg
- Kare-kare – Oxtail and vegetables in peanut sauce
- Crispy pata – Deep fried pig trotters
- Embutido – Meatloaf rolled with sausage and pickled relish
- Kesong puti – Soft, unripened white cheese
- Polvoron – Powdery milk and flour cookies
- Ube – Purple yam used in desserts
Conclusion
In summary, the Philippines does not have a single national dish. However, there are many beloved regional specialties and widely popular dishes like adobo, lechon, lumpia and sinigang that represent Filipino cuisine. While a singular national dish has not emerged, the diversity of Filipino food tells a rich culinary story of the history, culture and creativity of the Philippines.