Cultured Palate: International Dishes from the Philippines

Filipino cuisine has developed over hundreds of years, influenced by the country’s many trading partners (like China and Malaysia), and colonizers like the Spanish. The influence of all these different cultures is evidenced in their food.

No matter where you go in the country, you’ll be exposed to culinary traditions that focus on taking great ingredients and pairing them with fresh spices, herbs, and vegetables to create unexpected flavors. All great Filipino cuisine strives to balance sweet, sour, and salty.

Here are some of the classic dishes in Filipino cuisine. The next time you’re traveling, be sure to check these out.

Champorado

One popular breakfast food in the Philippines is champorado, a sweet rice pudding flavored with cocoa powder or even coffee in some regions. It’s made by boiling sticky rice with cocoa powder, and after it comes together, milk and sugar are added to give it sweetness.

There are powdered mixes you can bring home that will make a bowl of champorado in a flash, but you’re better off asking around for a great recipe since it’s easy to make at home. Champorado is often served with salted and dried fish to achieve that classic Filipino combination of a treat that’s both sweet and salty.

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