Filipino food glossary and food terms
GLOSSARY OF FOODS AND FOOD TERMS
Achara: generic name for a variety of sweet/sour pickles and relishes
served with meat or fish.
Adobo: classic Philippine dish of slow-simmered chicken and pork (other
meats may be used) cooked until the liquid evaporates. Oil is added to
brown the meats, then the whole is served with rice. The rich sour taste
and thick brown sauce is the result of first marinating the meats in mild
palm vinegar liberally spiced with garlic and peppercorns, while the final
browning in lard is accelerated with a dash of soy sauce. Adobo can also
refer to foods cooked with vinegar, garlic, and soy sauce.
Apa: deep-fried filled Lumpia wrappers. Apa may be filled with many
combinations of meat, fish, seafood, and vegetables, almost always
distinguished from Chinese egg rolls by the addition of shredded tropical
vegetables or fruits, sometimes even garbanzos. Another form of Apa is
similar to Mexican tacos: crisp-fried open Lumpia are layered with fresh
shredded vegetables, diced bean curd, and several varieties of beans then
topped with spicy condiments.
A Pay Ng Naka: small chunks of liver simmered in a garlic-chili-lime-juice
sauce with ginger and brown sugar and finished with a splash of coconut
milk.
Bagoong: a thick paste made from fermented salted fish or shrimps,
sometimes called the "Philippine caviar." It is used in cooking and as a
condiment and often as an appetizer commonly served together with sliced
green mangoes.
Buko: the gelatinous pulp of young green coconuts used in many fruit
desserts. Sometimes this name is given to ice cream that is served right
from the green coconut shell.
Calamansi: a local type of lemon with a
taste between lemon and lime. It is used as a flavorful sprinkle on almost
anything, frequently in cooking and in desserts.
Champorodi: small bowls of pudding made from glutinous rice (Malagkit),
evaporated milk, coconut milk, and sometimes chocolate. Taken as a snack,
and sometimes for breakfast.
Chinese Shrimp Toast: triangles of bread spread with a seasoned shrimp
mixture and then deep-fried. Served hot as an appetizer.
Chorizos: garlic-flavored pork sausages used in many dishes. Brought to
the islands by the Spanish.
Dilis: small cured and salted fish (similar to anchovies or sardines)
dipped in batter, deep-fried then served as appetizers.
Empanadas: meat-filled pastry turnovers, served for snacks or as
appetizers. The Spanish name reveals their origin.
Ensaimada: yellow saffron buns coated with a sugar glaze. A favorite with
breakfast coffee.
Ensalada Itlog: Philippine version of potato salad with the addition of
cooked rice, all tossed with French dressing.
Escabeche: sautéed fish, again with the cool sour taste imparted by the
marinade, which is then poured over the cooked fish and allowed to chill
to blend the flavors.
Estofado: any foods prepared with a brown sugar sauce, vinegar, and spices
– usually meats.
Gazpacho: cool, tangy blend of fresh pureed summer vegetables forming a
light soup. Served with small bowls of garnishes: croutons, chopped hard
egg, minced scallions, etc. A Spanish import.
Ginesa: a dish of browned pork dice, shrimp, onions, and garlic seasoned
with shrimp paste and Patis. Wedged tomatoes and any prepared vegetables
at hand are steamed on top. The whole mixture is tossed before serving
with rice.
Guisado: sauteed.
Halo-Halo: beloved Philippine dessert served in tall glasses and sometimes
sold in cans. Layers of mashed mixed ripe fruits and sometimes beans,
shaved ice and topped with cream.
Inehow: classic baked stuffed fish. A large
whole fish is stuffed with a rice mixture including well-sautéed onions
and garlic, tomatoes and flavored with Paris. The whole stuffed fish is
then wrapped in banana leaves (or foil) and oven-baked or baked in a
charcoal pit.
Kaldereta: similar to the Spanish fish dish Caldereta, a stew of goat
meat, sometimes lamb, rather than fish.
Luglug: thick rice noodles also called Bijon, named for the noise they
make both when being stirred and eaten.
Lumpia: the thin pastry wrappers or skins used for Apa or Lumpiang,
prepared like crepes, but made with rice flour and water.
Lumpiang Ubod: Ubod is finely shredded coconut palm hearts, added to
minced shrimp and chicken and wrapped in Lumpia before deep-frying.
Merienda: late afternoon break of sweets and tea. The Philippine version
often includes savory dishes made from fish or seafood. Rice is not
included in a merienda, as it is not considered a meal. Of Spanish origin.
Pancit Lulug Palabok: a dish of boiled rice noodles layered with a red
sauce made from achiote seeds and shrimp juice, then a layer of browned
diced pork and shrimp topped with a garnish of crushed garlic cracklings,
flaked dried smoked fish, some shredded greens and wedges of eggs or
salted eggs. The long noodles symbolize long life, making this a popular
dish for special occasions.
Pancit Molo: a Philippine elaboration of Chinese won ton soup. Molos
are similar to won ton: triangle shapes of noodle dough filled with finely
minced chicken and pork, liberal with garlic. Some of the filling is
browned, then chicken stock is added and finally the Molos. A sprinkling
of chopped scallions is the garnish.
Pan de Sal: crusty white sourdough bread, taken with hot chocolate for a
light breakfast.
Patis: the amber fluid prepared from salted fermented fish and used widely
as a flavoring and condiment.
Pato Ng May Tsokolate: duck roasted with a dark tart sauce made with
sherry, lime juice, and bitter chocolate.
Salabat: a refreshing tea steeped from fresh
ginger and brown sugar.
Sinigang: classic sour soup made from mix of tart vegetables and a stock
of chicken or pork hocks, finished with Patis and flavored with tamarind
or calamansi.
Suman: sweetened glutinous rice steamed in rolls or squares of banana
leaves. A popular snack at any time of day and often taken at merienda.
Ube: purple yams.
Ukoy: shrimp and bean sprouts held in a light batter and deep-fried into
lacy rounds. Served as snacks, appetizers, or one of the courses of a
merienda.