If there’s one thing I’ve learned through the years of cooking and blogging, it’s that Filipino food has so many hidden gems waiting to be rediscovered.
We all know our adobo, sinigang, and kare-kare — but what about those old-school dishes that rarely make it to restaurant menus? The ones that only your lola or tita from the province still remembers how to cook?
Lately, there’s a growing love for regional Filipino dishes — recipes from Ilocos, Mindanao, and even the Visayas that tell the story of our culture, one bite at a time. And honestly, I’m all for it!
Here are a few heritage recipes that deserve a comeback in your kitchen:
1. Dinengdeng (Ilocos)
A humble, veggie-filled dish that uses bagoong and grilled fish for flavor. Think of it as sinigang’s calm, earthy cousin — perfect with rice and crispy fried tilapia on the side.
2. Tiyula Itum (Tausug, Mindanao)
This unique black beef soup uses burnt coconut to give it a rich, smoky flavor. It’s a comfort food that feels both exotic and familiar — and it’s surprisingly easy to make at home if you have beef, lemongrass, and coconut.
3. Piaparan (Maranao)
Creamy, coconut-based, and filled with shredded chicken, turmeric, and ginger. It’s like a Mindanaoan version of chicken curry — deeply flavorful and always a hit with rice.
4. Binakol (Visayas)
This refreshing chicken soup is cooked with coconut water and lemongrass. Light, fragrant, and subtly sweet — the perfect rainy-day dish.
5. Pancit Habhab (Lucban, Quezon)
Eaten straight from a banana leaf (no fork needed!), this local pancit is tossed in a slightly tangy sauce that makes it so addicting.
Exploring these regional Filipino dishes isn’t just about discovering new flavors — it’s also about reconnecting with our roots.
Next time you’re planning your weekly menu, try one of these forgotten recipes. Who knows? You might just find a new family favorite!
If you love exploring food history, these recipes make great weekend cooking projects. They’re flavorful, budget-friendly, and guaranteed to spark fun conversations around the table.
