Ilonggo
Piaya
Piaya sang Negros
Ilonggo piaya—thin muscovado-filled flatbreads griddled until golden with dark caramel spots; the Negros pasalubong best with barako coffee.
Recipe collection
Filipino Merienda
Merienda is the pause between meals when Filipinos reach for something sweet, steamed, or fried. This collection groups the snacks that show up at school gates, office breaks, and Sunday afternoons.
How to serve this collection
- Serve 2 to 3 items, not everything at once—merienda should feel light.
- Pair steamed kakanin with something crisp like turon for contrast.
- Hot tea or black coffee balances sweet merienda.
Ilocano
Empanada Ilocos
Empanada ng Ilocos
Ilocos empanada—crisp orange rice-flour shells filled with longganisa, bean sprouts, egg, and papaya; the Vigan street food fried golden and
Tagalog
Pork and Shrimp Siomai
Siomai
Filipino pork and shrimp siomai with shiitake mushrooms, steamed open-faced in bamboo baskets and served with soy-calamansi dipping sauce.
Tagalog
Puto
Putong Bigas
Steamed puto in a bamboo steamer—fluffy rice cakes with cheese, salted egg, and niyog toppings (Puto Biñan style).
Tagalog
Bibingka
Bibingkang Galapong
Christmas bibingka on charred banana leaf—moist rice cake topped with salted egg, melted cheese, and fresh grated...
Tagalog
Turon (Banana Lumpia)
Turon
Filipino turon—saba banana in lumpia wrapper with shattered brown-sugar caramel crust; langka optional, served on banana...
Tagalog
Halo-Halo
Halong Samalamig
Street-style halo-halo with kaong, macapuno, sago, gulaman, beans, ube, leche flan, and pinipig—the classic Filipino...
Tagalog
Leche Flan
Leche Flan na Inihaw
Classic Filipino leche flan—silky yolk custard in a llanera with glossy amber caramel, steamed until set and flipped...