“Adobado” is the adjective in Spanish used to describe dishes marinated or cooked in Adobo sauce. Examples of dishes included lomo adobado (marinated pork loin), chamorro adobado (marinated pork shank), conejo adobado (marinated rabbit), pollo adobado (marinated chicken), etc. Language Notes On rare occasions, mis-spelt by English speakers as “Adabado.”
Filipino Food
Adobo Sauce
There are two different kinds of Adobo Sauce; one is Mexican and the other is Filipino. Both versions have a common base of something acidic such as vinegar, garlic and peppercorns. Mexicans go on to add chiles (often ancho chiles) and herbs; the Filipino version goes on to add soy sauce. Some Filipinos will also…
Arengga Vinegar
Arengga Vinegar is made from a variety of sugar palm tree (Arenga pinnata) called “kaong” or ” irok” in the Philippines. The tree needs 10 to 15 years of growth first. It will live for 15 to 22 years in the wild (it has a shorter life in cultivation.) The vinegar is made from the…
Chorizo de Bilbao
Chorizo de Bilbao is a spicy semi-cured sausage popular in Spain and in the Philippines. It is dense and very red. Spices used include garlic, paprika, pepper, cumin, pepper, sugar and oregano. The sausage is a mixture of 50% beef, 30% pork, and 20% pork fat. To make the sausage, the meat is ground and…
Cornstarch Noodles
Cornstarch Noodles are noodles made in the Philippines from cornstarch, rice flour and water. They are sold dried, and are very brittle like this. Some manufacturers ship them in special foam bags because of this. They are translucent and slippery when cooked. Cooking Tips Soak in hot water first to soften them before using in…
Duman Rice
Duman Rice is a form of processed rice made in Pampanga in the Philippines from a glutinous rice variety called “lakatan malutu” (aka malagkit in Tagalog.) Production centres on the town of Santa Rita. When mature, the rice has a red husk. But this is not the rice used: this mature rice is harvested in…
Lumpia
Lumpia is a type of spring roll made in Indonesia and in the Philippines, brought there by Chinese immigrants from Fujian province. It is usually served with a dipping sauce. It is called “Lumpiang” in the Philippines. It is a long, slender pastry roll with a filling. The pastry is a dough wrapper that the…
Morcon (Philipino)
Morcon in the Philippines is sort of a meat version of a Swiss Roll, along the same lines as German Rouladen, or a French Ballotine. Slices of the roll show a cross section of the beef and the ingredients layered inside it. To make it, you use a large, flat, boneless, piece of beef, about…
Palm Vinegar
Palm Vinegar is a white, cloudy vinegar made and used in the Philippines. Some are mild, some have a sharp, acidic taste, All have a faint yeasty or musty taste. The vinegar is made from sap from coconut palm trees. The sap is collected from a main artery in the tree, which is tapped. Pots…
Philippines Independence Day
The 12th of June is Philippines Independence Day. Throughout the country, there is street dancing in traditional costumes and street food everywhere.
Pirurutong Rice
Pirurutong rice is described as being purple, but it is actually a brownish-violet colour. It is very aromatic, and cooks up soft and sticky. It can also be ground into a flour, which is used in making the Christmas rice cakes called “puto bumbong” in the Philippines (some makers now use regular rice flour with…
Suman
Suman are rice cakes made in the Philippines with sticky rice. Occasionally they may be made with something other than rice. They have a chewy texture and generally are sweet tasting. They are eaten for breakfast with a hot chocolate drink or as a snack, and are served especially at Christmas. There are probably over…
Tuba
Tuba is a coconut wine made in the Philippines. It is considered a rural drink, because it has a short shelf life. It is not sold in stores or in restaurants. It is made from coconut tree sap. One tree can produce two to four quarts / liters of Tuba a day. The sap is…
Ube Powder
Ube Powder is a purple starch made in the Philippines from a yam called in English “purple yam.” The yam has rough, gnarly skin. The starch is slightly sweet, and colours the foods it is used in, such as desserts and jams (in the Philippines, the jam made with it is called “ube halaya.”) In…