What Consists a Typical Filipino Breakfast?
Philippines, the Pearl of the Orient, an archipelago where nature meets history. There’s a reason why this country is very popular both in local and international tourists due to its countless sparkling, white sand beaches and other tourists spots. But aside from the beauties of nature, the Philippines is also a home for mouth-watering dishes and delicacies.
You’ve probably heard of the famous adobo, sinigang, sisig, and the balut, but have you ever wondered what consists a typical Filipino breakfast? Well, get your spoon and fork now as we traverse through the Filipino breakfast menu!
But before that, here’s a quick trivia.
In the Philippines, breakfast is locally called ‘agahan’ or ‘almusal.’ The term almusal is derived from the Spanish term almorzar, meaning ‘to have lunch.’ Being under the Spanish rule for over 300 years, it is inevitable for them to adapt and incorporate the Spanish culture, including their language. As for the word agahan, this can be considered as Filipino’s native term for breakfast.
The Filipino Breakfast Menu
Pandesal
This is a Filipino breakfast staple and is best paired with a piping hot mug of black coffee. Pandesal or yeast roll is a bread that roll in crushed breadcrumbs before baking, have a fluffy texture and is slightly sweet to the taste. You can add any type of spread you want in Pandesal — from cheese, peanut butter, mayonnaise, and even liver spread!
Pandesal came from the Spanish word ‘pan de sal’ which translated to ‘bread of salt,’ albeit its sweet flavor. You can easily recognize a Filipino when he breaks his Pandesal into smaller pieces and dips it into the beverage before shooting it inside his mouth while he contemplate in front of the table about how his day is going to turn out.
Lugaw/Arroz Caldo
Another Filipino staple, this easy-to-make porridge is always present in the breakfast menu of every Filipino household. Lugaw consists of glutinous rice cooked with your classic aromatics like garlic, ginger, a few cups of water, brought to a nice boil and until its texture becomes smooth and velvety. Locals also use their own safflower called kasubha to give lugaw that appealing yellow color. It is then served with fried garlic bits and spring onions garnished on top.
Arroz Caldo, on the other hand, is the upgraded version of lugaw. Meat like chicken is added along boiled eggs and/or fried tofu. For a sumptuous arroz caldo or lugaw, sprinkle some fish sauce and squeeze in calamansi for that upgraded taste!
This dish is very popular among Filipinos that you can easily find a store selling lugaw in every street.
Longganisa
What’s a Filipino breakfast without something that’s fried? And for that, our first entry would be longganisa. Longganisa or Philippine sausage have lots of variation in different regions of the country but among the famous one were longganisang Lucban, Vigan Longganisa, and the savory garlic longganisa.
Tapa
Next up on the list is another breakfast favorite made up of thinly sliced beef marinated in calamansi and soy sauce and is then grilled or pan-fried.
Tapa is one constituent of the heavenly trio of tapsilog — Tapa, sinangag (fried rice), and itlog (fried egg). Actually, you can use any type of meat to cure and turn it into tapa but the most popular choice is meat. And to level up this sumptuous dish, get yourself a dip of vinegar with chili or onions!
Tortang Talong
Alright, you’ve known about the typical fried eggplant — you know the vegetable is sliced thinly and then fried. But incorporate egg into the party? Well, that’s the magic of tortang talong.
Instead of slicing the eggplant into thin pieces, it is grilled over the stove (yes, that’s how we do it in a common Filipino household) until the skin is charred enough to be peeled off easily. It is then dipped into beaten egg before frying!
Tortang talong is essentially an omelet — you can add totally add other stuff to make it more delicious. Feel free to add sliced tomatoes, bell pepper, and even cheese gratings for a level-up tortang talong!
Champorado
Now, this dish brings back lots of childhood memories! We can consider champorado as a relative of lugaw and arroz caldo because it is also made up of glutinous rice but instead of the savory aromatics, it is cooked with cocoa powder or tablea (a ball of grounded cacao beans) and is served hot with evaporated or powdered milk on top!
Woke up to cold, rainy, morning? Get yourself a bowl of champorado to warm your insides up before starting your day!
Daing na Bangus (Fried Milkfish)
Bangus or milkfish is the Philippines’ national fish, and has a regular appearance not only in Filipino breakfast menu but all throughout the day!
One of the simplest ways to cook bangus if course to fry it! The fish is split into a butterfly-shape, sometimes marinated in vinegar and garlic, and then fried into perfection! Just serve this rock start with rice and a side of vinegar dip and you already got yourself a hearty breakfast!
Kape (Coffee)
A Filipino breakfast won’t be completed without a piping mug of coffee on the side! The most popular among the variations is the Kapeng Barako which is known for it very strong flavor. Barako is a local term for a strong person, usually pertaining to a man, and kape is coffee, so Kapeng Barako literally translates to ‘strong coffee.’
In fact, drinking coffee is popular among Filipinos that by 2025, it is estimated that each Filipino will be drinking 3.78 kilograms of coffee! Well, it’s no doubt for that to happen as Philippines is one of the oldest nation producing and supplying coffee locally and internationally.
So, there you have it! The next time you visit the Philippines, make sure try some, if not all, of these dishes that could be served on your breakfast table. These dishes are mirrors of our culture and a reflection from the past. In fact, you can mix and match some of these to create a variety of meals.
For instance, you can stuff your pandesal with fried tapa or pair tapa with fried rice and longganisa! Whatever your combination may be, you are assured you’ll get your stomach stuffed and filled as you start your day!
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