10 Filipino Dishes For Christmas: Easy Meals That'll Remind Pinoys Of Home

Christmas is one of the favorite holiday seasons in the Philippines. Filipinos love celebrating and this particular occasion is always celebrated with excitement and enthusiasm. Reunions and unending meetups of friends are also common around this time.

Filipinos also have Noche Buena on Christmas Eve and this is a family dinner where everyone shares a meal when the clock strikes at exactly midnight on Dec. 24. Savory dishes are prepared complete with luscious desserts but there are also natives who have to spend their holidays abroad.

Despite being miles away from home, there are easy dishes to prepare and celebrate on Christmas in the Filipino way! Below are 10 dishes that will remind Filipinos of home.

Adobo

Panlasang Pinoy via Rappler, Filipinos living or working abroad can prepare favorites like adobo Having this dish will surely give Pinoys a taste of home and they are simple to make as well. Check out the recipe here.

Puto Bumbong

This is a symbol of Filipino Christmas and they are commonly being sold outside of churches during the Misa de Gallo, a mass celebrated at dawn for nine days. It is a purple rice cake that is usually cooked by steaming through a bamboo tube but this can also be prepared without a steamer and here’s the recipe.

Barbecue

Pork barbecue is a common dish in parties and special gatherings in the Philippines that is why this is also served on Christmas celebrations. This is a marinated pork skewer that is grilled to perfection. Get the recipe here.

Fruit Salad

Christmas in the Philippines is not complete without this colorful salad. This is so easy to make as it only requires few ingredients and there is no need to cook or bake. It is a dessert that can be served frozen too. Check out the recipe here.

Paella

This is actually Spanish cuisine but since the Spaniards have greatly influenced the Filipinos, this dish has become a Filipino staple on celebrations. It is a special fare that is prepared with different ingredients depending on the preference. Get the recipe here.

Kare-Kare

ABS CBN News also listed Kare-Kare as best for Noche Buena and will surely warm the hearts of the Filipinos abroad as they celebrate Christmas away from home. Get the recipe here.

Leche Flan

This is another sweet dessert that is often found on Filipino Christmas tables. It is easy to make and people even give this away as gifts for the holidays. Get the recipe here.

Embutido

This is also served during fiestas, weddings and birthdays. On Christmas, this also appears on the table wrapped in aluminum foil. It is a ground meat dish that is mixed with spices and veggies then formed into a loaf and steamed. See the recipe here.

Queso de Bola

This is not exactly a dish but a type of cheese. This is one thing that Filipinos always make sure to have on Christmas celebrations. Thus, Pinoys abroad will surely feel close to home if they will have this on the table as they celebrate.

Filipino-style Spaghetti

Spaghetti is a popular pasta dish in the Philippines. Filipinos developed their own version and this is quite sweet compared to the original Italian recipe. The tomato-based pasta is usually served with grated cheese on top. Here’s the recipe.