Puto and dinuguan (rice cake and blood stew) go well together–but ketchup and sinigang?!

Yes, you read right. Some Filipinos add ketchup or tomato sauce to their favorite sour stew, sinigang. And no, it’s not really as bad as you think.

Adding a tomato-based sauce to this classic comfort dish gives it a richer dimension and makes it creamier, making you reach for another helping or two of rice.

This quirky combination is just one of the many ways Filipinos exercise their creativity and ingenuity when it comes to food. Call them weird or odd, but they actually work.

Let’s go beyond champorado and tuyo (chocolate porridge and dried fish)--and discover new flavors you may not have encountered yet!

Coffee on rice

Pouring hot coffee on rice is pretty common, especially for Filipinos from the province of Batangas. It’s usually taken at breakfast, or when you’re having paksiw (fish stew cooked in vinegar). Those who’ve tried it claim that the coffee evens out the fishiness of the paksiw. 

Hotdogs and marshmallows

This snack is definitely a Filipino children’s party staple. Hotdogs are usually fried and stuck on wooden sticks, with pieces of marshmallow stuck on the sharp end. The bottom end of the stick would then be impaled on half a head of cabbage (or banana tree bark) and served alongside kiddie party fare.

It’s a sweet and savory snack that a lot of kids–especially those born in the 80s and 90s–grew up with.

Green mangoes and soy sauce

A salty dip usually evens out the extreme sourness of unripe mangoes, which is why many Filipinos pair it with rock salt or bagoong (shrimp paste). Yet for others, having some soy sauce on the side hits on the spot. 

If you like things spicy, add in some freshly crushed chilies for that added kick!

Ice cream and bread

If Singapore has its ice cream wafer sandwiches, the Philippines has its own version in the form of ice cream and a piece of bread. This afternoon snack is usually sold by a neighborhood ice cream man, and the bread is an alternative to the usual wafer or sugar cone. The ice cream is usually sandwiched between a large piece of tasty (loaf bread) or sandwich buns. It’s sweet, filling, and delicious!

Fruit and adobo

Some Filipinos add slices of saba (sweet plantain) or pineapple to even out the dish’s savory sauce. If fruit isn’t readily available, a spoonful of sugar will do!

Which quirky Filipino food combo have you tried?

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