7 Traditional Filipino Foods And Delicacies Every Christmas Season
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"If you're in Abroad, pretty sure you will be miss eating these following mouth-watering Filipino foods and delicacies"
About 80% of Filipinos are Catholic and celebrating Christmas is definitely tied with religious activities. Nine days before Christmas, a series of daily Mass is celebrated either early in the morning (called Misa de Gallo) or at night (Simbang Gabi). It’s a commitment to attend all the nine masses since you have to wake up before dawn or stay late in the evening, depending on the mass you wish to attend. You also have to battle the sleep-inducing cold air, and stay awake for an hour-long mass. One enticement Catholics use for going to church is a common belief that if you complete the nine Masses, your petition or wish will be granted.
Another attraction to attending Simbang Gabi is the mouth-watering array of snacks sold just outside the church. On the way going to church, small stalls are set up where vendors sell various hot snacks to warm the hands and stomachs of churchgoers.
These are the most popular foods and delicacies during Christmas Season:
1. BIBINGKA is a popular delicacy in the Philippines that is composed of ground rice, sugar, coconut cream, placed in banana leaves and cooked in an oven. The rice cake is then topped with a spread of butter, shredded coconut meat, and muscovado or brown sugar before serving. A favorite holiday food, bibingka is traditionally eaten during the Christmas season especially after Simbang Gabi.
2. Puto Bungbong is another favorite delicacy during the Yuletide season. For Filipinos, the holiday season isn’t just all red and green but also purple! This traditional Christmas food is a mixture of coconut milk; glutinous rice and sugar, poured into a bumbong or bamboo tube, and steamed until well-cooked. This delicious delicacy is best served with butter on top, shredded coconut meat, and sugar.
3. Quezo De Bola a.k.a. Edam cheese, is a tawny, round processed cheese wrapped as soon as a jacket of red paraffin wax. The cheese got its declare from Edam, a town in Holland, where it originated. Apart from its Christmas red ball features that adds a unmodified complement of holiday delight following insinuation to all table, queso de bola is loved by many Filipinos because of its in contract, creamy and buttery aftertaste, making it a absolute ingredient for various desserts or dishes.
4. Castanas Also called roasted chestnuts, are common in other countries. Its rich aroma is another indication that Christmastime has begun in the Philippines. Castañas are among the season’s special favorites usually sold in supermarkets or by street vendors.
5. Buko Pandan is a popular and much-loved Filipino dessert made with shredded coconut meat as its basic ingredient. It is mixed with sweetened milk, slices of pandan jelly and flavored with pandan extracts.
6. HAM is among the main dishes that graces the Noche Buena feast of almost every Filipino family. Cooked, cured hams or hamonado are seldom sold in the country. The sight of imported and local hams sold in supermarkets marks the start of the holiday season in the country. A good ham is savory and tender while the traditional holiday ham in the Philippines has a distinct, sweet flavor.
7. Lechon Though not every Filipino family serves lechon during Christmas, the roasted suckling or medium-sized pig is an all-time favorite. The pig is skewered with long bamboo poles then hand-turned for hours over charcoal resulting in a crispy, golden skin and tasty meat, best enjoyed when dipped in lechon sauce. Lechon is originally a Spanish influence, but with the Filipinos’ love for food, it comes in different variations which include chicken and cow.
About the Author
Ma. Era Cecilia Nunag is a freelance writer who has written articles on a wide range of topics from information technology to lifestyle and wellness. She enjoys eating local foods, trying new dishes, and buying organic produce as much as possible. You can follow her on Twitter @itseranunag.
About 80% of Filipinos are Catholic and celebrating Christmas is definitely tied with religious activities. Nine days before Christmas, a series of daily Mass is celebrated either early in the morning (called Misa de Gallo) or at night (Simbang Gabi). It’s a commitment to attend all the nine masses since you have to wake up before dawn or stay late in the evening, depending on the mass you wish to attend. You also have to battle the sleep-inducing cold air, and stay awake for an hour-long mass. One enticement Catholics use for going to church is a common belief that if you complete the nine Masses, your petition or wish will be granted.
Another attraction to attending Simbang Gabi is the mouth-watering array of snacks sold just outside the church. On the way going to church, small stalls are set up where vendors sell various hot snacks to warm the hands and stomachs of churchgoers.
These are the most popular foods and delicacies during Christmas Season:
1. BIBINGKA is a popular delicacy in the Philippines that is composed of ground rice, sugar, coconut cream, placed in banana leaves and cooked in an oven. The rice cake is then topped with a spread of butter, shredded coconut meat, and muscovado or brown sugar before serving. A favorite holiday food, bibingka is traditionally eaten during the Christmas season especially after Simbang Gabi.
2. Puto Bungbong is another favorite delicacy during the Yuletide season. For Filipinos, the holiday season isn’t just all red and green but also purple! This traditional Christmas food is a mixture of coconut milk; glutinous rice and sugar, poured into a bumbong or bamboo tube, and steamed until well-cooked. This delicious delicacy is best served with butter on top, shredded coconut meat, and sugar.
3. Quezo De Bola a.k.a. Edam cheese, is a tawny, round processed cheese wrapped as soon as a jacket of red paraffin wax. The cheese got its declare from Edam, a town in Holland, where it originated. Apart from its Christmas red ball features that adds a unmodified complement of holiday delight following insinuation to all table, queso de bola is loved by many Filipinos because of its in contract, creamy and buttery aftertaste, making it a absolute ingredient for various desserts or dishes.
4. Castanas Also called roasted chestnuts, are common in other countries. Its rich aroma is another indication that Christmastime has begun in the Philippines. Castañas are among the season’s special favorites usually sold in supermarkets or by street vendors.
5. Buko Pandan is a popular and much-loved Filipino dessert made with shredded coconut meat as its basic ingredient. It is mixed with sweetened milk, slices of pandan jelly and flavored with pandan extracts.
6. HAM is among the main dishes that graces the Noche Buena feast of almost every Filipino family. Cooked, cured hams or hamonado are seldom sold in the country. The sight of imported and local hams sold in supermarkets marks the start of the holiday season in the country. A good ham is savory and tender while the traditional holiday ham in the Philippines has a distinct, sweet flavor.
7. Lechon Though not every Filipino family serves lechon during Christmas, the roasted suckling or medium-sized pig is an all-time favorite. The pig is skewered with long bamboo poles then hand-turned for hours over charcoal resulting in a crispy, golden skin and tasty meat, best enjoyed when dipped in lechon sauce. Lechon is originally a Spanish influence, but with the Filipinos’ love for food, it comes in different variations which include chicken and cow.
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About the Author
Ma. Era Cecilia Nunag is a freelance writer who has written articles on a wide range of topics from information technology to lifestyle and wellness. She enjoys eating local foods, trying new dishes, and buying organic produce as much as possible. You can follow her on Twitter @itseranunag.
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