Is Filipino Food Healthy? (Easy and Cheap Recipes)

Filipino food offers a wide variety of flavors, textures, and uses ingredients that are often easy to access at any market in the Philippines.

In this video, we cooked five healthy Filipino dishes that will surely change the way you see Pinoy fare. Our content creators came up with easy recipes that you can make in your kitchen like laswa, ginataang puso ng saging, sinigang na bangus, papis, and tortang repolyo. We even added the estimated prices for each dish plus the nutritional facts!

RECIPES:

LASWA
Ingredients:
½ squash, cubes (70php)
½ bundle, Sitaw (40php)
5 pcs okra, chopped (30php)
2 pcs eggplant, chopped (35php)
1 bundle saluyot, leaves only (20php)
3 pcs tomatoes, chopped (50php)
¼ kg shrimps, (200php)
Patis to taste
Salt to taste

Procedure:
1. Boil 2-3 cups of water. Add shrimp and tomatoes. Put patis and salt to taste.
2. Put squash and sitaw and if it’s cooked halfway, add okra, eggplant, and saluyot. Serve.

GINATAANG PUSO NG SAGING
Ingredients:

1 tbsp oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium onion, chopped
¼ lb pork loin, diced
1 piece puso ng saging
1 tbsp fish sauce
pepper to taste
salt to taste
1 can coconut milk
2 pcs red chilis

Total: ₱123.30

Procedure:
1. Peel and discard the outer, fibrous skin layers of banana heart until you reach the lighter, softer core.
2. Trim off the stem and discard. Cut into half and slice thinly.
3. In a large bowl, place the shredded banana heart and rock salt. Let stand for about 10 to 15 minutes or until it begins to release liquid. Using hands, squeeze to release bitter sap. Rinse very well with cold water and drain.
4. In a wide pan over medium heat, heat oil. Add onions and garlic and cook until softened.
5. Add pork and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned. Add fish sauce and continue to cook for about 1 to 2 minutes.
6. Add banana heart. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 3 to 5 minutes or until releases liquid. Add coconut milk and chili peppers.
7. Lower heat, cover, and continue to cook for about 15 to 20 minutes or until vegetable is tender, pork is cooked through, and sauce is thickened. Makes 2-3 servings.

SINIGANG NA BANGUS
Ingredients:

¼ kg sampaloc, simmered in 2 cups water, 20 pesos
3 pc tomatoes, cut into wedges, 24 pesos
1 pc small onion, quartered, 10 pesos
water
½ kg bangus, cut into 4 “steaks” 90 pesos
1 tbsp patis 8 pesos
¼ tsp pepper

Total: ₱144.00

Procedure:
1. In a pot, combine sampaloc water, tomatoes, onions, and water. Bring to a simmer then add the bangus. Cook for 3-5 minutes or until bangus is fully cooked.
2. Season with patis and pepper.

PAPIS
Ingredients:
½ kilo boneless beef shanks, cut into serving portions-300 pesos
water
1 tablespoon oil
1 onion, peeled and chopped
1 can (28 ounces) beans in tomato
salt and pepper to taste

Total: ₱342

Procedure:
1. In a large pot over medium heat, combine beef shanks, beef tendon, and enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, skimming scum that accumulates on top.
2. Lower heat, cover, and simmer for about 1 ½ to 2 hours or until beef and tendon are fork-tender.
3. Drain and reserve 1 cup of the liquid. In a pot over medium heat, heat oil. Add onions and cook until limp. Add beef shanks and tendons and cook until lightly browned.
4. Add the beans and reserved liquid. Continue to simmer for about 3 to 5 minutes or until the sauce is slightly thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.

TORTANG REPOLYO
Ingredients:
1 ½ cups cabbage, thinly sliced
2 pcs large eggs, beaten
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small carrot, grated (optional, for extra color and nutrition)
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp cooking oil

Total cost: ₱37.00

Procedure:
1. In a bowl, combine cabbage, eggs, onion, garlic, and carrot. Add flour, salt, and pepper, then mix well until everything is evenly coated and the batter holds together.
2. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat.
3. Using a spoon, scoop small amounts of the cabbage mixture and drop them into the pan, pressing down slightly to form small pancakes.
4. Cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and crispy.
5. Remove from the pan and serve hot with ketchup or your favorite dipping sauce. Makes 2 servings.