If you're looking for savory sides to go with a mouthwatering main dish, we've got something for everyone in this complete collection of the Best Filipino Side Dishes!
As a Filipino-American, I am always so proud to share my heritage with you all through food. I love watching so many of you make my family's Instant Pot Chicken Adobo, Filipino BBQ Pork Skewers, and our Jollibee Filipino-style Spaghetti recipes for your own family gatherings. And all of these hearty main dishes need some tasty side dishes to go with them!
Filipino cuisine is known for bold flavors, sweet taste, and hearty comfort food. But what really makes a Filipino meal complete are the delicious side dishes. We usually pair 2-4 side dishes with every main course.
From Filipino Spanish Bread, to Instant Pot Garlic Rice, Pancit Bihon and ensaladang talong, there is a Filipino side dish to suit everyone's taste. And because they are so versatile, they can be paired with just about any main course. So I've rounded up my best Filipino side dishes, perfect for dinner parties and weeknight family dinners alike.
If you're new to Filipino food, be sure to check out my Filipino Pantry Staples. You can learn more about common Filipino ingredients and where to find them.
🍚 How to choose the best side dish for your meal
When choosing the perfect side dish for your Filipino meal, it is important to consider the following factors:
- The main course - What are you serving for the main course? Some side dishes pair better with certain main courses than others. For example, Ginisang Togue (sauteed mung bean sprouts) is a popular side dish for grilled or fried fish. Meanwhile, pancit bihon (Filipino stir-fried noodles) is a good side dish for chicken or pork dishes.
- The overall flavor profile of your meal - Do you want a meal with a variety of textures and different flavors? Or do you prefer a simpler meal with fewer dishes? If you want a variety, you can choose side dishes with different flavor profiles, such as a sweet and savory dish and a sour and spicy dish. If you prefer a simpler meal, you can choose side dishes with similar flavor profiles
- The dietary restrictions of your guests - Do you have any guests with dietary restrictions? If so, be sure to choose side dishes that are suitable for their dietary needs. For example, if you have a vegan guest, you may want to consider serving side dishes such as ginisang ampalaya or laing (taro leaves in coconut milk).
Delicious Filipino side dish combinations
Here are some specific examples of Filipino main dishes and the side dishes that go well with them:
- Air fryer pork belly (lechon kawali) - Spam fried rice, Ginisang ampalaya, Asian Carrot Cucumber Salad, ensaladang mangga (mango salad), and atchara (pickled papaya).
- Fried fish - Lumpia (Filipino spring rolls or egg rolls), pancit bihon or pancit palabok (Filipino stir-fried noodles), and kalamansi dipping sauce.
- Chicken adobo or chicken inasal - Garlic fried rice, lumpia, Filipino macaroni salad, ensaladang mangga.
- Pork sinigang (pork sour soup) - Laing (taro leaves in coconut milk), bagoong alamang (shrimp paste), bagoong isda (fish paste) and patis (fish sauce).
- Hearty stews (Caldereta, kare kare, or Mechado) - Pan de sal, Filipino garlic rice or white rice.
Whether you're preparing a meal for special occasions or weeknight dinners, there is sure to be a Filipino side dish that is perfect for your meal. So don't be afraid to experiment and try new things!
Filipino food FAQs
Ginisang is a Filipino cooking method that involves stir-frying vegetables or meat in oil and garlic. Adobo is a Filipino dish made with meat or seafood marinated in soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, and black peppercorns.
Some popular dipping sauces for Filipino dishes include: Mang Tomas, Lechon Sauce, Datu Puti Vinegar, Bagoong (shrimp paste), Toyomansi (soy sauce and calamansi juice), Patis (fish sauce)
Some Filipino side dishes that are good for vegetarians and vegans include: Ginisang Ampalaya (Stir-Fried Bitter Melon), Laing (Taro Leaves in Coconut Milk), Ensaladang Mangga (Mango Salad), Atchara (Pickled Papaya), Pancit Bihon (Filipino Stir-Fried Noodles), Garlic Fried Rice, Puto Cheese (Steamed Rice Cakes with Cheese), Kalamay (Filipino Sweet Sticky Rice).
How can I make Filipino side dishes healthier?
I hear this question a lot. Filipino food can be healthy! Here are a few things you can do to make almost any dish healthier:
- Use less oil when cooking.
- Use leaner cuts of meat.
- Add more vegetables to your dishes.
- Reduce the amount of salt and sugar in your recipes.
- Use healthier cooking methods, such as grilling, steaming, air frying, or baking.
The Best Filipino Side Dishes
Best Filipino Side Dishes
Spanish Bread is a popular Filipino soft bread roll that is often enjoyed for merienda - an afternoon snack. Perfect for dunking into a cup of coffee in the morning, or enjoying with a hearty bowl of Caldereta!
Filipino Lumpia are crispy, delicious Filipino egg rolls that are perfect to serve at parties.
They also freeze well and are perfect to make for snacks, lunch, dinner, or last-minute guests!
This Filipino Pandesal recipe is easy to follow and makes a classic light, fluffy, airy bread that is popular in the Philippines.
This traditional Filipino bread is commonly eaten for breakfast or as a snack, but you can also enjoy it for lunch and dinner!
Fluffy white rice infused with aromatic garlic cooks up quickly in this Instant Pot Garlic Rice recipe.
A pressure cooked version of Filipino garlic fried rice, Sinangag, this is a delicious side dish for almost any breakfast, lunch, or dinner!
Filipino Macaroni Salad is a classic traditional side dish that is often prepared for almost any Filipino gathering.
It's especially a staple at Christmas time! This sweet pasta salad with crunchy vegetables is easy to make and a great make-ahead dish.
Spam Fried Rice is a beloved traditional fried rice recipe that's the ultimate comfort food. You can make this in 30 minutes or less, and serve it as a main dish or as a side dish.
This classic canned ham rice dish is comforting and oh-so delicious!
Pancit Bihon is a traditional Filipino noodle dish with meat, vegetables, and layers of flavor.
This Filipino Pancit Bihon recipe makes enough for 8 to 10 full servings or 12 to 16 side servings, which also makes it perfect for meal planning, special occasions, or as an easy weeknight dinner!
Pancit is a staple in Filipino households, and Filipino Pancit Canton noodles were my favorite version of pancit growing up.
This noodle recipe is perfect for holidays and large family gatherings, but it's also a fantastic family dinner
Seafood lovers will fully enjoy this Filipino Pancit made with fresh Dungeness crab.
While shrimp adobo is often served as a main course, it can also be served as an appetizer or a side dish. Swimming in a rich, luscious coconut milk mixture, these shrimp are full of flavor.
This Filipino meatball and noodle soup can be served as a main course or as a hearty side dish or starter. Serve a bowl of Almondigas along with a helping of Spam fried rice or chicken adobo.
Need a refreshing salad in a pinch? This Cucumber Tomato Salad is a refreshing meal with a satisfying crunch and vibrant color!
Arroz Caldo is a comforting and delicious Filipino chicken and rice porridge made by cooking glutinous rice in homemade chicken stock until thick and creamy.
Seasoned with fresh aromatics like garlic and ginger and garnished with toasted garlic, hard-boiled eggs, and scallions, Arroz Caldo is a classic comfort food promised to warm you from the inside out.
Ensaladang Talong is a side dish with smoky and charred eggplant, with diced tomatoes, onions, and fresh herbs. It's a rich, delicious dish that goes well with any Filipino meal!
Transforms leftovers into a cheap & filling meal packed with flavor - in just 10 minutes! Adobo Fried Rice recipe is a resourceful & classic Filipino dish!
Toss together 5 simple ingredients for a delicious Adobo Fried Rice to fuel up for breakfast or meal prep for the week!
Toyomansi sauce is a classic Filipino dipping sauce (also known as sawsawan), often used for siomai or as a marinade for chicken, fish, pork adobo and even beef, that is deliciously tangy but ever so easy to make.
you only need 3-4 main ingredients and 5 minutes!
Crispy, delicious, and filled with a savory vegetable filling, this vegetable lumpia will be a crowd-pleaser!
They are the perfect appetizer or side dish to accompany any Asian mains. This lumpia gulay can be fried, air-fried, or baked!
Sisig is a classic Filipino dish, and this tofu version is a sizzling vegan option! With calamansi juice, soy sauce, caramalized onions, and a bit of a kick from peppers, this is a flavorful vegan Filipino side dish to complement any meal.
These best side dishes are a delicious and versatile way to add flavor and excitement to your meals. Whether you are hosting a dinner party or simply enjoying a weeknight meal at home, Filipino side dishes are sure to please your taste buds.
If you are new to Filipino cuisine, I encourage you to visit your local Asian markets and explore the wide variety of Filipino ingredients available. You may be surprised at how easy it is to find everything you need to make delicious side dish at home.
Did you make any of these recipes? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating and comment below letting us know which one you made and how it turned out. Thank you!
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