Food is an important part of any Filipino’s life – mothers, daughters, fathers, sons, grandmothers – we all love our home cooked meals! One can observe that veganism has slowly been infiltrating the mainstream culture, with more and more people choosing to go entirely plant-based. Being vegan nowadays not only entails nixing animal-derived products from one’s diet, but also creating innovative recipes and seeing the world from a different perspective. Filipino cuisine has been the same for hundreds, if not thousands of years, but today, there are endless amounts of yummy vegan recipes. This guide aims to provide an overview of vegan Filipino recipes, present easy recipes for beginners, and how to make vegan versions of classic Filipino dishes.
About Vegan Filipino Recipes
Veganism has become increasingly popular in the Philippines, as more and more Filipinos are now following a vegan lifestyle. There are a number of vegan Filipino recipes available for those looking to try out veganism. Vegan Filipino recipes are usually composed of different kinds of fresh, organic and locally grown produce, like vegetables, grains, fruits, and legumes. These cuisine are highly nutritious and often incorporate exotic ingredients like tamarind, eggplant, jackfruit, and tofu. Furthermore, vegan Filipino recipes are mainly plant-based, with the exception of occasional vegan seafood.
Common ingredients used in vegan Filipino recipes may include garlic, onion, tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant, cabbage, carrots, celery, potatoes, squash, sweet potatoes, bananas, pineapples, mangoes, papaya, and more. Sauces and dressings used in vegan Filipino recipes include Blast of Bagoong, pureed tofu, vegan fish sauce, vegan coconut milk, and vegan mayonnaise.
What Makes Filipino Cuisine Special
Filipino cuisine has its own unique flavor profile that sets it apart from other Southeast-Asian cuisines. Filipino dishes have three distinct flavors – sour, sweet, and salty or umami. These flavors are often combined to create a balanced yet flavor-packed dish. For instance, a typical Filipino dish would have a sour component, such as tamarind or vinegar, a sweet component, such as cane sugar or banana ketchup, and a salty component, such as fish or soy sauce. Filipino cuisine also relies heavily on fresh herbs and spices, such as bay leaves, onions, garlic, and chili peppers, to make dishes flavorful and fragrant.
Another unique aspect of Filipino cuisine is its use of various cooking techniques. Filipino recipes are prepared with a variety of cooking methods like steaming, frying, baking, boiling, and barbecuing. Different cooking styles yield different flavors and textures in the final product. The flavorful sauces are cooked separately and added to the main dish at the end.
Filipino food is famous for its spiciness, which is a result of the generous use of different types of chili peppers. It is also known to incorporate many sour ingredients like tamarind, lime, or calamansi. Sweetness, on the other hand, can be added with the use of coconut milk or cane sugar.
Best Vegan Filipino Recipes for Beginners
Looking for an EASY vegan Filipino recipe to start your journey? Check out our top-rated recipes that any beginner can easily make:
1. Vegan Adobo with Tofu – a traditional vegan version of the Filipino classic, using tofu as a substitute for chicken or pork and plenty of healthy aromatics.
2. Pinakbet with Tofu – a vegan version of the classic Philippine dish, featuring squash, eggplant, tomatoes, onions, and tofu.
3. Vegan Coconut Milk Soup (Ginataang Gulay) – a fragrant, creamy, and flavorful soup made with coconut milk and lots of vegetables.
4. Mushroom and Tofu Sinigang – a vegan version of a traditional Filipino soup that features mushrooms and tofu in a sour tamarind-based broth.
5. Vegan Pinakbet Stir-Fry – a flavorful and colorful vegan stir-fry made with a rainbow of vegetables and seasoned with plenty of spices.
Making Vegan Versions of Classic Filipino Dishes
More and more Filipinos are switching to a vegan lifestyle, and that includes making vegan versions of classic Filipino dishes. After all, with a little creativity, it is possible to make healthy and delicious vegan renditions of our favorite family recipes.
One popular vegan Filipino dish is the vegan adobo. It starts with cubed tofu as a substitute for chicken or pork and is then seasoned with garlic, coconut aminos, soy sauce, and bay leaves. Coconut vinegar gives the dish a slightly sour twang, while coconut palm sugar provides sweetness. The result is a finger-licking good vegan dish that you can serve with steamed rice.
Another classic Filipino dish that is easily made vegan is sinigang. This tart soup is traditionally made with fish or pork stock, but vegan versions opt for a simple vegetable broth instead. The base of sinigang is tamarind, which provides the classic sourness that makes sinigang distinct. It is then loaded with vegetables such as eggplant, squash, mushrooms, and tofu for added texture and flavor.
There are plenty of vegan versions of traditional Filipino dishes out there that taste just as good, if not better, than their non-vegan counterparts. With enough experimentation and a few key ingredients, vegans in the Philippines can enjoy a variety of flavors from their local cuisine.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is veganism?
Answer: Veganism is a lifestyle choice whereby people choose to eliminate animal-based products such as meat and dairy from their diet. Vegans also often choose not to use products derived from animals, such as leather, wool, and down.
2. What are vegan Filipino recipes?
Answer: Vegan Filipino recipes are usually composed of different kinds of fresh, organic and locally grown produce, like vegetables, grains, fruits, and legumes. These recipes are highly nutritious and often incorporate exotic ingredients like tamarind, eggplant, jackfruit, and tofu.
3. What makes Filipino food unique?
Answer: Filipino cuisine has its own unique flavor profile that sets it apart from other Southeast-Asian cuisines. Filipino dishes have three distinct flavors – sour, sweet, and salty or umami. Filipino food is also famous for its spiciness, which is a result of the generous use of different types of chili peppers, and its use of various cooking techniques like steaming, frying, baking, boiling, and barbecuing.
4. How can I make classic Filipino dishes vegan?
Answer: Making vegan versions of classic Filipino dishes is quite easy with a little creativity. For instance, vegan adobo can be made with tofu instead of chicken or pork. Sinigang can also be made vegan by replacing the traditional fish or pork stock with a simple vegetable broth, and loading it up with vegetables and tofu.
5.Which ingredients are used in vegan Filipino recipes?
Answer: Common ingredients used in vegan Filipino recipes may include garlic, onion, tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant, cabbage, carrots, celery, potatoes, squash, sweet potatoes, bananas, pineapples, mangoes, papaya, and more. Sauces and dressings used in vegan Filipino recipes include Blast of Bagoong, pureed tofu, vegan fish sauce, vegan coconut milk, and vegan mayonnaise.
6. What are the best vegan Filipino recipes for beginners?
Answer: The best vegan Filipino recipes for beginners are Vegan Adobo with Tofu, Pinakbet with Tofu, Vegan Coconut Milk Soup (Ginataang Gulay), Mushroom and Tofu Sinigang, and Vegan Pinakbet Stir-Fry.
Vegan Sisig
A vegan spin on the popular Filipino dish, Vegan Sisig is an easy, plant-based alternative to the pork-based dish. Packed with flavor and crunchy texture, this dish is sure to be a hit!
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
1 tablespoon of oil
1 onion, diced
4 cloves of garlic, minced
2 stalks of lemongrass, chopped
1 teaspoon of ginger powder
1 teaspoon of tumeric powder
1 teaspoon of paprika
1 teaspoon of cumin
1 teaspoon of black pepper
1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
1/2 cup of firm tofu, cubed
1/2 cup of vegan sausage, diced
1/3 cup of nutritional yeast
3 tablespoons of liquid aminos
2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon of sugar
1/4 cup of toasted vegan mayonnaise
2 green onions, diced
Instructions
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the onion, garlic, and lemongrass and sauté for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the ginger, tumeric, paprika, cumin, black pepper, and cayenne pepper and stir the mixture for an additional 2 minutes.
Add in the bell peppers, tofu cubes, vegan sausage, and nutritional yeast and cook for another 5-7 minutes.
Stir in the liquid aminos, apple cider vinegar, and sugar to the mixture and cook until everything is combined and the liquid has reduced.
Add the vegan mayonnaise to the skillet and turn off the heat. Stir everything together until the mayo is combined. Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary.
Gently stir in the chopped green onions and roasted peanut. Sprinkle on the crunchy Asian noodles (if using) and garnish with freshly chopped parsley.
Serve the vegan sisig with a side of steamed jasmine rice and enjoy!
Notes
For spice, add additional cayenne pepper according to your taste preference.
Feel free to use any other vegan protein such as seitan, tempeh, or jackfruit in place of the vegan sausage.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Filipino
- Diet: Halal
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 310 kcal
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 870mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 19g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Vegan Sisig, Filipino Cuisine, Crunchy and Flavorful, , , ,
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