Nowadays,fast foods may be everywhere, but sure we all have a soft spot for good old Filipino food. Whether it’s a favorite ulam or a fun afternoon merienda, Filipino cuisine has a way of making you feel relaxed and comfortable. Unfortunately, few of us have the time, skills, or initiative to make our own food. That’s why many people prefer to eat out or call the fast food delivery line whenever they feel hungry.

If you’re one of those people, maybe it’s time you brought out your old Filipino food recipes and picked up home cooking again. It’s not as hard as you think; besides, Filipino cuisine is all about simplicity and practicality. Even if you can’t tell a pot from a pan, there’s sure to be some Filipino cooking recipes that you will enjoy. Here are a few tips and recipes to help you get started.
Start simple

It’s important to be interested in what you’re making, but that doesn’t mean you have to make your favorite gourmet food. Think of what you want to cook that’s within your budget and abilities. Don’t spend too much on your first attempt-if it fails, at least you won’t have wasted too much money. The best beginner dishes are those with few ingredients and simple procedures. Filipino desserts recipes are usually fairly easy and don’t take more than 30 minutes to make. Here’s an easy dessert recipe you can try out to start.

Ingredients:

5 c fruit cocktail
1 ½ c pineapple chunks
1 ½ c lychees
1 c shredded coconut
1 ½ c heavy cream
1 c cream cheese
optional: 1 ½ c cubed apples, 1 c unsalted almonds

Procedure:

In a bowl, mix the cream and cream cheese until you get a smooth, sauce-like texture. Drain the fruit cocktail, lychees, and pineapple chunks, then pour into the cream mixture with the other ingredients. Mix well and chill overnight.

You’re probably thinking planning is for high school projects, but it really helps you turn cooking into a habit. If you want home cooking to be part of your routine, you can’t just squeeze it in whenever you have time. Home cooks don’t just prepare the food, they plan it. At the start of the week, write down what you want to prepare for the next few days and make a shopping list based on your meal plan. If you’re just starting out, it’s okay to look online or read cookbooks for new Filipino cooking recipes.
When planning your meals, make sure to keep it healthy and balanced. You can’t have pasta three days in a row or serve sugar-rich desserts all week. Alternate between light and heavy meals, meat and vegetable dishes, or hot and cold snacks. If you’re cooking for the family, don’t hesitate to ask them for suggestions.

Even the best cooks can’t do much about old or low-quality ingredients. Know how to pick out the good ingredients from the bad. Most of it is easy enough: tomatoes should be firm and heavy, onions should be hard, eggs should be slightly rough. That way, when you mess things up, you’ll know it’s because of your own errors and not some substandard ingredient.

If you’re not too sure, have someone experienced help you with your shopping. Ask around for the best places to buy meat and produce. When you start cooking regularly, you’ll know where to go for particular ingredients and the best alternatives in case you can’t find what you need. Stock up on things you use most often, but don’t over-stock as they can expire before you can use them.
Improvise when necessary

It’s common for beginners to follow recipes to the letter, but as you get the hang of it, you’ll find it easier to improvise and add your own personal spin on the dish. That’s another reason you should start with simple Filipino recipes. It gives you time to get used to the basics and become comfortable with the process. You can run to the cookbook as often as you need, at least in your first few recipes.

Once you’ve mastered the basics, you’ll find yourself improvising even without knowing it. Sometimes a recipe will be too sweet or too salty, and you’ll know just how to adjust it to suit your tastes. Or you might think a little extra spice will make the dish more interesting. Don’t be afraid to play around; it’s part of the learning process. Eventually you’ll be making your own dishes from scratch and settle into a cooking style that’s all your own.

If you’re still afraid to improvise, look for plain recipes that you can easily work on. Pasta is one of the easiest dishes to improvise because you can put anything you want in the sauce. Here’s a basic spaghetti sauce recipe you can work on.

Ingredients:

1 L tomato sauce
½ c grated cheese
½ kg ground pork
½ kg ground beef
¼ kg hot dogs, chopped
2 bell peppers, chopped
2 medium onions, minced
1 head garlic, minced
¼ c sugar
3 tbsp cooking oil
1 c water
3 pcs bay leaves

Procedure:

Saute then garlic in cooking oil until golden brown. Add the onions and stir until they turn translucent. Add the pork, beef, bay leaves, and bell peppers. Pour in the water and bring it to a boil, then simmer for about 10 minutes. Add the tomato sauce and season with salt and pepper. Simmer again for 10 minutes, then add the sugar and hot dogs. Simmer for another 5 minutes, then pour over cooked pasta. Serve with grated cheese.

You can personalize this dish by adding your own choice of spices. You can mix in the cheese for a creamier sauce, or use less sugar for a more Italian taste. You can even add in some chili if you like it a bit spicy. The more you experiment, the more you’ll learn.

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