A Taste of the Philippines: Fun Foods for Kids

The Philippines is a country full of delicious flavors, tropical fruits, and colorful dishes. Filipino cuisine blends Malay, Spanish, and Chinese influences into meals that are both exciting and comforting. Whether you’re enjoying rice with stew or trying sweet sticky treats, Filipino food is always full of fun!

Ingredients that Make Filipino Food Unique

Filipino dishes often use ingredients like jackfruit (langka), coconut (buko), and palm nuts (kaong). Rice and cassava are common side dishes, and beef is usually the main meat, especially in some regions where pork is avoided. Kids will love how sweet, chewy, and colorful many of the desserts are!

Sweet Filipino Treats You Can Make at Home

Here are three simple dessert recipes that children (with adult help!) can try:

1. Rice Balls with Coconut Milk

Ingredients:

• 1 cup rice flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 cups coconut milk
• 2 cups large pearl tapioca
• 1 ½ cups coconut cream
• Jackfruit strips

Directions:

1. Mix rice flour and water to form dough. Roll into small balls.
2. Boil coconut milk, add sugar and tapioca, then rice balls.
3. Boil for 5 minutes and serve hot.

2. Pichi-Pichi (Steamed Cassava Cake)

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups grated cassava
• 1 cup sugar
• Food coloring
• Pandon leaves
• ½ tsp lye water
• Grated coconut

Directions:

1. Dissolve sugar with pandon water.
2. Add cassava and a drop of lye water.
3. Steam until translucent. Let cool, then roll in grated coconut.

3. Puto Maya (Sticky Coconut Rice Balls)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups sweet rice
• 1 ½ cups grated coconut
• 1 ¼ cups sugar
• 2 ¼ cups water
• 2 tbsp butter

Directions:

1. Wash rice twice and cook with water.
2. After cooling, mix with butter and sugar.
3. Shape into small balls and roll in coconut.

Savory Dishes to Try

Balbacua – A rich meat stew made with peanut butter, tomato paste, and chili peppers.
Pochero – A hearty soup with beef, bananas (saba), potatoes, and cabbage.
Pineapple Beef Steak – Sliced beef stir-fried with soy sauce, onions, and pineapple tidbits.

These meals are perfect for introducing children to new flavors and helping them learn about Filipino culture.

Food as a Fun Way to Learn Language

Cooking traditional dishes is a great way to teach kids new words and cultural traditions. When they hear words like pandan, langka, or malagkit, they connect them with ingredients and flavors they’ve tried. Language becomes real, delicious, and exciting!

For a fun and interactive way to help kids learn Tagalog (Filipino), Dinolingo offers online lessons with games, songs, and videos. It’s perfect for children aged 2–14, with content that fits their level and keeps learning playful and rewarding.