Veg Out With 15 Yummy Vegetarian Filipino Foods

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Get ready to be part of the vibrant world of vegetarian Filipino food! Packed with amazing flavors and satisfying textures, these classic Filipino plant-based dishes will give you a snapshot of Filipino cuisine. Let these beloved foods make you crave more of this underrated Southeast Asian experience! 

Ensaladang Talong. Photo credit: Depositphotos.
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Filipino cuisine is filled with naturally umami-packed, fragrant, and hearty meals, usually served with steamed rice. From savory recipes like Adobong Tokwa to the sweetness Turon offers, it’s hard not to fall in love with any of these vegetarian dishes.   

15 Mouthwatering Filipino Vegetarian Dishes

1. Tofu Sisig

This vegetarian version of the world-famous Sisig offers a delicious mix of savory and spicy flavors without using any meat! It’s typically made from tofu and mushroom flavored with soy sauce, mayonnaise, onions, chile, and garlic.

This dish is typically served on a sizzling hot plate to keep it hot and crispy. Tofu Sisig is best served with a squeeze of calamansi (Philippine lime), rice, and an ice-cold beverage.

2. Adobong Tokwa (Tofu Adobo)

Tofu is an excellent substitute for meat in many Filipino dishes. It allows vegans to enjoy the Filipino classic Adobo, usually made with either chicken or pork belly.

This savory dish mixes soy sauce’s saltiness with the vinegar’s acidity, giving it an appetizing salty-sour flavor profile. Moreover, black peppercorns, bay leaves, garlic, and onions give Adobong Tokwa a complex, satisfying taste!   

3. Ensaladang Talong (Roasted Eggplant Salad)

The humble eggplant takes center stage in this delicious vegetarian Filipino food. This popular starter or side dish uses roasted or grilled eggplants mixed with vinegar, onions, tomatoes, and seasonal fruits like mangoes. You’ll end up with a refreshing salad that pairs wonderfully well with roasted or fried main dishes.  

4. Tortang Talong (Eggplant Omelet)

Combining grilled eggplants with eggs (or vegan egg substitutes) gives you an enjoyable omelet any time of the day! This dish involves grilling eggplants over an open flame, peeling off the skin, dipping the softened vegetables in a bowl with a whisked egg, and pan-frying them until golden and crispy.

Serve them over rice and any dipping sauce, such as banana ketchup, and you’ve got a hearty meal!   

5. Pandesal (Filipino Bread Roll)

A staple part of Filipino breakfast, Pandesal is the Filipino equivalent of bread rolls. It is made from ingredients such as flour, milk, eggs, and sugar. It also pairs well with practically any type of spread, like peanut butter, plain butter, jam, or even dipped in black coffee, the way Filipinos like it!  

6. Champorado (Chocolate Rice Porridge)

Mixing chocolate with glutinous rice may sound odd to some. Adding milk, sugar, or powdered milk to this chocolate rice porridge is the best way to enjoy it. It’s a favorite among Filipinos with a sweet tooth and is a filling breakfast option!     

7. Vegan Bola-bola (Vegan Meatballs)

This vegan twist on meatballs uses tofu, plant-based ground meat, and carrots shaped into small balls and deep-fried to golden perfection.

Pair them with any dipping sauce, such as the local brand Mang Tomas All-Around Sarsa, sweet chili sauce, or ketchup, and you will have a dish that’s perfect as a snack, appetizer, or even the main course!      

8. Mushroom Tocino

The vegetarian version of tocino (cured meat) utilizes white mushrooms instead of pork, giving it a sweet, savory, and slightly salty flavor profile.

Tocino is a favorite of many Filipinos for breakfast, especially when served with itlog (egg) and garlicky sinangag (fried rice). It even has its local portmanteau tosilog (tocino, sinangag, and itlog )!     

9. Pinakbet (Filipino Vegetable Stew)

The Filipino take on vegetable stew is as delicious as it is colorful! Strips of bitter melon, okra, squash, eggplants, and string beans are traditionally seasoned with fermented fish paste made from anchovies (bagoong) or shrimp paste, which one can forgo in the vegetarian version. This is a nutritious, umami-rich dish that goes well with white rice and fried dishes!   

10. Vegetarian Laing (Taro Leaves in Coconut Milk)

A much-loved Filipino dish, laing is made from dried taro leaves simmered in coconut milk. If you love spicy dishes, it will surely become a favorite as you can add as many chili peppers as you want!

11. Turon (Fried Banana Lumpia)

When it comes to mouthwatering plant-based desserts, Filipinos have a wide variety to choose from.

Turon or sweet banana roll has plantains or saging na saba and ripe jackfruit (optional) dipped in sugar, wrapped in spring roll wrappers, and deep-fried until golden brown. This sweet treat is amazing on its own or even topped with your favorite flavor of ice cream.     

12. Halo-Halo 

Halo-halo’s literal translation in Filipino is “mix-mix,” which essentially tells you what this dish is about! Each serving is placed in a large glass with a mix of colorful ingredients like sweetened kidney beans, coconut strips, pinipig (crisped rice), sago (tapioca pearls), and sweet banana slices topped with shaved ice, evaporated milk, and even leche flan and ube ice cream.

Mix them well, and you’ll end with a fantastic dessert that can cool you down even on hot, humid days! 

13. Ukoy (Vegetable Fritters)

Ukoy is like crispy little veggie party bites! These Filipino fritters are packed with shredded carrots, sweet potatoes, and bean sprouts, all fried to perfection. They’re a crunchy, savory treat, usually served with a tasty dipping sauce with vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic.

14. Munggo Guisado (Sauteed Mung Beans)

Munggo Guisado can be your go-to comfort food with a healthy twist! Imagine tender mung beans cooked in a rich stew with garlic, onions, and tomatoes. Jazz it up with a mix of veggies like spinach or bitter melon. Add vegan pork rinds to make it extra special. It’s perfect for cozying up with on a chilly day!

15. Ginisang Ampalaya (Sauteed Bitter Melon)

Ginisang Ampalaya is a veggie dish for those who love a bit of a flavor adventure! Bitter melon gets sliced up and stir-fried with garlic, onions, and tomatoes, and sometimes tossed with eggs or extra veggies. It’s got a bold, slightly bitter kick that’s totally worth it, especially if you’re a fan of healthy, savory eats!

Fantastic Filipino Vegetarian Foods to Savor

I hope my list of these mouthwatering Asian vegetarian dishes has inspired you to explore the unique flavors of Filipino cuisine!  Whether you’re looking for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert, these plant-based choices will entice and satisfy your taste buds. 

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