VEGAN FILIPINO RECIPES - Plant-Based Passport (2024)

Are you transitioning to veganism, but can’t quit Filipino flavors? We got you covered with this list of 7 vegan Filipino recipes for you to try! We’ve also linked some of our recipe videos for your reference.

VEGAN FILIPINO RECIPES - Plant-Based Passport (1)

Don’t fret, friends! You don’t have to give up your cultural foods if you’re going vegan or cutting down on your reliance on animal products. We get the apprehension, believe us. But we’ve been been working hard on veganizing our families’ recipes and preserving their traditions. And you know what? Along the way, we’ve learned that it isn’t the meat that makes our traditional dishes delicious; it’s the aromatics, seasonings, and LOVE.

So we hope you enjoy these Filipino offerings — vegan style. We’ll be updating this list periodically, so check back for more!

Jump to:
  • 1. FILIPINO TOFU ADOBO
  • 2. VEGAN FILIPINO CHAMPORADO
  • 3. FILIPINO MELON SA MALAMIG
  • 4. VEGAN TORTANG TALONG
  • 5. VEGAN ARROZ CALDO
  • 6. VEGAN FILIPINO PANDESAL
  • 7. UBE CREAM PIE

1. FILIPINO TOFU ADOBO

Try the craveable and comforting national dish of the Philippines, but vegan: Filipino Tofu Adobo (adobong tokwa)! Our family recipe is INCREDIBLY easy to make.

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Adobo is considered a national treasure in the Philippines! Every family has their own recipe, and ours is insanely delicious and simple. We veganized my mom’s recipe by replacing the meat with extra-firm tofu. The sauce is laced with aromatic onion, garlic, bay leaves, and black peppercorns, and we balance the tartness of the white vinegar with organic granulated sugar. Thinly sliced potatoes thicken the sauce. Served over steamed jasmine rice, this dish is sure to be your new weeknight favorite!Kain tayo (Let’s eat)!

2. VEGAN FILIPINO CHAMPORADO

Love sweet breakfast vibes? Then this sweet chocolate rice porridge is for you, and we are sharing our family’s simple recipe.

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Champorado is a sweet, rich and creamy chocolate rice porridge that’s eaten for breakfast in the Philippines. I fondly remember watching Saturday morning cartoons as a Filipino-American kid, enjoying a hot, comforting bowl of Champorado.This dish is traditionally made with dairy, but our veganized version swaps out the dairy for coconut milk. This is a simple one-pot meal that uses kitchen staples and takes just minutes to prepare!

3. FILIPINO MELON SA MALAMIG

Melon sa Malamig is a crazy refreshing tropical cantaloupe beverage. It’s the perfect way to cool down during the warmer months. And best yet? You only need three ingredients to make your own at home!

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Melon sa Malamigis a delicious cantaloupe beverage from the Philippines. It contains just three simple ingredients: scraped or grated cantaloupe, water, and sugar. It’s essentially a Filipino version of theagua fresca, a beverage that’s big in Mexico and other parts of Central America.

4. VEGAN TORTANG TALONG

Our vegan tortang talong (Filipino eggplant omelette) is your new brunch craving! You’ll need only five ingredients to make this hearty, wholesome, easy-to-make dish.

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If you are on the fence about eggplants, tortang talong will make you a believer!We fell in love with this Filipino eggplant omelette when we visited themountainous Philippine Banaue provinceto see rice patties for the first time. We stayed at a bed and breakfast that served tortang talong as big as our heads!

Back stateside, my mom showed us how to prepare these simple but delicious omelettes. We were elated to find out how easy they were to whip up. You’ll need only five ingredients to make them yourself at home, and we can’t wait to share the recipe with you! See our recipe video below!

5. VEGAN ARROZ CALDO

Get cozy with our Vegan Arroz Caldo (Filipino Rice Porridge)! This savory rice porridge is Filipino comfort food at its best.

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Arroz caldo is the Filipino equivalent to American chicken noodle soup. Growing up, my mom prepared a piping hot bowl of this nourishing porridge as an antidote to the sniffles. Arroz Caldo is traditionally made with chicken, but we use tofu as the protein in our vegan version. In addition, my mom’s recipe uses a combination of jasmine and glutinous rice. Eat it for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and sniffles begone! See our recipe video below!

6. VEGAN FILIPINO PANDESAL

Our Vegan Filipino Pandesal are a delight! These lightly sweetened rolls are a Filipino classic, and the good news is: They are easy peasy to bake!

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Pandesal(also spelledPan de Sal) are Filipino yeast-risen, lightly sweetened bread rolls topped with breadcrumbs.Pandesalare typically eaten for breakfast in the Philippines. They are traditionally served with coffee or hot chocolate. Accompaniments and/or fillings can include things like butter, jam, cheese, peanut butter and scrambled eggs.

7. UBE CREAM PIE

Our Ube Cream Pie is guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth! With a creamy Filipino-inspired ube filling and simple chocolate sandwich cookie crust, this recipe is incredibly easy to make.

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You’ll need just eight ingredients to transport your tastebuds to a balmy Filipino beach. See our recipe video below!

Love,

Val

DID YOU MAKE OUR RECIPES?

Did you make this recipe? We’d love to hear about it! Please comment and leave a 5-star🌟 rating below. Share your dish with us on Instagram and tag us @plantbased.passport. We would love to seeing your delicious creations! Still hungry? Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Pinterest for more global vegan recipes and travel tips!🍴✈️

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VEGAN FILIPINO RECIPES - Plant-Based Passport (2024)

FAQs

How many Filipinos are vegans? ›

Are there many Vegans in the Philippines? Only 2% of Filipinos are vegans.

What Filipino food is vegetarian? ›

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What is the difference between vegetarian and vegan? ›

Overview. Vegetarians don't eat any food products made from meat, fish, shellfish, crustacea (such as prawns or crab) or animal by-products (such as gelatine or rennet). Vegans don't eat any food products that come from animals, including dairy products and eggs.

What are popular Filipino foods? ›

Popular dishes include lechón (whole roasted pig), longganisa (Philippine sausage), tapa (cured beef), torta (omelette), adobo (vinegar and soy sauce-based stew ), kaldereta (meat stewed in tomato sauce and liver paste), mechado (larded beef in soy and tomato sauce), pochero (beef and bananas in tomato sauce), afritada ...

Which country is #1 for vegans? ›

India. Three of India's major religions — Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism — teach the practice of ahimsa, or non-violence towards all beings. Because of this religious tradition, India has the highest percentage of vegetarians out of all the countries in the world.

Which city in the Philippines is the most vegan friendly? ›

Makati. There's no doubt about it – Makati, the Philippines' financial district, is a vegan hub. Its all-vegan restaurants include Greenery Kitchen, which serves meat-free traditional Pinoy dishes, from sisig and adobo to bopis and pares.

What is the national veg of Philippines? ›

Malunggay is hereby declared the national vegetable of the Philippines. The malunggay plant merits this recognition due to its enormous benefits where all parts of the malunggay tree are endowed with substantial nutritional and medicinal benefits.

Is Philippines good for vegans? ›

While Filipino cuisine may not be the most vegan-friendly cuisine, Philippines has one of the most active vegan communities I've seen, and there are lots of vegan options if you just do a little research. Hope these vegan Philippines travel tips are helpful for your next trip!

Which country is pure vegetarian? ›

India is often considered a country with a significant vegetarian population. Vegetarianism is deeply rooted in Indian culture, religion, and tradition, with many people adhering to vegetarian diets for spiritual, cultural, or health reasons.

Where do vegans get protein? ›

Some plant-based foods, such as soybean products, seitan, beans, and lentils contain high amounts of protein. You can also find protein in nuts, whole grains like quinoa and amaranth, and hemp seeds. People following a vegan diet may need to plan in order to reach their daily protein goals.

Is honey vegan? ›

In the strictest definition of the word, honey is not vegan. As the product of a living being –honeybees, though there are other some 20,000 bee species to be found around the world – honey falls into the same category of non-vegan food products as milk and eggs.

Is being vegan healthier than eating meat? ›

Vegetarians and vegans typically have lower body mass index, serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and blood pressure than comparable regular meat-eaters, as well as lower bone mineral density.

What is the healthiest Filipino food to eat? ›

  • Sinigang. ...
  • Ginataang Gulay. ...
  • Pinakbet. ...
  • Laing. ...
  • Pakbet. ...
  • Tinola. ...
  • Bistek. Bistek is a delicious and nutritious Filipino dish that's perfect for those seeking a healthy meal. ...
  • Kilawin. Kilawin is a nutritious Filipino dish typically prepared with raw seafood, mixed with vinegar, onions, ginger, and other healthy ingredients.
Apr 13, 2023

What is the number 1 food in the Philippines? ›

1. Adobo. No list of the top 10 Filipino foods can begin without the famous Adobo on top. The unofficial Philippines national food is made with pork or chicken simmered in soy sauce and vinegar with loads of black pepper and crushed garlic.

Why do Filipinos eat so much rice? ›

Maria, the Spanish colonisers implemented a food quota to stave off hunger. To hasten production of food, they brought agricutural tools like the Southern Chinese plow pulled by a carabao. Rice production increased, and more and more Filipinos began to eat rice on a daily basis for sustenance.

Are the Philippines vegan friendly? ›

While Filipino cuisine may not be the most vegan-friendly cuisine, Philippines has one of the most active vegan communities I've seen, and there are lots of vegan options if you just do a little research. Hope these vegan Philippines travel tips are helpful for your next trip!

What nationality has the most vegans? ›

United Kingdom

Compared to all the countries in the world, the UK has the most vegans.

What percentage of Asians are vegan? ›

Of five world regions, the Asia-Pacific region has the highest share of vegetarians (19%) and vegans (9%).

What is the traditional Filipino diet? ›

The traditional and basic Filipino diet is rice and fish. Fish and fish products supply the bulk of the protein consumed and fish appears daily for more the one-half of the Filipinos. As the Philippines is surrounded by waters, almost every family did fishing regularly or seasonally.

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