Popular Culinary Uses of Rice in the Philippines

Here are some them. Ordinary rice and glutinous rice are the kind of rice used in this particular article.

1. Rice Coffee

   
   
   If you love coffee but you're not allowed to drink because of its caffeine, then rice coffee is the best alternative, it has no side effect at all. It's so easy to prepare, put a cup of rice in a hot pan and toast it until dark brown. Put the toasted rice in the kettle, add about 6 cups of water and bring to boil. There you have it, a caffeine-free coffee, just add a little amount of sugar.
   
   

2. Arroz Caldo or Chicken Porridge

   
   
   Arroz Caldo is called chicken porridge in English. If you want to try cooking this one, here's how; sauté ginger, garlic and onion then add the chicken (cut into pieces). Put the rice (you can use ordinary rice, glutinous rice or a combination of these). Add some water and simmer for 30 minutes to 1 hour stirring occasionally to avoid the rice from sticking. Add pepper and salt to taste. For garnishing, put some finely chopped spring onion.

3. Arroz A La Valenciana

   
   
   This is one of the most complicated rice recipes to cook. This recipe is perfect for all occasions.

4. Champorado

   
   
   Champorado is best for breakfast or snack and so easy to prepare. Just add sugar and cocoa powder on the porridge while it's boiling. Then pour some evaporated milk before serving it. Kids love this one.

5. Suman sa Ibus

   
   
   One of my favorite snacks is suman (rice delicacy). Soaked glutinous rice with salt are wrap in a banana or young coconut leaves and boiled. This is eaten by dipping in sugar or grated coconut with sugar.

6. Suman sa Lihiya

   
   
   Another variant of suman is the suman sa lihiya. The procedure is the same with suman sa ibus. They just added a secret ingredient on it that makes it smell tasty and good.

7. Bibingka

   
   
   Bibingka or native rice cake is another Filipino favorite especially during Christmas season (though these are available in almost any part of the archipelago, anytime of the year). Cooking bibingka is unique from other native rice delicacies. It is cook with burning coals below and on top of it.

8. Puto Bumbong

   
   
   Bibingka and puto bumbong are the best sellers during Christmas season most especially during simbang gabi (evening mass). Puto bumbong are cooked by putting the glutinous rice (with color) on a bamboo tube.

9. Kalamay

   
   
   Sweet sticky rice cake is certainly my favorite though the cooking is a bit hard because it requires continuous stirring.

10. Biko

    
    
    This glutinous rice cooked in coconut milk is another favorite snack of many Filipinos. Pre-boiled glutinous rice in coconut milk is poured on a boiling molasses or caramelize brown sugar and mixed thoroughly. The topping are called latik obtained from coconut milk.

11. Espasol

    
    
    Another Filipino favorite and actually one of my favorite also is espasol. Though I love eating espasol, I haven't tried cooking this one yet.

12. Kutsinta

    
    
    Kutsinta and puto or rice muffins are partners. They are available anywhere in the island that's why I haven't tried cooking this too.

13. Puto or Rice Muffin

    
    
    Same with kutsinta, I haven't tried cooking puto or rice muffin. This can be cook in different styles. Others would add cheese and others would cook it in different colors.

14. Palitaw

    
    
    Grinded glutinous rice are formed into balls then flattened and cooked in boiling water. When these flattened balls float, it's an indication that these are already cooked. Grated coconut with sugar and toasted sesame seeds is perfect for dipping.

15. Palitaw sa Latik

    
    
    Palitaw sa latik is a variant of palitaw. Instead of grated coconut with sugar and sesame seeds are added, boiled water with sugar and latik are added.

16. Tupig

    
    
    Cooking tupig is different also from the above-mentioned rice delicacies. Grinded glutinous rice with sugar and grated coconut are wrapped in banana leaves and cook by roasting it.

17. Ginataang Monggo-sweetened coconut milk risotto with toasted mongo beans

18. 
    
    One of the easiest rice snacks to prepare is ginataang monggo. Just add sugar and coconut milk on the boiling glutinous porridge and pour some toasted monggo seeds before serving it.

19. Pinipig Kakanin

    
    
    This snack is very yummy known as pounded young rice cake.

20. Fresh Pinipig (Pounded young rice)

    
    
    Young glutinous rice with hull is pounded using mortar and pestle. Another variant of pinipig is ginataang pinipig. A mixture of boiled water and coconut milk with sugar is added in a bowl of pounded young rice.

21. Dried Pinipig

    
    
    
    
    This type of pounded rice is usually used as an ingredient in halo-halo and pinipig crunch, a kind of Popsicle. Dried pinipig is also used as ingredient in making chocolate bars.

22. Puffed Rice

    
    
    Puffed rice can usually be bought in the market. These are available in different colors making it appealing especially to the kids.

23. Patupat

    
    
    Patupat is one of the most intricate rice delicacies to prepare. Glutinous rice are wrapped in palm leaves and then boiled. For the finale, these are dipped in a wok of boiling molasses. A person who likes to cook this delicacy must learn some skills in weaving.