New Year as I've earlier stated is the ultimate holiday in the Philippines. An event filled with so many fun memories and experiences for me growing up. One so ingrained in my humanity, that once in a while I would get awfully nostalgic of time's past, I would end up in a bawling fit just like this year's New Year (pardon the segway to drama but I needed to share that!). Now onto the dishes...
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| Pancit - Traditional dish identified with New Year and Birthdays |
What's a prominent holiday without it's prominent dishes? As most of Philippines' observed and celebrated holidays, New Year boot its' own traditional dishes. Lucky me, I learned how to cook it and pretty well too. A great asset that I can continuously enjoy now that I'm in the US, not to say, pass it on to my own child and share it with the rest of my little familia. It also eases my occasional nostalgia every year!
This year, I opted to cook the top three famous Filipino dishes with added twist:
1- Pancit (see picture above): This noodle dish is usually made with mung bean or rice noodles and signifies long life. A symbolic dish that is appropriately served to welcome the New year or prepared during someone's birthday. As it is, cutting up the strand is unlucky.
My version: I used thick ramen noodles on my vegetarian dish which sometimes is used to substitute the usual noodles and topped it off with Tofu, cabbage, green beans and carrots.
Family's Rating: ♦♦♦♦♦
2- Lumpia (vegetable spring roll) - The vegetable version is a lesser-known version of Filipino Lumpia in the US. The Lumpia Shanghai (meat version) is what a lot of people seem to favor here and know more of. But the veggie version is the traditional dish among the two.
My version: We love our veggies so I opted for the Lumpia (vegetable) partnered with my own original garlic sauce recipe and Chili sauce for dips.
Family's Rating: ♦♦♦♦ - (my daughter not quite sold on the garlic sauce)
3- Turon (Banana fritters) - This is a traditional snack or dessert. It's made with plantain coated with brown sugar and traditionally wrapped and fried just like Lumpia.
My version: This is a family favorite. I opted to cook this dish without the wrapper since we already have the Lumpia. It's also yummier being able to dig your palate straight to the banana and the sweetness of the caramelized sugar coating it.
Family's Rating: ♦♦♦♦♦
Having these dishes to devour and enjoy with mi familia at a very symbolic holiday in my culture is the greatest New Year feast I will always cherish. It brings me a little closer to the place I once called home and to my brothers and sisters whom I dearly miss...
Are you from another country? Do you have traditional dishes for New Year?
*If you like to try my recipe version, let me know. Email me at zensible at MaricrisG dot com. If I get enough request, I might just post them for everyone to see. Thank you!*
Hah! Me cook? I leave that to the hubby! These look delicious. I wish I know how to cook Filipino food. I wish I know how to cook! Cooking is just not one of my have things to do.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Maricris!