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12 (+ 8 more) Filipino Food to Have During the Holy Week

It has been a practice among Roman Catholics to abstain from eating meat every Friday during lent, and the entire holy week. It is not recommended to eat pork, chicken, beef and other types of meat during this time of the year.

However, you can always consume vegetables and seafood. Since lent is a time to reflect and focus on spiritual health, let me help you a bit by suggesting some dishes that you can prepare for this week so that you can concentrate on more important things.

The original article suggests 12 dishes; I added 8 more dishes and provided the links for the recipes, for your convenience.

May you find inner peace and be able to reflect on your relationship with our creator.


Here are the (12 + 8 more) Filipino food that can help nourish your body for this season:

 

1. Ginataang Tilapia

Ginataang-Tilapia_
Ginataang Tilapia is a delicious dish where Tilapia is cooked in coconut milk (or cream) and served with banana peppers.

 

2. Inihaw na Pusit

Grilled-Squid
Inihaw na Pusit (grilled squid) is a simple tasty dish that can be prepared quickly. It is best eaten with a spiced vinegar dip.

 

3. Ginisang Ampalaya (w/egg)

ginisang-ampalaya
Ginisang Amapalaya is a dish composed of sauteed bitter melon or bitter gourd, tomato, onions, and beaten eggs. This is simply nutritious.

 

4. Sinigang na Hipon

Sinigang-na-Hipon-Recipe
Sinigang na Hipon or Shrimp in Sour Soup can be considered as a comfort food among Filipinos. It is flavorful and very easy to prepare.

5. Atcharang Papaya

Atcharang Papaya
Atcharang Papaya is the Filipino version of Sauerkraut. It is sweet and sour at the same time, though this makes use of green (unripe) papaya.

6. Lumpiang Sariwa

lumpiang-sariwa-recipe
Lumpiang Sariwa or Fresh spring rolls is a perfect dish for lent. Although the original recipe makes use of pork, you can make your version for the holy week by not using pork or any meat ingredient.

7. Tortang Talong

Tortang-Talong1
Tortang Talong is a type of Filipino eggplant omelet. It is a quick and easy-to-make dish that I usually eat with banana ketchup and white rice.

8. Ginisang Togue

1-togue
Ginisang Togue or Sauteed Mung Bean Sprouts with Tofu and Vegetables is something that you might consider for lent. It is nutritious and delicious.

9. Buttered Garlic Shrimp

Garlic-Butter-Shrimp
Garlic Butter Shrimp is shrimp stir-fried in butter and garlic. You can complete this dish in less than 20 minutes.

 

10. Steamed Lapu-lapu

Steamed Fish - Grouper
Steamed Fish or steamed lapu-lapu (grouper) is one of my favorites because it is tasty and the dish does not taste too fishy at all. It might be because of all the citrus blend that was added. It is simple and good!

 

11. Sardines with Misua and Patola

Misua with Sardines and Patola
Sardines (in tomato sauce) with flour noodles, and loofah is what this dish is about. Flavorful, budget-friendly, and practical.

 

12. Ginataang Sitaw at Kalabasa with Crab

Ginataang-Sitaw-at-Kalabasa-with-Crabs
Crab, string beans, and calabaza squash cooked in coconut milk — OMG!  This is one of my personal favorites. I am sure that most of you feel the same way. Give this a try and let’s see what you think.

 

 Here are the additional 8 that I hand-picked for you:

1. Tuyo with Rice and Tomato

tuyo

 

 

2. Kangkong in Oyster Sauce

Kangkong-with-Oyster-Sauce_

 

 

3. Vegetarian Pancit Canton

Vegetaraian-Pancit-Canton

 

 

4. Sipo Eggs

Sipo-Eggs1

5. Bulanglang

Bulanglang

 

 

6. Scallop Chop Suey Recipe

Scallop-Chop-Suey

 

7. Inihaw na Tilapia

Grilled-Tilapia-with-Stuffing-3

 

8. Monggo Guisado with Dilis and Malunggay

Monggo-Guisado-with-Dilis-and-Malunggay

 

Have a blessed lent!

If you have questions, requests, or suggestions, you can contact me here.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    • thank you for sharing in many kinds of menus. I personally jot down the ingredients and cook it for the family. I follows ur columns regularly and filed as my Recipe studies. tenk u so much

      Reply

    • Although I’m not Catholic, (we still enjoy the meat while celebrating lent), I love everything you have posted and will be good anytime of year. I especially love the “inihaw na Pusit”. I can actually get those big gigantic squid at our local Asian market. I can’t wait to try it! Thanks!

      Reply

  5. Thanks for the recipes Vanjo, I already made me some of these recipes since the start of the Holy Week. I appreciate that you added more than I could have think of. I sure will keep cooking these recipes when I get cravings for them.

    Reply

  7. Thank you so much, I love all your postings, but am so sorry for some ingredients could not be easily buy where I am…..I can do all of these if I am in Pinas….anyway just keep postings……greatly appreciated Kababayan……

    Reply

  12. Thank you for all the recipes you’ve shared. Will definitely try cooking those dishes. Have a nice Holy Week and God bless always.!

    Reply

  13. Thanks for sharing me your recipes. Ienjoy watching your videos, i already tried some of your recipes and my family really appreciated it.. thanks so much

    Reply

  17. Thank you for sharing, my family will surely love this kind of menu for this coming Lenten season. Thanks again, god bless and more power. I’m one of your fan, in terms of cooking. God bless again.

    Reply

  18. Thank you for sharing vanjo…your excellent chef cook…i like ur recipes its affordable & easy to cook…God bless & more power!!!

    Reply

  22. Many thanks for all the scrumptious dishes you’ve posted. it’s been a great experience for beginners like me to learn and create appetizing dishes for the family and friends.

    Reply

  23. Hi Vanjo

    Thank you for sharing your cooking expertise. Through your step-by-step video demo, I am now slowly able to prepare some foods that I only wish I knew how to in the past.

    God bless….

    Reply

  25. It’s a big help your suggested dish for the Holy week. So simple dishes that anyone can afford. Appreciate it very much..

    Reply

  29. Thank you for sharing these simple and easy to cook but very tasty recipes. I keep a file of all your recipes for easy access when I need them. Keep them coming!

    Reply

  33. 3/28/15

    Thanks you so for your recipe it’s a big help for me if I want something to cook I just follow ur colomm

    Reply

  36. Hi Vanjo, congratulations, your recipes are nutritious and healthy plus affordable. I compiled these for easy access. Please keep them coming. Thank you.

    Reply

  37. Thank you so much for sharing. I always go and check with your recipes whenever I need them.
    I like all the menus and will definitely cook them. Happy Easter, God bless!

    Reply

  40. thank you for all the recipes you’re sending to me/us. it really help me not to think of what to cook for my family. ypu’re giving me lots of ideas what to cook for the whole week. thanks a lot. and lots of luck on your column.

    Reply

  43. I’m very happy to try it this Lenten season, glad to received your email. Take care, more power and God Bless.

    Reply

  45. Thanks for all your recipes.. My family and I enjoy so much all of them.. Truly Pilipino dishes has that wow
    factor that even my foreign friends always look forward for my cooking. Thank you so much.

    Reply

  46. thank you so much for sharing your recipe. really helps to people like us who wants to eat quality food and nutritious one..more power!!

    Reply

  48. Thank you very much for the Lenten recipes you’ve shared. I tried “Ginataang Tilapia” last night. My family loved it. Thanks and more power.

    Reply

  51. thank you very much sir,its a big help for me,i using your recipe for my everyday menu for my family…….and they love it…..god bless you…..

    Reply

  52. thank you for your receipts which looks very mouthwatering and the varety of ingredients which are in the different menus and can be found where I live.

    Reply

  55. Hello,,thank you for sharing your différent kinds of menu,evening im her In france i always coking filipino food and réally injoy with your reciepe and my husband hé lives my filipino food,,thank you panlasang pinoy,,,God bless you,,,

    Reply

  56. Thank you so much Vanjo!! i tried so many of your recipes and it ALWAYS turns out perfect!! You’re a lifesaver in my kitchen :)) More power to you!!

    Reply

  57. Thank you so much Vanjo!! I’ve tried a number of your recipes and it always turns out perfectly!! You’re a lifesaver in my kitchen :)) More power to you!

    Reply

  62. Thank you so much for these wonderful recipes. Vanjo you give me many creative ideas when I think about what I want to cook. Please keep posting and I will keep eating such delicious dishes.

    Reply

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