The Most Common Pinoy Breakfasts

CEBU, Philippines — Breakfast is breakfast anywhere. But here in the Philippines, breakfast is a much awaited meal.  Anyone would cut short a deserved sleep upon hearing the sizzling sound from the skillet or sensing the enticing fresh aroma from whatever is cooking in the kitchen. In that case, it’s hard for the Pinoy not to be a morning person.

It could not be the long fast during the night sleep that makes everyone crave for breakfast. Humans of all races naturally sleep during the night. But not everyone is as enthusiastic about breakfast.

So what makes the Pinoy breakfast so craved for? Perhaps the answer can be discerned from the five most common Pinoy breakfasts:  

Pandesal. The staple bread of Filipinos with its aromatic flavor, usually to be dipped in hot coffee. Pandesal sells out fast in the morning because it’s cheap and gives off an inviting whiff. Most people pair it with margarine or butter, jam or peanut butter.

Champorado. Perfect for the cold weather. This sweet chocolate rice porridge is made from sticky rice and tablea. It can go perfectly with evaporated or condensed milk added, to make it creamier.

Silog. A silog plate consists of “sinangag” or garlic rice and “pritong itlog” or fried egg. It’s one of the most common breakfast sets at Filipino dining tables. The favorite silog variants are tapsilog (tapa or dried-cured beef and silog), hotsilog (hotdog and silog) and longsilog (longganisa or mixed ground pork and silog)

Arrozcaldo or Lugaw. Steeping hot sticky rice simmered  chicken broth. This dish is similar to the Chinese congee and is usually served with boiled egg, fried garlic, sautéed chicken and, with some people, bits of chicharon or crispy fried pork skin.

Instant Noodles. Those in a hurry prefer something hot quickly. The instant noodles fit the bill.  Either served with just little sauce or as a hot soup, instant noodles make a convenient meal that perks up the body in the morning. It’s is not recommended for everyday breakfast, though, for its limited nutritional value.

Pinoy breakfast consists of a wide variety, distinct from the other meals of the day. The fact that there’s now the so-called “all-day breakfast” fare offered at a number of Filipino restaurants perhaps speaks of the popular appeal of a Pinoy breakfast. (FREEMAN)