IF you want to spice up your holiday menu with Filipino Christmas classics or discover how this vibrant culture celebrates the season, you’re in for a treat!
Filipino Christmas food offers a delightful mix of sweet and savory flavors, from the iconic roasted pork to delectable rice cake desserts and creative takes on global favorites like meatloaf and ragù.
What makes these dishes even more fascinating is their rich history and the regional variations that give each recipe a unique twist.
Whether you’re a foodie or simply curious about Filipino holiday traditions, these beloved dishes will inspire your festive celebrations.
Keep reading to uncover the mouthwatering flavors that define a Filipino Christmas!
INSIDE THE PHILIPPINES’ FESTIVE CHRISTMAS FEAST: A CULINARY CELEBRATION
In the Philippines, Christmas is more than just a holiday—it’s a months-long celebration! Starting as early as September, the country boasts the world’s longest Christmas season. One of the highlights of this festive period is the grand feast on Noche Buena or Christmas Eve.
This special gathering brings together relatives from near and far to enjoy a hearty meal featuring traditional Filipino Christmas dishes. Iconic savory dishes such as lechon (roasted pig), Lumpiang Shanghai (spring rolls), and various flavorful stews take center stage.
No Filipino Christmas feast is complete without a sweet touch. Desserts like fruit salads and a variety of sweet rice cakes, including the beloved bibingka, make the meal even more memorable. This festive spread is a delicious reflection of the warmth and togetherness that defines the Filipino holiday spirit.
15 BEST FILIPINO CHRISTMAS DISHES TO FEAST ON THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
- Lechon
No Filipino Noche Buena is complete without lechon, a dish so iconic it’s also a staple for other celebrations like birthdays. This crispy roasted pork belly is a show-stopping centerpiece, cooked on a rotating spit for hours until the skin turns perfectly golden and crackling.
The seasoning varies by region, with some keeping it simple with salt and pepper, while others stuff the meat with a flavorful mix of garlic, spring onions, ginger, peppers, chilies, lemongrass, and pineapple. Served with a tangy dipping sauce, lechon is a deliciously indulgent highlight of the Filipino Christmas table.
- Hamon
A Christmas ham is a universal tradition, but the Filipino version, Hamon (or hamonadong baboy), brings its own unique flair. This sweet and savory dish starts with a ham hock marinated overnight in tangy pineapple juice and soy sauce for maximum flavor.
The ham is then browned with garlic and onions before being boiled to tender perfection. To finish, it’s topped with sugar and pineapple slices, creating a beautifully caramelized glaze. Traditionally served with warm rice, hamon pairs perfectly with other Filipino Christmas favorites.
Stay tuned for more festive favorites as we dive deeper into the most beloved dishes of the Filipino holiday season!
- Lumpiang Shanghai
Filipino Christmas menus wouldn’t be complete without appetizers, and Lumpiang Shanghai tops the list of favorites. These crispy spring rolls are perfect for snacking and pair wonderfully with main dishes. Despite its name, this iconic dish traces its roots to the Philippines, with origins dating back to the 1500s.
The rolls are made with thin egg crêpe wrappers filled with ground pork sautéed with onions, garlic, shallots, and carrots. Once rolled, they’re fried to a golden crisp and served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce, making them an irresistible addition to any feast.
- Chicken Relleno
Also known as chicken gallantina, this stuffed chicken dish is a must-try for anyone planning a festive Filipino spread. The bird is deboned except for its limbs and stuffed with a flavorful mix of ground pork, Vienna sausages, raisins, gherkins, and hardboiled eggs.
Variations often include Chinese sausage, olives, or chorizo, allowing for a customizable dish that caters to different tastes. Traditionally served with banana ketchup or rich gravy, chicken relleno pairs wonderfully with steamed rice, mashed potatoes, or vegetables.
- Caldereta
Few dishes embody comfort and festivity like caldereta, a rich and hearty meat stew. Introduced during the Spanish colonization, this dish has become a staple at Filipino celebrations, with recipes varying by region and family.
Typically made with goat, beef, pork, or chicken, the meat is simmered with tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, and bell peppers. Olives and a savory liver spread or paste add depth, while some versions use tomato sauce for extra richness. Perfectly cozy and bursting with flavor, caldereta is a holiday favorite you won’t want to miss.
- Kare-Kare
A comforting staple at Filipino Christmas celebrations, kare-kare is a rich and creamy peanut stew. While it’s enjoyed year-round, it holds a special place on the holiday table. The dish typically features oxtail, tripe, pork leg, and other meat cuts paired with vegetables like string beans, eggplant, banana blossoms, and bok choy.
The meat is tenderized and simmered in a savory peanut sauce, creating a hearty, flavorful dish. Variations may include seafood such as shrimp, prawns, or mussels. Whether served with rice or on its own, kare-kare is a cozy addition to any festive meal.
- Callos
Another beloved Filipino Christmas stew is callos, a dish with roots in Spain. Once considered peasant food, this ox tripe stew has evolved into a festive favorite. Traditional recipes include ox tripe, trotter meat, blood sausage, and chorizo, accompanied by chickpeas, carrots, potatoes, and peppers.
The dish’s tangy tomato-based sauce is perfect for pairing with crusty bread or rice. Whether you’re savoring it at a holiday feast or trying it for the first time, callos is a flavorful nod to Filipino-Spanish culinary heritage.
- Embutido
A Filipino twist on classic meatloaf, embutido is a must-have for Christmas celebrations. This dish traces its origins to the early 1900s when the American canning industry influenced Filipino cuisine. While it shares similarities with U.S. meatloaf, embutido incorporates unique ingredients like raisins, minced carrots, and garlic.
The meat mixture, often pork, is stuffed with hard-boiled eggs, sliced ham, and Vienna sausages before being wrapped in aluminum foil and steamed. Some variations include pineapple, bell peppers, or cheese. Simple yet delicious, embutido is a crowd-pleaser at any Filipino Christmas gathering.
- Pancit Malabon
Hailing from the city of Malabon, Pancit Malabon is a vibrant noodle dish that’s a favorite during the holidays. The rice noodles are cooked in a seafood broth infused with crab fat and fish sauce, giving them a distinct yellow hue.
This dish is often topped with a generous mix of seafood, pork, eggs, and crushed chicharrón. While it’s a festive staple, Pancit Malabon can be enjoyed year-round, making it a delicious way to celebrate Filipino flavors beyond the holiday season.
Stay tuned for more festive dishes that showcase the heart and soul of Filipino Christmas traditions!
- Fruit Salad
A staple at Filipino Christmas celebrations, fruit salad is a simple yet delightful dessert that everyone loves. Most recipes start with a base of canned fruit cocktails, cream, and sweetened condensed milk. These ingredients are mixed and chilled until ice-cold or partially frozen for a refreshing treat.
Variations include the addition of nata de coco (coconut gel), shredded coconut, cocktail cherries, or fresh fruits like apples or bananas. Some even incorporate cubes of cheese for a sweet and savory twist. Creamy and versatile, this dessert is a holiday favorite that’s easy to prepare.
- Ensaymada
This buttery, cheesy pastry is another must-have Filipino Christmas treat. Originating from Mallorca, Spain, ensaymada has become a beloved dish in the Philippines, particularly during the holiday season.
The soft, fluffy dough is generously slathered with butter, sprinkled with sugar, and topped with grated queso de bola (cheese), creating a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors. Whether enjoyed as a snack or dessert, ensaymada is a festive favorite.
- Filipino Spaghetti
Filipino-style spaghetti puts a sweet twist on the classic Italian dish, making it a comfort food staple for Christmas and other special occasions. The sauce combines tomato sauce with banana ketchup or brown sugar for a sweeter profile.
Meats like hotdogs, ground pork, or luncheon meat add heartiness to the dish, and it’s topped off with grated cheese for a creamy finish. This unique version of spaghetti is a crowd-pleaser that’s perfect for any celebration.
- Bibingka
A quintessential Filipino Christmas treat, bibingka is often enjoyed as a breakfast dish after attending Simbang Gabi (dawn mass). Made from rice flour, coconut milk, and water, the batter is poured into a pot lined with banana leaves and cooked to perfection.
Common toppings include butter, sugar, and grated coconut, while some variations add grated cheese or sliced salted egg. Soft, fragrant, and comforting, bibingka is a holiday tradition not to be missed.
- Puto Bumbong
Another iconic Filipino Christmas food, puto bumbong is instantly recognizable by its vibrant purple hue. Traditionally made with pirurutong (black glutinous rice), modern versions often use purple rice to achieve the same striking color.
This sticky rice cake is steamed in bamboo tubes and served with melted butter, sugar, and grated coconut. Like bibingka, it’s often topped with grated cheese for extra flavor. Found at many Christmas markets and celebrations, puto bumbong is a must-try holiday treat.
- Suman
Rounding out the list of Filipino Christmas favorites is suman, a delicious sticky rice cake that’s both a treat and a tradition. Made from glutinous rice mixed with coconut milk, this dessert is steamed while wrapped in buri palm or banana leaves, giving it a distinct aroma and presentation.
Suman is often served with a sprinkle of sugar, a hint of fresh ginger, or a drizzle of latik—a syrupy caramelized coconut cream that adds extra sweetness. These rice cakes are not only a satisfying dessert but also a versatile snack that can be enjoyed throughout the day. Preparing suman during the holidays is a cherished activity, making it a festive staple in Filipino households.
With these 15 incredible dishes, your Filipino Christmas feast is sure to be a memorable celebration of flavors and tradition!
