Whether you like long grain or short grain, or even white rice alternatives, like brown rice and quinoa, having the perfectly flavourful side dish with just the right amount of sauce is key to a satisfying meal. We’ve gathered 8 easy local recipes that will have you polishing off your plate in no time.
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Filipino Chicken Adobo
Photo credit: Worthy Pause
Perfectly complementing the national love for rice is, of course, the well-loved national dish – adobo. A timeless balance of savoury and tangy, the vinegary sauce stands out even when mixed into white rice. Try this chicken adobo recipe for an umami-packed meal courtesy of soy sauce and garlic.
Find the recipe here. -
Mechadong Baka
Photo credit: Tara’s Multicultural Table
This tangy beef stew is loaded with tomatoes, onions, carrots, and potatoes, which are all cooked until fork tender – perfect to mash up and savour with rice. The recipe uses calamansi juice to brighten the flavours and add balance to the carbs.
Find the recipe here.
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Kare-Kare
Kare-kare and rice are a classic pairing that hardly needs any elaboration. While delicious on its own, the aromatic stew tastes even better with rice, which helps to mellow out the richness of the peanut sauce. Use your Thermos® Shuttle Chef® to cook this recipe with ease and keep it piping hot for hours.
Find the recipe here. -
Bopis
Photo credit: Yummy PH
Big and bold flavours are what you get with bopis. Made by stir-frying minced beef or pork lungs with chilli, the piquant kick to the dish goes well with the otherwise bland rice. Leave the meat on the pan for a few extra seconds to get those bonus crispy edges. To help remove the gamy taste from the offal, boil in water with lemongrass and pandan before cooking.
Find the recipe here. -
Pininyahang Manok
Photo credit: Kawaling Pinoy
If you’re a fan of pineapple in savoury recipes, this is the dish for you. The sweet and sour fruit perfumes the creamy sauce, creating an aromatic dressing for your rice. Here’s a tip: boost the flavours of your dish by marinating the chicken in pineapple juice. Be sure to consume the dish as soon as possible to ensure the cream stays fresh.
Find the recipe here.
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Callos
Photo credit: Ang Sarap
A labour of love, this tomato-based stew is slowly simmered over the stove to allow flavours to develop and for the tripe to cook through. You’d find it’s all worth the effort the moment you feel the tripe melt in your mouth. Spoon this over white rice for a delicious, wholesome meal.
Find the recipe here.
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Bulalo
For a lighter option to pair with rice, bulalo makes a fine candidate as the rich broth holds its flavours even when eaten with grains. The decadent bone marrow in the soup also benefits from the pairing as the rice helps to lighten the palate. Any leftover soup can be brought to work in a Thermos® Food Jar for a quick, hassle-free lunch.
Find the recipe here. -
Pork Nilaga
Another healthier side to go with your rice, this clear soup is loaded with the comforting flavours of peppercorn, onion, and stock. Feel free to customise your nilaga with your preferred veggies, like carrots and cabbage. For an extra boost of spice, serve with a quick and easy dip of patis and siling labuyo.
Find the recipe here.