Most Common Filipino Appetizers

Do you know the most commons Filipino appetizers that Filipinos serve on the table? I bet you have heard them before but just did not notice it. These appetizers is mostly abused by Pinoys. But without these appetizers also, Pinoys will not be Pinoys because we are already branded to eat with these kinds of appetizers and eat it together with the main dish most of the time. Get to know them all.

Filipinos are fun of eating main dish with appetizers or sauces or the like. It makes the dish much more tastier. You can actually eat more because the simple dish you now becomes more appetizing. Filipino-style appetizers put a different meaning to appetizers.

For some, they cannot live without having these appetizers. I remember my great grandmother, ( who I think is the one who introduce my to one of the appetizers) she always have these in stock because whenever we visited her, she would serve this together with the main dish. I miss her even more because of this.

There are a lot of appetizers I can think of but I think I will list down the most commonly eaten appetizers by Pinoys.

This is the most common appetizers for Pinoy. Some would mix in vinegar and makes the taste of an ordinary fried fish much more.. fishy, kidding! Anyway, have you tried fish sauce with fish? This is my favorite of all, I think I am most of the Filipinos. For me, I mix in a little sugar and calamansi juice. Hmmm... I can feel the saliva drooling already!

also known here as "Ginamos" in Visaya; "Isdang Bagoong" in Tagalog

Most people would never taste this because of its appearance. This is fermented fish. Small fish that have been preserved using lots of salt. Over time, the fish becomes this paste-like food that is now known as the "isdang bagoong" or "ginamos" in Visayan term. The appearance really does not look appetizing but once you taste it when it is mixed with calamansi or a little vinegar, you can actually eat it. I love to eat this especially with lots of rice and boiled banana, YUM!

Banana is the best especially if you are in the beach...I miss the beach!

This has actually a pinkish color. The shrimp paste is also a popular appetizer with any main dish. It can sometimes be mixed "Pakbet" or a vegetable dish. Although you could buy the variant with no color in it which is more healthy that way.

This appetizer is also great (most especially great) with mangoes. I cook this with some onions, chili, vinegar and sugar and the taste is really enhanced. You will now taste a more delightful shrimp paste.

"Guso" in Visaya;

This is usually mixed with vinegar, a little salt, onions and tomatoes. I love this food. I could eat it right away after making it. The more it is soaked with the vinegar, the more it will taste better.

The famous dried fish that other wouldn't want to smell while it has been cooked because it really does smell awful. But didn't they say that the one that has the most awful smell is that most delicious? like the Durian? Imagine that in dried fish.

Dried fish is dipped in vinegar that has green tomatoes in it and that alone is so amazing, I can stop writing right now and go eat one. Come one try this one.

This is very common when you go to the markets of evrery town in the country.

We love this very much. With just a little salt, sugar and vinegar and its taste is ready to go.

This is very much enjoyable also when people go to the beach and this fresh appetizer is at hand. Truly delicious for outings!

This is actually papaya that is shredded to piece and cooked with vinegar and sugar. This can be eaten with any main dish and can be eaten alone. This appetizer is healthy as it comes from the papaya fruit, unlike the other appetizers.

"Kamatis" in Visaya

This has been the most common appetizer there is. For those who wants to be healthy and not taste the eeky feeling of the shrimp or the fish paste, opt for this instead. Easily done and healthy as well. Just mix this with a little sugar and vinegar and that's it.