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Filipino cuisine, varied and somewhat difficult to describe, is made accessible by the best Filipino cookbooks.
Within the culinary melting pot of a cuisine influenced by regional cooking styles and foreigners are delicious Filipino foods you can make at home.
After exploring the local food specialties in the Philippines, we were curious about recreating our Filipino journey’s flavors at home.
Researching through the diverse collection of Filipino recipe books, we selected these 10 best Filipino cookbooks.
From authentic Filipino food to modern Filipino dishes, these Philipines cookbooks offer simple Filipino recipes and provide substitutions.
Discover new ingredients and cooking techniques and increase your knowledge of Pinoy culinary heritage through the stories of chefs.
Pick any of these 10 best Filipino cooking and dive into an exciting world of flavors.
Top 10 Of The Filipino Cookbooks
1. Am a Filipino: And This Is How We Cook
A James Beard award finalist, I Am a Filipino: And This Is How We Cook recipe book showcases the best of Philippine cooking with plenty of images and invaluable recipe notes.
This cookbook highlights the diversity of Filipino cooking with recipes from all parts of the archipelago.
More than a cookbook, the authors aim to make the unfamiliar depth of Pinoy cooking accessible with simple recipes and storytelling.
The recipes are presented with clear explanations, stunning photography with notes about the regional differences and history.
Authors Nicole Ponseca and chef Miguel Trinidad are owners of Maharlika and Jeepney Filipino restaurants based in New York, where you can taste some of the wonderful recipes.
A celebration of Filipino culture and cooking, we like the diverse recipes featured. The vibrant photos and step-by-step recipes entice the reader to try unfamiliar dishes and learn about a new culture.
+ Who is It For? A love letter to Filipino food, this cookbook is for those looking to dive into the cooking styles and diverse cuisines.
– Not For? This cookbook has a modern spin on some classic Pinoy recipes. Not for someone looking for traditional recipes and ingredients.
2. Instant Pot Cookbook: The Filipino Instant Pot Cookbook
Modern home cooks looking for convenience and flavorful food from the Philippines will want this cookbook.
This Filipino Instant Pot Cookbook adapts more than 75 classic recipes for the versatile instant pot.
Complementing the recipes are gorgeous food images, recipe notes, and detailed information about the dish’s history. Also provided are variations and ingredient substitutions.
The six authors, all second-generation Filipino’s in America, came together to share easy-to-make recipes for busy families.
None are professional chefs, though they are all experienced home cooks with a deep desire to share recipes from their motherland that they grew up with.
Within the pages, you’ll find instant pot recipes for rice and noodles, meats and poultry, seafood, and even desserts.
Some popular recipes are Kare Kare, Mechadong Baca, Pancit Moto, Chicken Adobo, and Pinoy Chicken Curry.
If you are an avid instant pot user, this is the best Filipino cookbook for a culinary journey to the country.
+ Who is It For? This book of Filipino recipes is for home cooks who own an instant pot and want to try their hand at Pinoy dishes.
– Not For? Home cooks who want to cook using other cooking methods like the oven, stove top, grill, etc.
READ MORE: Filipino Food Guide: 15 Authentic Filipino Dishes You Want to Have
3. The New Filipino Kitchen: Stories and Recipes from Around the Globe
Philippine cuisine is layered, and it melds traditional dishes with foreign influences.
As many Filipinos have emigrated around the world, the recipes and cuisines have been adapted to the new environment.
With The New Filipino Kitchen, Jacqueline Chio-Lauri explores Filipino cuisine from the lenses of expat Filipinos.
The contributions come from renowned chefs and cooks sharing their version of traditional Filipino recipes.
The 30 recipes are really inspiring food stories about the dishes and family lore.
Luscious and mouthwatering photography found throughout the cookbook bring the recipes to life.
Detailed notes, personal anecdotes, and an easy set of cooking instructions make it easy for you to make these recipes in your home kitchen.
Jacqueline Chio-Lauri encourages readers to explore their Filipino heritage with three cooking tips -“don’t be daunted, don’t fret, and cook more than you need.”
+ Who is It For? Best for those seeking inspiring stories of Filipino expats who have adapted recipes for their new environments.
– Not For? Not for home cooks looking for a comprehensive Philippines cookbook.
4. The Easy Filipino Cookbook: 100 Classics Made Simple
Filipino cooking that can be done anywhere is the promise of this Easy Filipino cookbook.
The author, Roline Casper, makes home cooking quick and easy while being adaptable.
The more than 100 classic recipes include substitutions for hard-to-find ingredients.
The cooking techniques are simple, with some recipes adapted for the electric pressure cooker.
The pantry section of this cookbook is a helpful guide to the sweet, sour, piquant, and spicy flavors in traditional Filipino food.
The recipes showcase the quickest and easiest home-cooked dishes, from main meals to snacks and desserts.
Flavors from different regions of the country are covered. And along with vibrant images and straightforward instructions, the book makes Filipino cooking approachable and doable.
+ Who is It For? Home cooks of all levels who are interested in Filipino cooking.
– Not For? Someone who is familiar with basic Pinoy cooking and wants more advanced recipes.
READ MORE: 10 of The Best Cookbook Holders To Equip Your Kitchen
5. Filipino Cookbook: 85 Homestyle Recipes to Delight Your Family and Friends
Miki Garcia’s cookbook is a testimony to her love of the Philippines, its people and its foods.
The recipes in the book are four decades in the making and a mix of classic regional recipes and modern adaptations.
85 Homestyle Recipes To Delight Friends and Family reveals the art of cooking everyday and festive foods from different parts of the archipelago.
Anytime you cook Filipino recipes from this book, you eat like a native from the islands.
The cookbook also takes you on a culinary journey, sharing the origins of the dishes and introducing foods from the Americans and Chinese.
In the cookbook, you’ll find delicious recipes for Chicken Adobo, Sweet and Sour Fish, Halo Halo, and many more starters, dishes, and desserts.
Written for home cooks who are new or curious about Filipino cooking, 85 Homestyle Recipes offers plenty of recipes to get started.
+ Who is It For? For home cooks getting started with Filipino cooking.
– Not For? Those looking for comprehensive and traditional Filipino cookbooks.
6. Quintessential Filipino Cooking: 75 Authentic and Classic Recipes of the Philippines
A cookbook by blog and travel writer Liza Agbanlog, Quintessential Filipino Cooking helps you easily bring the Philippines’ flavors to your kitchen.
Born out of trying to adapt Filipino ingredients to locally available ingredients in Canada, her new home, Liza Agbanlog’s recipes show the possibilities.
With 75 different and exciting Filipino recipes, you’ll learn how to make your own lumpia, adobo, kare kare, longganisa, and more.
While the flavors and tastes will be similar, the ingredients may vary, but you’ll still enjoy tasty Filipino dishes.
Along with beautiful shots and clear and concise step-by-step instructions, you’ll quickly become a better Filipino cook.
Who is It For? Best for those looking for simple yet authentic Filipino recipes.
– Not For? Not for advanced cooks looking for comprehensive cookbooks about Filipino cuisine.
READ MORE: Pampanga Food Guide: 10 Best Delicacies in Pampanga You’ll Want To Try
7. The Philippine Cookbook
The Philippine Cookbook, released in 1985, was the first cookbook to present classic Pinoy cooking to American audiences.
This book about Filipino cuisine contains traditional recipes adapted to American kitchens with locally available ingredients.
With Filipinos being America’s second-largest Asian community, author Reynaldo Gamboa Alejandro attempts to make the cuisine accessible to all.
From the famous adobo and sinigang dishes to those that use fish sauce or coconut milk, it introduces fresh and irresistible flavors.
The author has chosen recipes that represent home cooking in the Philippines, with regional favorites and ones inspired by the diverse culinary culture.
We love the overall organization of the book and the introduction to the culinary culture of the Philippines. Not only are the recipes quick and easy to prepare, they are also on the healthy side, brimming with nutrients.
+ Who Is It For? Home cooks who prefer healthy, quick, and modern Filipino recipes adapted to American tastes.
– Not For? The Philippines cookbook does not have a lot of vibrant photography that some home cooks prefer.
8. Pulutan! Filipino Bar Bites, Appetizers and Street Eats: (Filipino Cookbook with over 60 Easy-to-Make Recipes)
Marvin Gapultos, a first-generation Filipino American, teaches you how to eat and drink like a Filipino with a range of easy Pulutan recipes.
In the Philippine cuisine, “Pulutan” are much loved drinking food and bar snacks.
With the cookbook Pulutan! Filipino Bar Bites, Appetizers and Street Eats, you’ll learn to make starters and finger foods like skewers, ceviche, dumplings, and more.
With more than 60 exciting Pulutan recipes, you’ll find a mix of indigenous, Chinese, Spanish, and American flavors.
Marvin Gapultos is also a craft beer professional and offers his expertise in beer pairings and Pulutan dishes.
This cookbook also covers cocktails and desserts for a complete festive experience.
If you want to host Filipino-themed parties or celebrations, let Marvin Gapultos help you combine the right snacks and drinks for a great time.
+ Who is It For? Those looking for eating and drinking foods with a wide range of flavors and influences.
– Not For? Home cooks looking for a traditional Filipino cookbook.
READ MORE: 10 Interesting Facts You Need To Know About Food in The Philippines
9. 7000 Islands: Cherished Recipes and Stories from the Philippines
Yes, the Philippines is a country of over 7000 islands, and this cookbook brings you the best flavors from every region.
7000 Islands is a beautifully illustrated guide to Filipino food and an insight into the country’s heritage and history.
With over 100 recipes, author and food writer Yasmin Newman takes you on a culinary journey in 13 sections.
The 13 sections cover sauces, breakfast, BBQ, seafood, vegetables, snacks, desserts, and more.
In addition to recipes, you’ll find origin stories of the food, including tips on how to make the dishes fast.
Vibrant illustrations add to the recipes and inspiring stories from Yasmin’s cooking heritage and influences.
With traditional Filipino food not as well known as other Southeast Asian cuisines, 7000 islands aims to share the country’s flavors with the world.
Described as a “food portrait of the Philippines,” this book is the perfect combination of culture, exploration, and delicious recipes.
+ Who is It For? Best for home cooks looking for tastes from all over the Philippines.
– Not For? Not for those interested in specific regional cookbook or a book that is a collection of modern Pinoy recipes.
10. How to Cook Philippine Desserts: Cakes and Snacks (Filipino Cookbook Recipes of Asian in America)
If you are curious about Filipino desserts, then you want Elizabeth Ann Besa-Quirino to guide you.
Her cookbook, How to Cook Philippine Desserts, Cakes and Snacks, features traditional and modern interpretations of Filipino desserts.
You will find pages after pages of mouthwatering pastries, milk treats, and fruit desserts.
More than 30 Pinoy favorite Pinoy sweet treats are covered in this 100-page cookbook.
The treasured family recipes for crema de fruta, tocino del cielo, ube cakes, donuts, and others will delight your taste buds.
Beautiful food photography and detailed recipe directions make it easy to cook and savor the sweets.
Elizabeth Ann Besa-Quirino is an award-winning writer and recipe developer for her Filipino food blog, Asian In America.
Her recipes are adapted for the American kitchen, making them accessible to dessert lovers who love happy endings.
+ Who is It For? For cooks with Pinoy cooking experience who want to dive deeper into deserts from the Philippines.
– Not For? Not for those unfamiliar with traditional Filipino desserts and flavors.
Of these many Filipino cookbooks, which one do you think will help you best understand how to make Filipino dishes? ? Please let us know in the comments below!
Savor the Adventure!
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Claire is co-founder of Authentic Food Quest and a lover of simple and exquisite cuisine. Since 2015, with her partner, Rosemary, she has been traveling the world as a digital nomad, creating content about local food experiences.
Her advice from visiting 45 countries and more than 240 food cities has been featured in Lonely Planet, Business Insider, Honest Cooking, Food Insider, and Huffington Post. She has also co-authored three books, including one in collaboration with Costa Brava Tourism.
An ex-mechanical engineer, Claire is responsible for SEO, keeping the website running, and the fun food & travel videos on YouTube.
When Claire is not eating, she can be found running or cycling. Find out more about Authentic Food Quest