The hot and humid summer days are finally over and now, all we want to do is stay in bed all day, wrapped in a thick blanket. The rainy season is upon us and have you noticed how you get more appetite in this weather? Because same. Amid the food trends that we’ve been ordering this quarantine, there’s still nothing better than these Pinoy comfort food that will keep you warm and bring some nostalgia:
Lomi
Originally from Batangas, lomi is an egg noodle dish known for its distinct thick soup that’s best eaten some toyomansi. If you eat it in Batangas, you would find that the classic lomi only has boiled egg, slices of liver, toasted garlic, and chicharon. But just like other Pinoy dishes, there are different versions of it now: some add vegetables or even lumpia as toppings. Check out how the recipe above combines the comfort food with another favorite: beef pares.
Batchoy
Batchoy traces its roots to La Paz in Iloilo, getting its name “La Paz Batchoy”. It’s a hearty soup that has round “miki” noodles with slices of pork, pork innards, and chicharon on top. Traditionally, the broth is made with shrimp paste, which adds saltiness to the dish. But if you want to give a twist (but without losing the basics) to this Ilonggo dish, try this lechon kawali recipe that pork lovers would enjoy.
Arroz Caldo
Arroz caldo doesn’t only bring comfort on rainy days. You probably remember this from your childhood as one of the dishes your mom makes when you’re sick. It’s essentially a thick rice porridge that uses glutinous rice, chicken, and lots of ginger. Served with boiled egg and seasoned with fish sauce and calamansi, arroz caldo is a dish that would certainly warm you up on a cold day.
Champorado
Of course, there’s a rainy day comfort food for the sweet tooth too. Who knew that you can have dessert for breakfast (or any meal of the day tbh)? Champorado is a rice porridge dish made with tablea (cocoa) and milk or coconut milk, and served with evaporated milk on top. But which do you prefer: powdered milk or the usual evap? To balance the palate, some enjoy pairing the sweet dish with something salty like tuyo or, like the recipe above suggests, bacon.
Tinolang Manok
If you love ginger and chicken, you’re probably a huge fan of this classic dish. It’s traditionally made with green papaya and siling labuyo leaves with fish sauce and onions in the soup. Tinola may be a simple dish, but that’s precisely why it’s so comforting.
Sinigang
Sinigang is probably one of the most flexible Pinoy dishes because you can switch so many of its ingredients: from the choice of meat and vegetables to the souring agents. That’s why there are plenty of variations of it! If your mom is emptying your fridge, she can easily get rid of old vegetables and meat by whipping up a pot of sinigang. The best part of this dish is its sourness that you balance with patis!
Sopas
The rainy season cannot pass without having this staple snack. Who would eat soup with pasta? Pinoys. Made of macaroni pasta with shredded chicken and vegetables, sopas is another dish that fits the unique Pinoy palate. The creamy flavorful broth is like a warm hug when you’re feeling under the weather — literally and figuratively.
Bulalo
People go to Tagaytay for two things: the cool weather and bulalo. It’s a simple soup made with beef, corn, leafy vegetables, potatoes, and fish sauce, but it’s packed with flavor. And you can’t forget the star of the show – bone barrow! The collagen just melts in your mouth but watch out: eat too much and you might start feeling dizzy.
Instant noodles
Nothing can still beat the good old instant noodles on a rainy day. It’s quick and easy to prepare, and you can dress it up however you want. Whether it is paired with stringy cheese or an egg, instant noodles are a cheap way to satisfy your rainy day cravings.
What are your favorite rainy day meals? Share with us below!
