We invited Elna Kolarich back for another delicious Filipino Chow! Elna was a favorite at the Atlanta Underground Market -- always with the longest line. And her Chow Club dinners don't disappoint!
Lumpia Shanghai
Lumpia is a Filipino egg roll that originated from China and Lumpia Shanghai is the most common type of egg roll in the Philippines and is often served at parties or big gatherings. Elna stuffs her lumpia with ground pork, cabbage, carrots, onions, garlic, eggs, soy sauce, and other spices.
Vegan Option: Vegetarian Lumpia Shanghai stuffed with cabbage, carrots, tofu, celery, onions, garlic, soy sauce, and other spices.
BBQ Pork Skewers
This popular snack is typically served as "pulutan (pooh-loo-tan)" which translates to appetizer served with beer. It can be found at parties and as street food cooked on makeshift grills. Thinly sliced pork shoulders marinated in soy sauce, banana ketchup, lemon juice, brown sugar, garlic, and 7-UP.
Vegan Option: Mushroom & tofu skewers - grilled and basted in soy sauce, banana ketchup, lemon juice, brown sugar, garlic, and 7-Up.
Chicken Adobo
The national dish of the Philippines, adobo is indigenous to the Philippines. When Spain colonized the Philippines in the late 16th and early 17th century, they encountered the adobo cooking process (braising meat in vinegar). This is the only similarity to the Spanish and Latin American adobo today.
Chicken thighs braised in soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, bay leaves, peppercorn, and brown sugar.
Vegan Option: Eggplant adobo - eggplant braised in soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, bay leaves, peppercorn, and brown sugar.
Chicken Afritada
The origin of this dish is from Spain. Afritada was derived from the Spanish word "fritada' which means "fried". One of the methods of cooking that was introduced by the Spaniards to the Philippines is pan-frying. Pan-fried pieces of chicken breast, potatoes, sweet potatoes, green and red peppers, carrots and peas, then cooked in tomato sauce, vinegar, garlic, onions, and green olives.
Vegan Option: Tofu Afritada: pan-fried tofu, potatoes, sweet potatoes, green and red peppers, carrots and peas, then cooked in tomato sauce, vinegar, garlic, onions, and green olives.
Biko
Biko is a Filipino rice cake often eaten as a dessert or mid-afternoon snack. Biko is served during special occasions such as birthday parties, and family reunions. Glutinous rice cooked in coconut milk and brown sugar, topped with a caramel topping.