From soups and stews with varied ingredients like sinigang and pochero to the beloved noodle pancit canton, Filipino food is truly designed for sharing. So it makes perfect sense that traditions such as boodle fights exist, where a smorgasboard of beloved dishes is served atop a bed of banana leaves. Want to plan your own boodle fight menu? Here’s how.
How to plan a boodle fight menu
The first thing you should determine is whether you want to go the traditional route or if you want to put your own spin on it.
The Filipino Boodle fight traces its origins to the military practice of serving food in a way that’s cost and space efficient while promoting camraderie and friendship. And what better way to do this than practically eating from the same plate using your bare hands?
Here are some of the most common dishes—meat, fish, vegetables and fruits—that you can include in your boodle fight menu:
- Plain or Garlic Rice
- Chicken Adobo
- Fried Tilapia
- Grilled Bangus
- Blanched Vegetables
- Bagoong or Shrimp Paste
- Lumpiang Shanghai
- Beef Steak
- Mango ensalada
- Salted eggs (with tomatoes)
- Soy sauce with calamansi
Planning a boodle fight menu is half the fun! | image: Abbistoli and Peemystar Instagram account
You can also put your own spin on your boodle fight menu
These days, boodle fights have become a way of feasting that shows off the Filipino culture of sharing with the world.
Even though the traditional boodle fight is quite interesting and appetising already, you can still put your own spin on it.
Here are some boodle fight menu ideas:
- Clams
- Grilled Squid
- Fried Chicken
- Sinigang or Tinola (types of soup served on the side and drizzled onto rice as desired)
- Pancit Canton
- Suman or bibingka (rice cakes)
- Grilled or Boiled Corn
- Pinakbet
- Chicken Inasal
- Buttered Crabs
- Fried Sausages
- Baked Mussels
Boodle fights aren’t just great for entertaining, they’re also great ways to serve meals while on vacation! | Geeejoyce and iamsurigao Instagram acecount
Other things you should prepare are a long table, several large banana leaves, aluminum foil (to place as a layer under the leaves), tissues (as well as wet tissue), bowls or plastic containers for dips and sauces as well as leftovers (though we highly doubt there will be!)
What would you add to your boodle fight menu? Make it even more fun by putting your own spin on this delicious tradition!
lead image: WimYummy Instagram account
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