How to serve your own Filipino-style boodle fight

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.

What is boodle fight?

A Boodle Fight is a Filipino communal feast where food is served on banana leaves and eaten with bare hands. It reflects Filipino culture’s emphasis on camaraderie and togetherness.

The Boodle Fight is a quintessential Filipino dining experience that brings people together around a table laden with a bountiful array of dishes. Originating from the military practice of eating meals together as a sign of camaraderie, the Boodle Fight has transcended its roots to become a beloved social event among Filipinos. Served on banana leaves and consumed with bare hands, this communal feast is both a culinary delight and a cultural celebration.

The mainstays of a typical boodle fight menu

A typical Boodle Fight menu is diverse, offering a mix of flavors, textures, and colors. Here are some staple items you can expect:

1. Rice

Rice is the foundation of any Boodle Fight. Often, you will find different types of rice such as garlic rice, plain steamed rice, and sometimes even sticky rice. The rice is usually placed at the center, providing a base for the other dishes.

2. Grilled Meats and Seafood

Grilled dishes are a highlight of the Boodle Fight. These may include:

• Inihaw na Baboy (Grilled Pork): Succulent pork pieces marinated in a blend of soy sauce, calamansi, and spices, then grilled to perfection.
• Inihaw na Manok (Grilled Chicken): Marinated chicken parts, typically seasoned with a mix of soy sauce, calamansi, garlic, and pepper.
• Inihaw na Isda (Grilled Fish): Fresh fish, such as tilapia or bangus (milkfish), marinated and grilled, often served with a side of vinegar dipping sauce.
• Grilled Shrimp: Large shrimp marinated in garlic and spices, then grilled until tender.

3. Seafood Delicacies

Apart from grilled seafood, other seafood dishes are often included:

• Calamares: Deep-fried squid rings, crispy and golden brown.
• Tahong (Mussels): Steamed or baked mussels, sometimes topped with cheese and garlic.

4. Fresh and Pickled Vegetables

A variety of vegetables add color and balance to the menu:

• Ensaladang Talong (Eggplant Salad): Grilled eggplant mixed with tomatoes, onions, and a splash of vinegar.
• Pipino Salad (Cucumber Salad): Sliced cucumbers with a light dressing of vinegar, salt, and sugar.
• Atchara: Pickled green papaya with carrots and bell peppers, providing a sweet and tangy contrast to the savory dishes.

5. Tropical Fruits

To cleanse the palate and add a touch of sweetness, tropical fruits are often part of the spread:

• Mangoes: Slices of ripe, juicy mangoes.
• Bananas: Small, sweet varieties like Señorita or Lakatan.
• Pineapple: Freshly cut pineapple rings or chunks.
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  Planning a boodle fight menu is half the fun! | image: Abbistoli and Peemystar Instagram account

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 camaraderie 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

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 appetizing 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

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!

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