A List of Pinoy Merienda Classics Perfect for An Afternoon Feast

Breakfast and lunch, sometimes, are not enough to keep us full until dinner. Whether it is a sit-down meal or on-the-go snacks, we grab anything to ease our growling stomachs. So, here’s a list of mouthwatering classic Pinoy merienda snacks we can make at home.

Maruya, Banana Cue, and Turon

(photo courtesy: lutongbahayrecipe.com)

The Philippines is one of the top producers of bananas in the world. One of which is ‘saging na saba’ or cardaba banana— a naturally tender and sweet banana.

Three of the classic saba banana afternoon snacks are maruya or banana fritters, banana cue, and turon. Maruya is deep-fried slices of saba banana coated in batter and dusted with sugar, banana cues are skewered bananas cooked in brown sugar until it caramelizes and forms a crisp outer cover, while turon is deep-fried slices of bananas wrapped in egg roll wrappers and also cooked in sugar.

Ginataan

(photo courtesy: amiablefoods.com)

There are different versions of ginataan but the most common among Filipinos is ginataang bilo-bilo, also called ginataang halo-halo by some.

Ginataang Bilo-bilo is a sweet, light porridge made with bilo-bilo or glutinous rice balls, kamote, saba banana, langka, sago, and lots of coconut milk. But there are some Filipinos who add ube (purple yam) or gabi (taro) to the mix.

Street Foods

(photo courtesy: @forkspoonmanila)

Street foods, like fish balls, squid balls, and kwek-kwek, are the most common afternoon snack among Filipinos. These foods may be cheap, but their tastes are addicting that you’ll end up craving for more. The secret to their appetizing tastes probably lies to the dipping sauces—sweet, spicy, or with vinegar and chili flakes. It is also best paired with sago’t gulaman.

Halo-Halo

(photo courtesy: thelittleepicurean.com)

Since the Philippines is a tropical country, halo-halo is a common sight being sold everywhere, even along the streets. Halo-halo is a mixture of crushed ice, evaporated milk, and various ingredients such as ube, sweetened beans, sago, gulaman, pinipig among others. Though usually sold during summertime, there are still shops serving halo-halo as it is totally perfect for beating the tropical heat!

Pancit

Filipinos love pancit. Although commonly served during special occasions, pancit is also perfect for people who like to have a heavy meal for their merienda as it has various ingredients— chicharron, vegetables, shrimp, and kikiam or squid ball to name a few. Sometimes, pancit can also be used as a filling for pandesal or bread. Hitting two birds with one stone!

Fill your tummies with these mouthwatering treats perfect merienda! G? G! At G-List Socials, we specialize in product shoot as well as food styling and photography. Give us a call at (0915) 766-4685 or email us at book@glistsocials.com to learn more about our services. You can also reach us through Facebook and Instagram.