Filipino Food Guide

Mastering Adobo, Lechon & More with the Right Tools

Filipino food is a lively expression of culture, flavor and history: food is family, food is tradition, food is shared around a table. Who better to write a book about how to cook Filipino food than an immigrant or excellent home cook, love and memory collide with flavor, and the smell of the food being prepared is the backdrop to it all. From adobo made with the deepest umami to lechon with its crunchy skin, mastering Filipino cooking starts with the proper tools and ingredients. Whether you are cooking a stewed dish, frying lumpia or preparing for grilling the inihaw, using the proper commercial kitchen utensil and equipment will help you consistently recreate the authentic flavor. Let‘s take a look at a few of the most celebrated food from Philippines and their designed tools and equipment.

1. Adobo

Savory, tangy, and very comforting, adobo is considered by many to be the unofficial national dish of the Philippines. This beloved slow cooked dish combines pork or chicken with vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and spices to create rich, flavorful, and tender meat. It is important to start in a large stock pot so that the ingredients can cook evenly and slowly, allowing the flavor to fully meld as it cooks over time.

Equipment: Stock Pot

• Winco SST-32 32 Qt Premium Stainless Steel Stock Pot With Cover – The Winco SST-32 32 Qt. Premium Stainless Steel Stock Pot with Cover is a reliable option for the commercial kitchen. The large capacity is ideal for making large batches of Filipino adobo. The pot can distribute the heat evenly for consistent cooking. The lid that is included also helps retain the steam and keeps moisture and flavor inside of the pot, which are essential qualities to create tender and well-seasoned slow-cooked foods.

• Winco AXS-60 60 Qt Super Aluminum Stock Pot – The Winco AXS-60 60 Qt Super Aluminum Stock Pot is ideal for high-volume cooking, especially large batches of Filipino adobo. Its 60-quart capacity suits busy commercial kitchens, while the reinforced aluminum ensures even heat distribution—crucial for slow-simmered dishes. Whether prepping meat with vinegar, soy sauce, and spices or cooking ahead of service, this pot delivers consistent, reliable results.

2. Lechon

Crispy skin and juicy meat make lechon the highlight on many Filipinos‘ gatherings. Generally, lechon is made by spit-roasting a whole pig. However, modern commercial kitchens may use rotisserie ovens or convection ovens, to also achieve that crackling skin while ensuring the meat is tender.

Equipment: Rotisserie Oven

• Vollrath RO4-208240-8 8 Bird Electric Countertop Chicken Rotisserie Oven – The Vollrath RO4-208240-8 Electric Countertop Chicken Rotisserie Oven offers commercial kitchens a quality way to replicate the crispy skin and moist texture of Filipino lechon. Although you are primarily going to use the Vollrath RO4 Rotisserie to cook poultry, the Vollrath‘s temperature control and superior heat distributions will allow you to make rotisserie style dishes all the while replicating the original lechon flavor and tenderness.

• Alto-Shaam AR-7E-SGLPANE 28 Bird Electric Countertop Chicken Rotisserie Oven – 1Ph, 208V – The Alto-Shaam AR7E-SGLPANE rotisserie oven is aimed at poultry, commercial kitchens can utilize the oven to help achieve the crispy skin and juicy tenderness that is the hallmark of Filipino lechon. The oven‘s ability to cook multiple items evenly while sustaining strict temperature control, allows the commercial kitchen access to rotisserie-style cooking that tastes like lechon‘s unique flavour and texture.

3. Sinigang

Bursting with the tangy zest of tamarind, flavored with hearty vegetables and tender hunks of meat, the Filipino sour soup called sinigang is one of the most loved. Sinigang is a dish that warms the heart, and because it is cooked slow in a soup kettle, the flavors do not lose their bite and the vegetables maintain their crispness and fresh, mouthwatering tastes.

Equipment: Soup Kettle

• Omcan FW-TW-5000-B 10 Lt Soup Kettle Black – The Omcan FW-TW-5000-B 10 Lt Soup Kettle is a necessity in commercial kitchens producing authentic sinigang made from the Philippines. With its precise temperature control, each kettle makes the unforgettable soup that preserves the sour tang, with the crisp texture of the vegetables, providing a warm and comforting bowl of sinigang each time.
• Vollrath 7217255 10 Lt Retro Soup Kettle Red – The Vollrath 7217255 10 Lt Retro Soup Kettle is a vital addition to any commercial kitchen serving authentic Filipino sinigang. Its precise and reliable temperature controls let the soup’s tangy, refreshing flavors shine while preserving the crispness and freshness of the vegetables. This kettle ensures every bowl stays warm, comforting, and bursting with the true essence of sinigang.

4. Lumpia

Crisp, golden, and highly popular, lumpia (Filipino spring rolls) are deep-fried snacks filled with meat, vegetables, or a combination of both. Achieving the perfect texture and flavor relies on proper frying techniques and the use of a high-quality fryer.

Equipment: Fryer

• Imperial IFS-50-OP 50 Lb Floor Open Pot Natural Gas Fryer – The Imperial IFS-50-OP 50 Lb Floor Open Pot Fryer is a necessity if your commercial kitchen cooks Filipino favorites like lumpia as its high capacity and in–depth heat means maximum grip and leave for consistent cooking across all your deep–frying
  
  
• Imperial IFS-75-E 75 Lb Electric Floor Fryer – 1Ph, 208V – The Imperial IFS-75-E is ideal for commercial kitchens serving large batches of lumpia. Its high-capacity and consistent electric heating ensure even frying, delivering crisp, golden results and authentic flavor every time.

  

5. Pancit

In Filipino culture, noodles are more than a meal—they’re a symbol of long life and are always present at birthdays and special gatherings. Pancit Canton and Pancit Bihon, stir-fried with a mix of meats, vegetables, and savory sauces, are beloved staples at these celebrations. Cooking them over a traditional wok range captures the true essence of pancit, bringing out bold flavors and the signature “wok hei” that makes each bite taste like home.

Equipment: Wok Range

• Imperial ICRA-1 One Chamber Propane Gas Chinese Wok Range – For real Filipino–style stir-fry like pancit, the Imperial ICRA-1 Wok Range is a necessity. With its powerful flame and high heat, you can achieve the traditional “wok hei”—the smoky, charred flavor that comes with real wok cooking. Built for fast and even heat and control, the wok range allows chefs to bring the bold, vibrant flavors of Filipino cuisine to life just like they were made with love in your home kitchen.
• Town Y-3-STD York Three Chamber Natural Gas Chinese Wok Range – The Town Y-3-STD York Three Chamber Natural Gas Wok Range is perfect for cooking authentic Filipino pancit. Its three powerful burners and triple-chamber design deliver the high, even heat needed to achieve “wok hei,” the dish’s signature smoky flavor. Built for speed and performance, this wok range brings vibrant, home-style pancit flavors to any busy kitchen.