All Your Favorite Filipino Classics Made Better With Cheese

We daresay that cheddar cheese is a Filipino classic in itself. It's the staple topping to a number of kakanin and is often found in our meaty, hearty dishes. The taste for the salty and creamy ingredient is evident in every Pinoy home. Here, we run down the Filipino classics you're familiar with, revamped with a healthy dose of cheese!

Photo by Michael Angelo Chua

1 Cheesy Kaldereta Recipe

Kaldereta, a tomato-based hearty, Spanish-Filipino recipe is made better with cheese melted into the sauce and then topped with even more cheese. It seasons the sauce with the salty-tangy creaminess that only cheese can do.

You can freeze them until you need them.

Photo by Dairy Darilag

2 Cheesy Embutido Recipe

Sure, you've had cheese in your embutido-but not with this level of cheesy creaminess. This recipe contains a secret ingredient that gives it a creamy mouthfeel, letting the cheese truly shine.

Photo by Patrick Martires

3 Cheesy Beef Empanada Recipe

Empanadas are a Filipino favorite that does way better with lots of cheese! Every bite becomes a cheesy explosion that complements the beef so well.

4 Cheesy Corned Beef Empanadas Recipe

Beef and cheese are a match made in heaven. Add a tender, empanada crust into the equation and you've got pockets of heaven.

Photo by Patrick Martires

5 Cheesy Ginisang Baguio Beans Recipe

Sautéed veggies can be delicious even for picky eaters when you add some cheese and garlic. 

Photo by David Hanson

6 Cheesy Chicken Pesto Lumpia Recipe

Give your lumpia a twist by using this interesting, herby combo. It also makes the perfect baon.

Photo by Riell Santos

7 Cream Cheese Leche Flan Recipe

You need to try this! You thought leche flan couldn't get richer and tastier? Think again!

Photo by Majoy Siason

8 Bacsilog With Cheese Sauce Recipe

Your silog breakfast just got better with a sweet and spicy cheese sauce. Did we mention that it has bacon?

Photo by Bianca Laxamana

9 Saba Cheese Turon Recipe

Saba for turon is tender, sweet, fruity, and bursting with flavor. It gets even tastier with the salty creaminess of cheese! This turon is perfectly balanced.

Photo by Karishma Etong

10 Pichi-Pichi Recipe

Once upon a time, pichi-pichi only knew of niyog. Gone are those days! If you don't like coconut shavings, you can go crazy with cheese! The sweet-salty-creamy combo is quite an addictive one.

One tip: NEVER RUN OUT OF CHEESE! It's such an easy way to make anything delicious. There are so many ways you can use it. You can even turn it into a sweet cheese pimento dip, a delicious cheese ice cream, or your favorite cheese cupcakes.

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