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50 Ulam Ideas Every Pinoy Should Try: Easy, Budget-Friendly, and Delicious

50 Ulam Ideas Every Pinoy Should Try: Easy, Budget-Friendly, and Delicious

50 Tipid Ulam Ideas: Mga Budget-Friendly Meals para sa Linggo

50 Ulam Ideas Every Pinoy Should Try: Easy, Budget-Friendly, and Delicious

If you grew up in the Philippines, chances are you’ve heard your mom or lola ask the classic question: “Anong ulam natin?” — What’s our viand today? For Filipinos, ulam isn’t just food. It’s a reflection of culture, comfort, and creativity in the kitchen. Whether you’re looking for easy-to-cook ulam recipes, tipid ulam ideas, or just want inspiration for your weekly meal plan, this guide has you covered.

In this article, we’ll explore 50 ulam ideas — from everyday budget-friendly meals to all-time Filipino favorites. Plus, we’ll share tips to stretch your budget and a sample weekly plan to make cooking hassle-free.

Why “Ulam” Matters in Every Filipino Home

In Filipino dining, rice is always the centerpiece. But the ulam is what makes each meal unique — it could be a simple fried egg with toyo (soy sauce), a hearty adobo simmered for hours, or a festive kare-kare with bagoong.

What’s beautiful about ulam is its versatility. With limited ingredients, Pinoys can whip up something filling and flavorful. That’s why “ulam ideas” are so searched online — everyone’s on the hunt for affordable, easy, and satisfying recipes.

Classic Filipino Ulam Ideas

These dishes are the staples you’ll find in almost every Pinoy home:

  1. Adobo – The unofficial national dish, cooked with soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, and bay leaf.
  2. Sinigang na Baboy – A tangy tamarind-based soup perfect for rainy days.
  3. Tinola – Chicken soup with green papaya and malunggay leaves.
  4. Kare-Kare – Peanut-based oxtail stew served with bagoong.
  5. Afritada – Chicken or pork cooked in tomato sauce with potatoes and bell peppers.
  6. Menudo – Pork stew with carrots, potatoes, and liver.
  7. Caldereta – A rich beef stew often cooked for special occasions.
  8. Bistek Tagalog – Filipino beef steak marinated in soy sauce and calamansi.
  9. Paksiw na Isda – Fish simmered in vinegar, garlic, and ginger.
  10. Ginataang Gulay – Vegetables cooked in coconut milk.

Easy-to-Cook Ulam Ideas (Perfect for Busy Days)

Not every day calls for slow-cooked meals. Here are quick but satisfying ulams:

  1. Tortang Talong – Eggplant omelet, best served with ketchup.
  2. Ginisang Ampalaya – Bitter gourd sautéed with egg.
  3. Daing na Bangus – Fried marinated milkfish.
  4. Fried Galunggong – The ultimate budget-friendly fried fish.
  5. Longganisa – Sweet or garlicky Filipino sausages.
  6. Hotdog and Egg – A classic breakfast ulam that works anytime.
  7. Spam with Rice – Quick and easy, especially for students.
  8. Tuyo with Kamatis – Dried fish paired with tomatoes.
  9. Corned Beef Guisado – Sautéed with onions and potatoes.
  10. Fried Tilapia – Simple but satisfying with toyomansi.

Tipid Ulam Ideas (Budget-Friendly Meals Under ₱100)

When the budget is tight, Filipinos still find a way to put food on the table. Here are cheap but tasty ulam ideas:

  1. Ginisang Sardinas – Canned sardines sautéed with garlic and onions.
  2. Munggo Guisado – Mongo beans with ampalaya and chicharon.
  3. Tokwa’t Baboy – Tofu and pork in vinegar-soy sauce dressing.
  4. Giniling na Baboy – Ground pork sautéed with vegetables.
  5. Fried Egg and Kamatis – The ultimate pang-masa ulam.
  6. Lumpiang Togue – Bean sprout spring rolls.
  7. Ginisang Pechay – Sautéed pechay with garlic.
  8. Chopsuey with Leftover Meat – Stir-fried veggies with whatever’s available.
  9. Tortang Giniling – Ground pork omelet.
  10. Kangkong with Bagoong – Water spinach stir-fry with shrimp paste.

Seafood Ulam Ideas

Living in an archipelago means fresh seafood is always within reach:

  1. Sinigang na Hipon – Shrimp in sour tamarind broth.
  2. Rellenong Bangus – Stuffed milkfish.
  3. Adobong Pusit – Squid simmered in vinegar and soy sauce.
  4. Kinilaw na Isda – Filipino-style ceviche.
  5. Grilled Tilapia – With stuffing of tomatoes and onions.
  6. Inihaw na Pusit – Grilled squid.
  7. Escabecheng Isda – Sweet and sour fish.
  8. Seafood Kare-Kare – A twist on the classic with shrimp and crab.
  9. Fish Fillet with Sweet Chili Sauce – Easy and kid-friendly.
  10. Tahong in Ginger Soup (Tinolang Tahong) – Mussels in clear broth.

Special Occasion Ulam Ideas

When there’s a fiesta, birthday, or handaan, these ulams shine on the table:

  1. Lechon Kawali – Crispy pork belly.
  2. Crispy Pata – Deep-fried pork leg.
  3. Bulalo – Beef marrow soup.
  4. Pochero – Spanish-influenced beef stew with bananas and chorizo.
  5. Paella – Spanish rice dish with seafood and chicken.
  6. Embutido – Filipino-style meatloaf.
  7. Laing – Taro leaves cooked in coconut milk.
  8. Pininyahang Manok – Chicken with pineapple.
  9. Callos – Spanish-Filipino tripe stew.
  10. Inihaw na Liempo – Grilled pork belly, perfect with sawsawan.

Sample Weekly Ulam Meal Plan

Here’s a simple 7-day ulam plan you can try:

  • Monday: Ginisang Munggo with Fried Galunggong
  • Tuesday: Adobo with Ginisang Pechay
  • Wednesday: Tinola with Daing na Bangus
  • Thursday: Giniling na Baboy with Tortang Talong
  • Friday: Sinigang na Baboy with Kangkong
  • Saturday: Kare-Kare with Inihaw na Liempo
  • Sunday: Bulalo with Lumpiang Togue

Final Thoughts

For Filipinos, ulam is more than food — it’s family, culture, and comfort on a plate. From humble sardines to festive lechon, every dish tells a story. Whether you’re living in the Philippines or abroad, these ulam ideas will bring you closer to home, one meal at a time.

So the next time someone asks, “Anong ulam natin?” you’ll have 50 delicious answers ready.