(Sweet Potato Tangyuan in Coconut Milk) Soft, chewy tangyuan filled with banana, gently simmered in creamy coconut milk with tropical fruit and tapioca pearls—this Guinataang Tangyuan is my Filipino-inspired take on a dish traditionally enjoyed during Dongzhi (冬至节), the Winter Solstice Festival. Tangyuan (汤圆) are most commonly eaten around Dongzhi to symbolize wholeness, togetherness, and… Continue reading Guinataang Tangyuan
Tag: Fusion
Arroz con Leche de Coco (Coconut Milk Rice Pudding)
Creamy, cozy, and lightly spiced, this Arroz con Leche de Coco brings together the richness of coconut milk with the comforting texture of glutinous rice. It’s warm enough for chilly December evenings but refreshing when served chilled the next morning for a quick filling breakfast. And because it’s naturally dairy-free, gluten-free, and wonderfully simple to… Continue reading Arroz con Leche de Coco (Coconut Milk Rice Pudding)
Buttery Spiced Sweet Potatoes (with Three Kinds of Sweet Potatoes!)
Sweet potatoes show up everywhere starting November through early January; ever present at holiday tables, midweek roasts, potlucks, and “please bring a veggie” requests. But this side dish isn’t your usual marshmallow-topped situation. It’s buttery, savory-sweet, and richly fragrant from Chinese five spice, which plays beautifully with the natural flavors of three different sweet potato… Continue reading Buttery Spiced Sweet Potatoes (with Three Kinds of Sweet Potatoes!)
🥥 Kabocha and Coconut Pecan Rolls
Yield: 9 rollsPrep Time: 30 minutesWait Time: 4 hoursCook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes Soft rolls made with our signature house dough are swirled with homemade coconut jam and filled with toasted pecans and coconut flakes. These Kabocha and Coconut Pecan Rolls bring together the warm comfort of fall baking with flavors rooted in Filipino… Continue reading 🥥 Kabocha and Coconut Pecan Rolls
Sweet Potato and Matcha Loaf with Black Sesame
Texture contrast. Swirled. Seasonal.This Sweet Potato and Matcha Loaf with Black Sesame is this year’s spin on my annual Halloween loaf, bringing a celebration of color, contrast, and flavor. Last year’s version featured ube and black sesame for a bold purple-and-black pairing. This year, we’re turning to green and black: this yeasted bread is tinted… Continue reading Sweet Potato and Matcha Loaf with Black Sesame
Hula Mexi-Dogs
Sweet. Spicy. Saucy.These backyard cookout beauties are a tropical spin on a summer family favorite: hot dogs! A nod to the famous Puka Dog we tried in Kauai, these are dressed up with pineapple-habanero slaw, a passionfruit-sour cream smear, and a generous squeeze of banana ketchup for that sweet-savory punch. But here’s the twist: we… Continue reading Hula Mexi-Dogs
Macadamia-Crusted Lumpia
🌴Banana and coconut wrapped in golden crisp lumpia, rolled in caramel and crushed macadamia nuts. It’s dessert. It’s indulgent. It’s your new tropical go-to. A Taste of the Islands, Wrapped in Lumpia This Macadamia-Crusted Lumpia is inspired by the merienda tradition of turon (banana lumpia), but it takes a tropical twist by adding crunchy young… Continue reading Macadamia-Crusted Lumpia
Lemongrass Sage Green Tea Sparkler
Bright. Cooling. Botanical. This Lemongrass Sage Green Tea Sparkler is a multi-sensory throwback and a globally inspired refreshment all in one. It brings together Chinese green tea, Filipino lemongrass (tanglad), and Western sage; creating a drink that’s aromatic, lightly sweet, and just the right amount of fizzy. The idea for this sparkler came from two… Continue reading Lemongrass Sage Green Tea Sparkler
Double Adobo Sopes
Yield: 8 sopesPrep Time: 15 minutesCook Time: 45 minutesTotal Time: 1 hour Crispy, golden masa sopes topped with refried beans, tender shredded Filipino adobo, and a drizzle of smoky Mexican adobo salsa—this recipe brings a flavorful double adobo twist to your table. It’s a playful cross-cultural fusion where two distinct uses of “adobo” come together… Continue reading Double Adobo Sopes
Double Mochiko Chicken and Wheel Cakes served with Fiery Honey
A playful, double-mochiko fusion dish that brings Taiwanese-style wheel cakes and Southern fried chicken & waffles into one bite-sized handheld delight. Sweet red bean cakes meet crispy, mochiko-battered chicken—tied together with a drizzle of hot honey. Born from a sweet discovery of wheel cakes while in Vancouver and reinvented in your kitchen. 🍽 Why You’ll… Continue reading Double Mochiko Chicken and Wheel Cakes served with Fiery Honey