Filipino Breakfast (Silog)

Breakfast is an essential part of everyday, considered as the first meal we eat before undertaking the day's work. For Western countries, they usually take bread and butter with a cup of coffee as their breakfast. Meanwhile, in Asia, particularly in the Philippines, we take rice and fried meals served with hot coffee or rice porridge. But what most Filipinos take is what famously called as SILOG.

WHAT IS SILOG?

Sounds weird huh? SILOG is short for SINANGAG (Garlic fried rice) + ITLOG (Fried egg). Sinangag or garlic fried rice is a normal part of breakfast that is served on Filipino tables. It is usually leftover rice kneaded by hand to break it apart then fried in a wok with oil, garlic and rock salt.

The Silog History

The silog craze came from the influence of the Spaniards way back centuries ago. The famous tapsilog (Tapa, sinangag, itlog) entered the Filipino tables from the well-known Spanish appetizer called "Tapas" - served with chunks of meat and liquor during those days. As time passed by, Filipinos made tens to hundred kinds of twists and turns to it making it a more unique and delightful Filipino dish.

How to Prepare

Preparing this captivating dish is as easy as one, two and three. First, fry some garlic then add rice and rock salt until cooked. Second, fry the egg and tapa. Third, serve and enjoy.

It is indeed one of the easiest meal to prepare. Nowadays, time is considered very valuable and spending less than an hour to prepare a meal would be a hindrance for today's work. That is why preparing this simple, effortless meal will greatly save your time and fill up a hungry tummy that's on the go.

Evolution and Variation

Started as plain silog, Tapsilog has evolved into different kinds of "silog", not just Tapa. Through the inventive minds of Filipinos, various types of food are mixed with silog ranging from Hotsilog (Hotdog + Sinangag + Itlog) to Bangsilog (Bangus + Sinangag + Itlog and so much more.

Here are some of those..

Hotsilog

Hotdog + Sinangag + Itlog (Hotdog + Fried Rice + Fried Egg)

Hamsilog

Ham + Sinangag + Itlog (Ham + Fried Rice + Fried Egg)

Tocilog

Tocino + Sinangag + Itlog (Tocino + Fried Rice + Fried Egg)

Longsilog

Longganisa + Sinangag + Itlog (Longganisa + Fried Rice + Fried Egg)

Bangsilog

Bangus + Sinangag + Itlog (Milk Fish + Fried Rice + Fried Egg)

Chiksilog

Chicken + Sinangag + Itlog (Fried Chicken + Fried Rice + Fried Egg)

Indeed, whatever type of silog is served on our tables, it will always represent every Filipino's ingenuity, creativity and hospitality.

Happy eating!!!