Stews Are an Essential Part of Filipino Cuisine

In the rice-heavy Filipino food culture, stews are not only prevalent, but necessary. Because what better vehicle to soak up all those long-simmered, savory sauces than a bowl of rice?

“We say ‘ulam’ in Tagalog, which means any dish that goes with rice,” says Kristine Subido of Highflier Provisions and Pecking Order Catering in Chicago.

Stews speak to how Filipinos eat: family-style, in generous portions. As simple or...