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Champorado is a beloved Filipino comfort food that combines the richness of chocolate with the comforting warmth of rice porridge. This traditional dish holds a special place in Filipino cuisine, often enjoyed as a breakfast staple or a comforting dessert, especially on rainy days or chilly mornings.
At its core, champorado is a simple yet satisfying concoction made primarily from glutinous rice (also known as sticky rice), cocoa powder, and sugar. The combination of these ingredients results in a creamy and indulgent porridge with a delightful chocolate flavor.
To prepare champorado, glutinous rice is cooked until tender in water, creating a thick and creamy base. Then, cocoa powder or tablea, which are traditional Filipino chocolate tablets made from roasted and ground cacao beans, are added to the rice mixture. The cocoa infuses the porridge with its rich and decadent flavor, giving champorado its signature chocolatey taste.
Sweetness is added to the dish with the inclusion of sugar, balancing the bitterness of the cocoa and enhancing the overall flavor profile. Some variations of champorado also incorporate evaporated milk or condensed milk to further enrich the texture and creaminess of the porridge.
Champorado is typically served hot and often topped with a drizzle of evaporated milk or condensed milk for added richness. It can also be garnished with additional toppings such as crispy fried dried fish (tuyo), salted fish (dilis), or roasted peanuts, offering a delightful contrast of flavors and textures.
Beyond its delicious taste, champorado holds cultural significance in Filipino households, evoking memories of childhood and family gatherings. It’s a dish that brings comfort and warmth, whether enjoyed as a hearty breakfast to start the day or as a soothing dessert to end a meal.
In essence, champorado is more than just a chocolate rice porridge—it’s a culinary treasure that embodies the heart and soul of Filipino comfort food, inviting people to savor its comforting flavors and embrace the warmth of tradition.
Filipino Cookbooks:
Here is the recipe for Champorado:
Champorado (Chocolate Rice Porridge)Recipe
Course: Breakfast, DessertCuisine: FilipinoDifficulty: MediumChamporado is a beloved Filipino comfort food that combines the richness of chocolate with the comforting warmth of rice porridge.
Ingredients
½ kg glutinous rice
Water (about 4–6 times the rice volume)
½ kg white granulated sugar
2 spoons cocoa powder
1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
Directions
- Wash the rice twice.
- Combine the rice and water in a pot. Place the pot over medium heat, cover, and bring to a boil.
- Uncover the pot and stir in the sugar and cocoa powder until well mixed.
- Simmer over low heat, stirring regularly, until the rice is cooked and the porridge is thickened as desired.
- Stir in the evaporated milk and serve.
Notes
- Sometimes champorado tastes good when eaten with salted fish.
Other RICE recipes may be found HERE.
Other DESSERT recipes may be found HERE.
IMAGE SOURCE: Josh James from Imus, Philippines, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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