Filipino-Style Spaghetti

Sweet, tangy, and rich, this meaty Filipino Spaghetti is Philippine’s take on the Italian Bolognese.

This is a very long overdue recipe. Seriously. I’ve been a Filipino food content creator for almost three years now and I still haven’t made recipe on this staple dish.

Anyways, here it is in its glory. This Filipino spaghetti was based off of my mom’s recipe, so I had her taste this multiple times and got it tweaked just right to achieve her stamp of approval. My mom’s version leans heavily into the meaty and umami side, so I made sure to put loads of ground beef and hotdogs into this recipe.

What is Filipino Spaghetti?

Filipino spaghetti has its origins from the classic Italian bolognese. Being introduced to the Filipinos by the Americans, the bolognese was ultimately tweaked and adjusted to fit the local tastes and whatever ingredients were available at the time.

The sauce is distinctly sweet, rich, tangy, and meaty, making it incredibly popular as a get-together food. That’s why in almost every Filipino party, you’ll most likely see this dish, beloved by kids and adults alike.

Some may be off-putted by the sweetness of the sauce, which I think is totally understandable if you haven’t been exposed to Filipino spaghetti before. True authentic Filipino spaghetti is meant to be sweet, which is why another dish, preferably savory, can help to balance out those flavors.

The most famous example of this is Jollibee, where they even have a combo serving both spaghetti and fried chicken together. I loved eating this as a kid, and even until now it’s one of my go-to’s whenever I visit.

Banana Ketchup

Banana ketchup is the key ingredient to Filipino spaghetti. And contrary to popular belief, it does not actually taste like bananas!

It was first produced in the Philippines during World War II, and with a high demand of ketchup and a low supply of tomatoes, Filipinos had to become creative. Bananas (which are abundant in the Philippines) became the base in order to manufacture a product to look and taste like American ketchup, giving birth to the modern day “banana” ketchup.

Nowadays, banana ketchup is not only used as a condiment, but it’s become a staple ingredient in numerous Filipino marinades (like my favorite: Soy Marinated Short Ribs!) and now, Filipino spaghetti.

You can find banana ketchup in almost all Filipino grocery stores, Asian markets, or maybe even in the international section of your supermarket. The two most popular brands are either UFC or Jufran, both of which are fairly similar in tastes.

Filipino Red Hot Dogs

You can find these in most Filipino grocery stores, and some of its popular brand suppliers include Pamana, Viva, or Pure Foods.

For authenticity sake, Filipino red hot dogs are the way to go. But if you can’t find these, it’s really no big deal. You can always substitute it with standard beef hot dogs or even sausages instead, if you’d like.

Instructions for Filipino Spaghetti

In a deep pot, saute the onions in the olive oil until soft and translucent, about 5-7 mins. Add in the garlic, and continue to saute until the garlic is golden and fragrant.

Add in the ground beef. Season with the beef bouillon cube, fish sauce, and ground black pepper. Stir to combine and cook the beef until no longer pink.

Add in the tomato paste. Stir to coat the ground beef and cook the tomato paste briefly for 2 mins.

Toss in the Filipino red hotdogs, tomato sauce, and banana ketchup. Mix gently to combine. Bring the sauce to a boil, then let simmer over medium-low for 45 minutes with a lid. Stir occasionally to avoid scorching the bottom.

After 45 mins, stir in the evaporated milk and sugar. Season with more sugar or salt to taste.

Mix with cooked spaghetti pasta, and top with shredded cheddar cheese. Enjoy!

Craving for more classic Filipino recipes? Here’s a couple that you might enjoy:

• Chicken Adobo
• Pancit Bihon (Filipino Rice Noodles)
• Bistek (Filipino Beef Steak)
• Tortang Talong (Filipino Eggplant Omelette)