How To Make The Best Tosilog

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and for us Filipinos, it should be filling and flavorful and is enough to wake up our senses after a long night of peaceful slumber. And we have a wide array of breakfast choices we can think of. This can range from a loaf of simple bread and coffee: up to the most complicated dishes. 

But for this article, we will be focusing on a dish that makes it to the list of well-known Filipino breakfast choices. Others find it simple to cook but may pose a challenge, mostly if not done right. But given the right techniques, this is probably one of the best Filipino breakfasts to dining on. 

So let’s cut to the chase here, and allow us to share with you the information that you need to learn in cooking the best Tosilog that your family is sure to fall in love with. 

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What is Tosilog

“Silog” meals are a prevalent breakfast option in the country. They’re quick to cook; the combination for food is virtually endless. And the set meal is filling and enough to energize for a day’s work. Silog is fried rice (si in silog stands for sinangag or fried rice), and log stands for fried egg (log is egg).

Tosilog is simply a combination of Tocino, fried rice, and a fried egg. Tocino is a famous cured meat, or our take on bacon, which is addictively sweet, making it a perfect pair for fried rice. Preparing a plate of this breakfast delight is pretty simple: fry your eggs first (sunny-side-up is the preferred cooking method), then fry your tocino and serve it all together on a plate. 

This simple yet hearty breakfast or the combination of this breakfast offering rose to fame in 1986. The first combination was tapa (cured beef), fried rice, and egg, which cater to the masses like drivers and people on a strict budget. Then the rest is history when it comes to silog meals. 

Tocino, on the other hand, is the Spanish term for bacon. But our take on the classic bacon is different from the bacon that the rest of the world knows. Ours is sweet and reddish due to the saltpeter. One might even be mistaken to refer to Char Siu, a Chinese barbecue pork dish, because of the color. 

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Ways to Cook the Best Tosilog

Tosilog is a very straightforward dish: simply fry the components and assemble them on a plate, and you’re good to go. A simple non-stick pan is enough for you to make this delightful breakfast star: but given the modern kitchen equipment available, we now have a broader option in cooking any dishes with more ease. 

So we have a list of cooking methods that you can try in cooking Tosilog at home. 

Stovetop

Of all the modern cooking equipment and method available, stovetop cooking is probably one of the most reliable. And not just that, most of us are familiar with how to use them. To date, the majority of Filipino households still use them because of economic reasons. 

There are two common types of stovetop cooker: one is the LPG-fueled, and the other one is the electric-type. And between these two, the most common is the former. But both use the same principle in cooking, direct heat coming from the heating plate or burner situated at the bottom of the cookware. 

There’s also an upgrade to the electric type: this does not produce smoke and uses induction technology. However, particularly when it comes to cooking pans and pots, this kind of cooker must be induction cooker compatible. 

But whatever kind of stovetop cooker you have at home, the process for cooking Tosilog is the same. Simmer the tocino in a small amount of water to remove the excess sugar, then fry them to perfection. Follow through with the eggs, and fry them according to your liking. And assemble the components on a plate and enjoy. 

Instant pot

The instant pot, as we all know, is the upgraded version of the trusted pressure cooker. On that note, it uses the same principle in cooking food: pressure and steam to tenderize and cook food quickly. This happens because the steam cannot escape entirely from the cooker, thus creating pressure inside the pot that pushes the liquid beyond its standard boiling point. 

This environment inside the pot makes the cooking time faster than usual. But what sets it apart from the standard pressure cooker is its ability to function as a multi-cooker. The instant pot has dedicated buttons for different cooking options such as stir-frying, steaming, and slow cooking. This happens by simply pressing the assigned button for the needed function.

You can make the tocino from scratch, but that will take time since it needs curing before you can cook it. So you can just purchase from the supermarket and proceed with the recipe. Then set the instant pot to saute, and you can now fry the components for your Tosilog. You can prepare your fried rice ahead of time and assemble it along with the meat and egg once you’re done frying them. 

Sizzling Plate

The sizzling plate is really what its name suggests. Made of cast iron, this unique plate is specifically crafted to withstand a high amount of temperature and keep that temperature for a given amount of time. This makes it pretty useful when you use them for serving tapas or other dishes that are best eaten hot. 

And this past few years, the usual Tosilog is being served differently. We can now see this breakfast delight cooked and served on a sizzling plate. And since its rose to fame, many sizzling houses now dot the streets of the country. 

For this cooking method, what you need to do first is to heat the plate in the fire. Once you’re sure that the plate is hot enough, dab the plate with butter or oil and fry the tocino pieces; after that, crack the eggs into the dish, and the heat will cook them. You can now serve the Tosilog using the same plate. 

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Other Delicious Variants

There are a few equally delicious variants that you can try with our Tosilog. Again, your only limit is your imagination. But to give you an idea of how you can put some twist to this recipe, you can refer to the list we have here. 

With Java rice

If you’re wondering how to cook or prepare Java rice, then that’s pretty simple. Simply mix a batch of day-old rice with some turmeric powder and annatto oil. This delightful and unique rice recipe is a perfect canvas for our Tosilog. 

Instead of using the traditional fried rice, you can replace this with Java rice to take the recipe to another level. You can do this rice recipe by sauteing finely chopped garlic in annatto oil, then mix in the day-old rice and keep mixing until all the rice grains are covered in the oil. 

This aromatic fried rice variation is the perfect canvass for the Tocilog as the contrasting flavors complement each other. The aroma of the turmeric and its slight kick matches the sweetness of the Tocino. And we cannot deny that the bright color of the fried rice is equally enticing. 

With Gravy Sauce

The Filipinos adore gravy: if that is not obvious, observe Filipino diners eating in fast-food restaurants, and you will see a group or two of diners who are going to scoop the gravy on their meals like it’s a soup of some kind. That’s how we show our love for any type of gravy. 

The creaminess and the saltiness of the gravy will go well with the sweetness of the Tosilog. And since we love to douse our meals in sauce, this will add to the delight of eating our recipe since it’s a bit on the dry side. 

The gravy that we can use can be as simple as this: melt about half a stick of butter, mix in flour and keep stirring until the paste forms. Then gradually add your chicken stock or whatever stock you have. Simmer and then add the milk or cream. Keep simmering until the mixture is cooked through. 

If you’re not that confident yet with this method when making gravy, you can also follow this simple method. Simmer about half a liter of water in a pot, and add in a bouillon cube. Then mix in an equal amount of cornstarch and water depending on the consistency of gravy that you like. Season your gravy with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. 

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Trivia 

Tocino, which we all associate with our beloved sweet and salty cured meat, is the Spanish term for bacon. We have made a variation for this dish due to our innate inclination to sweet and savory foods. 

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Tips

Though simple, we still want to make sure that you’ll be able to nail this recipe each time. And because of that, we want to share a few kitchen tips with you that have been tested and proven through time. 

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Troubleshooting

Kitchen mishaps are unavoidable at times: this can lead to frustration when cooking. But that’s how we learn, right? But in case you encounter troubles while cooking Tosilog, do not fret too much because we got you. Apply this time tested troubleshooting tips to remedy your dilemma. 

• If you have accidentally undercook the tocino, what you can do is to put them in the oven toaster for about five minutes to let the heat cook the meat. 
• Burnt tocino parts? Simmer them in a small amount of water until the charred part breaks away from the meat. 

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Best Serve With

Our featured recipe for this article is a bit on the dry side, that’s why we can enjoy it better when paired with some soups or sauce-based dishes. After all, we love to eat dishes which match together for a more enjoyable dining experience. 

• Sinigang sa Sampalok

This sour and lightly sweet soup is something to look forward to. The citrus taste leaves you feeling refreshed, and that is best paired with our Tosilog for a delightful morning meal. 

• Fried Chicken

Who can ever go wrong with fried chicken right? This old time favorite is a dish that folks of all ages absolutely adores. So what will stop you from pairing it with Tosilog. The contrasting flavors really suit each other beautifully. 

• Binakol na Manok

Soups are undoubtedly one of the best dishes to go with our featured recipe. The mild and flavorful broth of the Binakol washes down and balances the flavors of the Tosilog. 

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Conclusion

It is without a doubt that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. You need to be filled with energy and vigor for a long day ahead of you. And Tosilog can give you that needed strength to last you through the roughness of your daily toil. This recipe is a full meal: protein and carbohydrates loaded in one plate. 

And who can resist a simple yet very filling meal such as this. By now, we know that you are more than equipped to cook this breakfast star at the comforts of your kitchen. So never stop learning and exploring. Until next time, happy cooking!

For more delicious recipe, please visit Eat Like Pinoy!

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