5 Stardew Valley recipes reimagined for Filipino households
The 2016 beloved farming game Stardew Valley is a testament to the universality of food and community. This charming pixel art role-playing game (RPG) is a story about the player who inherits their grandfather’s dilapidated farm in Pelican Town, a small rural village with interesting characters. There, the player can prepare numerous dishes to either satiate their energy or charm love interests in the hopes of marrying them.
This is why in May 2024, creator Eric Barone (aka ConcernedApe) and chef Ryan Novak released the “The Official Stardew Valley Cookbook,” which features 52 seasonal recipes from the game.
Although the “Stardew Valley” cookbook relies on rare crops and imports in the Philippines, there is no stopping avid gamers from bringing pixelated dishes to life, using local produce and Filipino flavors. After all, the point of Stardew Valley is to share comforting meals and strengthen your community—cultural values that Filipinos know by heart.
1. Mango sticky rice → Suman with mango
“Sweet mango and coconut transforms this rice into something very special.”
In-game ingredients: mango, coconut, and rice
If you live in the Philippines, the hot, grueling summer never ends. This dessert originated in Thailand and soon spread to Southeast Asian countries. Like suman (Filipino sticky rice cakes), mango sticky rice is composed of glutinous rice cooked in rich, caramelized coconut milk.
Even before Thailand introduced mango sticky rice, “we’ve been eating suman with cashews and mango,” says Guillermo “Ige” Ramos.
Reimagined: To make the suman, cook glutinous rice (malagkit) with coconut milk and sugar—white, brown, or even muscovado for a deeper flavor. Afterwards, drizzle a generous amount of condensed milk on top, then serve it alongside slices of ripe, sweet mango.
2. Pumpkin soup → Kalabasa soup
“A seasonal favorite.”
In-game ingredients: pumpkin and milk
For the comforting cold of the incoming “ber” months, we have a warm, hearty soup prepped with squash and milk. The main difference between Stardew Valley’s pumpkin soup and kalabasa is the choice of coconut milk (more aromatic) or dairy (more sweet).
Also, the pumpkin soup can either be smooth or chunky—it just comes down to preparation and preference.
Reimagined: Blend squash with broth—using chicken or beef cubes can work. Then simmer the kalabasa mixture before adding the cream. Since Stardew Valley’s requirements of heavy cream and sour cream are not typical Filipino pantry staples, swap them for plain yogurt and all-purpose cream, respectively.
3. Vegetable medley → Ginisang kamatis at itlog
“Full of antioxidants.”
In-game ingredients: tomato and beet
Everyone in Pelican Town is pescatarian or vegetarian. There is not a single scrap of meat butchered in-game, which “The Official Stardew Valley Cookbook” also adheres to. Vegetable medley, one of the vegetable-centric dishes, has two main components: tomato and beet.
Because beets are not local in the Philippines, the closest equivalent is ginisang kamatis at itlog (sautéed tomatoes with egg), a humble dish in many Filipino households.
Reimagined: With a base of chopped garlic and onion, cook down tomatoes until soft. If you manage to get any on hand, add sliced beets (roasted or steamed until tender). This will add a pop of color and sweetness. Next, scramble eggs and pour them directly into the mixture.
4. Baked fish → Pinaputok na tilapia
“Baked fish on a bed of herbs.”
In-game ingredients: sunfish, bream, and wheat flour
For the level 10 fishermen of Stardew Valley, this is the best dish for a fresh catch. The Filipino equivalent of the game’s baked fish translates to “exploding fish,” as it is stuffed with aromatics to make the flavors pop. Tilapia is the only Filipino-based aquatic in Stardew Valley’s catalog of 70 fish, which brings the game a little closer to home.
Reimagined: Stardew Valley’s baked fish is packed with imported herbs like lemon thyme, bay leaves, oregano, and dill. To make this dish more Filipino-style, tilapia is stuffed with chopped tomatoes, onion, garlic, and ginger.
Lastly, it comes with a souring agent—calamansi, tamarind, or lemon, if you want to be true to the game’s recipe.
5. Spaghetti → Filipino-style spaghetti
“An old favorite.”
In-game ingredients: wheat flour and tomato
This Stardew Valley dish for the winter season just happens to be a quintessential holiday meal in the Philippines. Although the in-game recipe is classic Italian, the Filipino-style version, made with a sweet and meaty combination of flavors, is just as appetizing.
Reimagined: While you can make the classic tomato sauce with ground pork and hotdogs, Stardew Valley calls for butternut squash noodles. Unlike regular pasta, butternut squash makes an earthy and nutty pasta with a firmer texture. This type of pasta recipe requires forming dough with squash or kalabasa purée.
While it demands patience, the result is a unique, gluten-free dish that may prove a great pair for the cherished Filipino-style spaghetti.
