What does panada mean?
A panada is a Filipino food consisting of a thin wrapper enclosing seasoned meat, seafood, or vegetables, usually covered in breadcrumbs and deep-fried until crisp and golden. It differs from many other filled pastries because its defining feature is often the substantial breadcrumb coating, which creates a firm exterior and keeps the moist filling intact. The word also has an older English sense for a filled pastry or pie, but that usage is uncommon compared with the modern Filipino culinary sense. Panadas are commonly made with chicken, beef, or shrimp and are often served as snacks, appetizers, or meals. In English, the word is most naturally used in Philippine culinary contexts or when explicitly identifying the dish as Filipino-style. Although panada and empanada are related, they are not interchangeable: a panada is generally breaded, while an empanada is commonly unbreaded and shaped as a folded or sealed pastry.
nounA Filipino-style food made by wrapping seasoned meat, seafood, or vegetables in a thin wrapper, coating it with breadcrumbs, and frying it. In historical English usage, the term also referred to a filled pastry or pie.
- A Filipino-style breaded and deep-fried roll containing seasoned meat, seafood, or vegetables.
- Historically in English, a pastry or pie with a meat, vegetable, or similar filling.
"We shared a platter of chicken panadas with a dip made from garlic and vinegar."
"The bakery sells fresh beef panadas every afternoon."
"The cookbook describes a panada as a filled pastry that is baked or fried."
Normally a count noun, used in the plural for individual pieces of the food.
"They ordered two dozen panadas for the party."
A Filipino panada turns a simple filled roll into a crisp, substantial meal by giving it a golden shell of breadcrumbs.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does panada come from?
English borrowed the word from Spanish panada, a name associated with a pastry or filled pie. Spanish panada is based on pan, meaning bread, which continues Latin panis. Over time, the name became established in the Philippines for the breaded, deep-fried stuffed rolls now generally called panada in English.
Related word forms
How panada is actually used
The modern meaning is especially common in English in the Philippines and in descriptions of Filipino cuisine. It should not automatically be treated as an exact synonym for empanada, since their wrappers, coatings, and cooking methods can differ.
Easily confused with panada
A panada is usually coated with breadcrumbs and deep-fried, whereas an empanada is commonly an unbreaded pastry folded or shaped around its filling.