Home · Recipes · Desserts & Baking · Porridge & Puddings Champorado (Filipino Chocolate Rice Porridge) Author: Maryanne CabreraPublished: Jan 12, 2017Updated: Sep 27, 2022 View Recipe32 ReviewsThis post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy. Champorado is a Filipino chocolate rice porridge that is traditionally served for breakfast. Filipino Champorado What is champorado? Believe it or, champorado (Filipino chocolate rice porridge) is traditionally served for breakfast. Chocolate for breakfast may sound like a dream, but there’s a caveat. It’s typically served with tuyo (dried salted fish). I dare you to Google image search it! As a result of the dried fish clause, I didn’t eat champorado as much as I wanted to as a kid. On the occasions when the fish wasn’t around, I happily devoured bowls and bowls of this chocolatey goodness with a generous amount of sweetened condensed milk on top. Is champorado sweet? While chocolate is the main ingredient of this dish, it’s not very sweet. Rather, this porridge highlights the complexities of dark chocolate. Much of the sweetness and creaminess comes from the milk drizzled on top. [P.S. Luckily, during my summer study aboard in the Philippines, I learned that champorado is also often enjoyed with pan de sal (Filipino bread rolls).] Type of rice used Champorado is made with glutinous rice (aka sweet rice, sticky rice or malagkit). It’s a type of short grain rice known for its high starch content. You can see the difference between jasmine rice (medium/long-grain rice) and glutinous rice in the photo above. Short grain rice is less translucent in color because of its starch content. It has been raining more than usual in Los Angeles. I usually make a pot of chicken arroz caldo to warm up. But when I need something more comforting, I turn to champorado. To me, it tastes like childhood and feels like a giant bear hug. Luckily, it’s SUPER easy and QUICK to make. 30 minutes max, I promise. Type of chocolate used in Champorado: Traditionally, this dish is made with cacao tablea. You can find it at most Latin markets. They’re little disks of unsweetened or very dark chocolate. It’s the same type of chocolate used to make Filipino hot chocolate (tsokolate). Since I don’t normally have that on hand, I’ve found a great substitute. This mixture of dutch processed unsweetened cocoa powder and 90% dark chocolate is perfect. As a child, I couldn’t understand why on Earth you’d want to eat chocolate rice porridge with fish. It makes sense now. The rich dark chocolate pairs wonderfully with salted fish. I’m still against adding fish. However, I do like to sprinkle a little finishing sea salt on top before serving. I also add cocoa nibs for a pop of crunch and textural variety. Champorado (Filipino Chocolate Rice Porridge) 5 from 3 votes Champorado is a Filipino chocolate rice porridge that is traditionally served for breakfast. It is typically enjoyed with dried salted fish and/or pandesal. Prep Time: 5 minutes minutesCook Time: 25 minutes minutesTotal Time: 30 minutes minutes Servings: 6 Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Ingredients▢ 1 cup glutinous rice * (see notes), rinsed and drained▢ 6 cups water▢ pinch fine sea salt▢ ¼ cup dutch processed unsweetened cocoa powder▢ 3 oz 90% dark chocolate, roughly chopped (85 g) ▢ ¼ cup dark brown sugar packedTopping Choices:▢ sweetened condensed milk▢ evaporated milk▢ half & half▢ dairy alternatives: almond milk, coconut milk, etc.▢ cacao nibs Instructions Combine rice, water, and salt in a heavy bottom sauce pot. Set over medium-high heat and bring to a boil.Reduce heat to a simmer. Stir rice every 3 minutes or so. Continue to heat uncovered for 15-20 minutes until is rice is cooked through. Rice should be soft and porridge will thicken.Add cocoa powder, chopped chocolate, and brown sugar. Stir to combine. Continue to cook on low heat just until chocolate and sugar have melted. Remove from heat.Porridge can be enjoyed warm or chilled. Serve with sweetened condensed milk or topping of choice. Notes Glutinous rice, contrary to it’s name, does not contain gluten. Glutinous rice is also called sticky rice (malagkit). It’s is a type of short grain rice known for it’s high starch content (which makes it perfect for porridge). Traditionally, champorado is made with tablea (unsweetened cacao tablets). You can find this at Filipino markets and well stocked Asian/Latin markets. The mixture of dutch processed unsweetened cocoa powder and 90% dark chocolate is a great alternative. Champorado can be served warm or chilled. Store leftover champorado in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The porridge will thicken substantially as it cools. Add milk of choice (or water) to thin out. All images and text ©The Little Epicurean NutritionCalories: 242kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 0.4mg | Sodium: 20mg | Potassium: 192mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 6IU | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 3mg Author: Maryanne Cabrera Course: Breakfast, DessertCuisine: Filipino Did you make this recipe?Show us on Instagram! Tag @littleepicurean and hashtag #littleepicurean.
heather (delicious not gorgeous) says: January 12, 2017 hmm. not so sure about the salted fish. completely game for salted fish in clay pots and fried rice, but maybe not with chocolate! this sounds so comforting: anything warm and starchy (ooooo thai sticky rice and sweet red bean soup) is up my alley! Reply
Maria says: January 10, 2021 Salted fish with champurrado is very traditional for Filipinos! A salty side is necessary to balance the sweetness.
Amy @ Lit says: January 13, 2017 Chocolate for breakfast is always a great idea! My family would love me if they woke up to this! Reply
Des @ Life's Ambrosia says: January 13, 2017 What an interesting breakfast! I am part filipino but I’ll admit I wasn’t exposed to too many traditional dishes. Lumpia and adobo are popular in our home but I really need to branch out and try some more! Reply
Erin @ The Speckled Palate says: January 13, 2017 Oh my WORD, this looks and sounds absolutely stunning! I’ve never heard of Champorado (or the dried fish clause!), but I could definitely be down for a giant bowl of this tomorrow morning. So good! Reply
Amy Stafford says: January 14, 2017 I so want this for breakfast! What a decadent way to start your day! Reply
Renee - Kudos Kitchen says: January 15, 2017 This looks incredibly delicious. My son is a huge rice pudding fan so I think I’ll have to surprise him with this. He’ll be in heaven! Reply
Brandy | Nutmeg Nanny says: January 16, 2017 I would have been in the same boat as you when it came to the fish… otherwise it sounds SO good! Reply
Chris says: November 10, 2017 You are missing out on such a treat if you skip out on the dried fish! The dried salted and smoked herring provides the perfect contrast to the sweet richness of this pudding. We the dried fish needs to be fried to a crisp and you only eat the thin slivers of fish meat that lay hidden under a sheath of fish skin– it’s delectable, I promise you. A must try. Reply
Ann says: November 12, 2017 Hello! Just wondering which region in the Philippines you or your parents are. I am of Filipino descent, born, raised, educated (and will probably die there, too! ) and as such, your spelling of sticky rice, ‘malakit’, is different from what I have learned in school which is ‘malagkit’. You may google translate it to see which one of us is right. Hope this helps. Reply
KIm says: December 17, 2017 My mother was Filipino. She made this for me and my siblings growing up. She didn’t serve it with salted fish however but with crumbled bacon. Loved waking up to this treat Reply
Karen De GuZman says: June 21, 2018 This was the best recipe I have found without the tablea chocolate which I can’t get where I live. I found the Dutch processed cocoa at Costco the second time I made it and it really made a difference! My husband even said it almost tasted like his Lola’s! Reply
Maryanne Cabrera says: June 25, 2018 I’m so happy to hear that! I’m glad you and your husband enjoyed it. It’s one of my favorite recipes!
Ly says: July 23, 2018 Always my favorite since childhood, very good to eat when the rainy season… I’m preparing the same food to my son and he really likes it very much. Reply
Melanie says: October 22, 2019 Thank you for your collection of Filipino recipes and for sharing your adorable personality through your content. I will try to bake some of your recipes to help take me back to the days my beloved mom baked them. Two quick questions: As a suggestion, can you please include a search option for “Filipino” in your recipe index given that the cuisine is one of your specialties? Also, can you please recommend exactly what type of salted dried fish I should buy for the champorado? I’m making it for a family “uncle” who often yearns for it from his childhood and I’d like to try making it for me, possibly putting the dried fish on the side. There are Filipino and Asian stores here in Seattle, so if you can suggest the type of fish they use in the Philippines so I can make it as “authentically” as possible, I’d appreciate it. Thank you, Maryanne! Reply
Maryanne Cabrera says: October 22, 2019 Thanks for stopping by! I hope the recipes bring back happy memories of your mom’s cooking! On my homepage there’s a section for “Filipino Recipes.” There’s a fairly large Filipino population in Seattle! You’ll find all the ingredients you need at Seafood City market. The dish is served with “tuyo.” It’s dried salted dried fish (usually herring or sardines). You can purchase these jarred in oil or dried in airtight packages. Fry the fish before adding to the champorado. I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Marika says: May 17, 2020 I just made this for breakfast and it takes me back to my grandma’s house! She was from Manila and she would make this for my cousins and myself whenever we stayed with her. Thank you so much for the wonderful recipe! I will definitely be making this again. Reply
Maryanne Cabrera says: May 26, 2020 Thank you for trying the recipe and sharing your story! I’m so glad you enjoyed it :)
Jp says: August 4, 2020 I have made this a couple times now and have come out with amazing results. If we want to try using tablea chocolate, how much should we use in place of the cocoa powder and dark chocolate? Reply
chaz says: August 23, 2020 my variant is cooking the rice with an infusion of coconut milk, ginger pandan and chocolate, topping is chocolate ginger sauce and thick coconut and condensed milk, some chocolate shavings and a sprinkling of rock salt, Reply
Aileen Röckelein says: November 1, 2020 Hi! If I use the tablea, how many and how is the procedure? Reply
Reena says: January 29, 2021 Hello , I have been inspired by your Champorado post among many things in your Insta , I have been splurging in champorago all winter ❤️??????? Reply
Lorna says: February 12, 2021 Can I use Hershey’s cocoa powder instead of cacao ? Thanks! I love your presentation! It’s so appealing and just perfect to try on a rainy day. Reply
Rachel says: May 30, 2022 This is amazing! I’ve always been a bit iffy on rice porridge, but I clearly just hadn’t had the right one. Me and my roommates devoured the first batch, and I’m making another one for breakfast this week. Thanks for the great recipe! :) Reply
Amanda says: July 2, 2022 I am a bit confused whether to rinse and drain the Rice before cooking or not? Reply
Dawn says: August 16, 2023 This was so comforting. It brought back childhood memories of my mother cooking this for my brother and I when we lived in Washington D.C. Now I’m making my memories with my girls. Thank you ? Reply