BUDGET RECIPE: EASY TO MAKE GINATAANG KALABASA
Ginataang Kalabasa (Squash Stewed in Coconut Milk) is a highly nutritious, easy-to-make and budget friendly recipe. It’s rich, hearty and flavorful.
The key in cooking this recipe is to slow simmer the squash and coconut milk to marry the flavor together. The rendered fat from the pork, gives an added richness to the dish.
Although if you prefer a healthier (and a much cheaper) version, you can opt to exclude the pork belly. Of course, my personal preference is with pork 😊
HEALTH BENEFITS
This recipe contains several highly nutritious ingredients, making it a really good dish to serve your family.
COCONUT MILK
Packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, coconut milk helps;
- Boost immunity
- Increase Stamina
- Promote weight loss
- Lower cholesterol
- Improve cardiovascular health
SQUASH
High in fiber, vitamins, iron, antioxidants and minerals, squash helps:
- Improve blood pressure
- Support gut health
- Prevent chronic diseases
- Protect eye health
- Keep skin healthy
MORINGA
I love including this superfood whenever I can. This highly nutritious greens is rich in vitamins and antioxidants. Following are some of it’s health benefits. It helps:
- Lower blood sugar level
- Boost immune system
- Fight inflammation
- Stimulate lactation
- Promote gut health
- Promote weight management
Ginataang Kalabasa
Ingredients
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 head onion chopped
- 2 pcs siling haba sliced 1 inch length
- 100 g pork belly cubed
- 1 pork bullion cube
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 0.5 cup water
- 3/4 kilo pumpkin cut into 2 inch cubes
- 1 bunch moringa leaves removed from stem
- 2 tsp fish sauce
- salt to taste
- Cooking oil
Instructions
- In a pot, pan fry pork belly in very little oil on low heat stirring occasionally. Allow meat to release its juices.
- Add garlic, onion and green chili. Sautè until its soft and aromatic.
- Pour in coconut milk and cook over medium heat, constantly stirring until it simmers.
- Add in pumpkin, and bullion cube.
- Once it boils, lower heat and let it simmer for about 10-15 minutes.
- Add in moringa leaves, and salt to taste before turning off heat.
COOKING TIPS FOR GINATAANG KALABASA
- When pan frying pork, make sure its at low heat to release flavor of the meat without burning it.
- When cooking with coconut milk, stir constantly until it simmers to avoid clumping.
- When simmering in coconut milk, heat should be at low level. Flavor changes when it’s cooked at high temperature.
SERVING SUGGESTION
Best eaten with a cup of steamed rice, and something dry and savory like fried fish, to cut through the richness.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
If you are interested on budget recipes, check out the following:
Budget Version of the Classic Pinoy Dish Ginisang Munggo