Alternative Seafood Recipes to Filipino Food

Enjoy healthier versions of your Filipino food favorites with these nutritious recipes from “Unang Hirit.”

If you enjoy eating your favorite Filipino food but constantly worry about the amount of calories and cholesterol it contains, fret no more: “Unang Hirit” prepared healthier alternative recipes to some of the most-loved Pinoy dishes. Instead of using pork, these dishes use fish and other seafood as their main ingredient, making them good options for those who want to eat healthy. Here are some recipes you can try:

Kare-kareng Isda with Chef Virgie Pascual

Ingredients:
Tilapia
Eggplant
Chinese cabbage
Banana
Bagoong
Water
Salt
Pepper
Egg
Cornstarch
Atsuete Oil
Cooking oil
Peanut butter
Ground rice (toasted)

Procedure:
1. Boil the vegetables.
2. Season tilapia with salt and pepper.
3. Glaze the fish with egg whites. Sprinkle cornstarch on both sides.
4. Fry the fish.
5. Sauté garlic, onion, and toasted ground rice in atsuete oil. Add water to make broth.
6. Add peanut butter.
7. Add fish and vegetables to the mixture. Bring to a boil.
8. Serve with bagoong.

Tip: Aside from tilapia, this recipe can also use cream dory, bangus, tuna, or blue marlin.

Seafood Bicol Express with Chef MJ Nicasio

Ingredients:
Fish (Tuna/Marlin)
Tahong
Squid
Prawns
Coconut milk
Baguio beans
Alamang
Vinegar
Chilli pepper
Onions
Garlic
Tomatoes

Procedure:
1. Sauté garlic, onions and tomatoes.
2. Add alamang and tahong.
3. Pour in coconut milk. Add vinegar, baguio beans and chilli pepper. Boil for five minutes.
4. Add all the seafood ingredients to the mixture. Boil for seven to 10 minutes.
5. Season to taste.

Kalderetang Galunggong with Nancy Reyes Lumen


Ingredients:
Galunggong
Salt
Potatoes
Carrots
Garlic
Onion
Sweet pickles
Tomato sauce
Pickle juice
Pepper
Cooking oil





Optional ingredients:
Bell pepper
Green peas
Green or black olives
Liver spread

Procedure:
1. Season galunggong with salt before frying it.
2. In a separate pan, sauté garlic and onion.
3. Fry potatoes, carrots and bell pepper.
4. Add pickles, tomato sauce, and pickle juice. Pour some water. Bring to a boil.
5. Add the fried fish and vegetables.
6. Add green peas, olives, and liver spread. Cook for five minutes.

— Lara Gonzales/CM, GMA News