Ginataang Kalabasa at Sitaw (Squash and String Beans in Coconut Milk)

User Reviews

5.0

3 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    15 mins

  • Cook Time

    15 mins

  • Total Time

    50 mins

  • Servings

    6

  • Calories

    512 kcal

  • Course

    Main Course

  • Cuisine

    Filipino

Ginataang Kalabasa at Sitaw (Squash and String Beans in Coconut Milk)

Ginataang Kalabasa at Sitaw is a Filipino vegetable dish that combines tender cubes of butternut squash and crisp string beans simmered in coconut milk. Enhanced with crispy pork belly and aromatic ginger, garlic, and onions, this homestyle dish perfectly balances sweet, savory, and creamy flavors. A staple of Filipino home cooking, particularly beloved in the coconut-rich Bicol region, it transforms humble ingredients into a comforting meal that's traditionally served with steaming white rice.

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Ingredients

Servings

For the Base:

  • lbs kalabasa butternut squash/pumpkin - cubed
  • 18 pieces Sitaw string beans - cut into 2-inch lengths
  • 1 piece Knorr Pork Cube pampalasa/seasoning
  • 3 ounces pork belly liempo - sliced
  • 4 cups gata coconut milk

For the Aromatics:

  • 1 piece sibuyas onion - chopped
  • 2 thumbs luya ginger - cut into strips
  • 5 cloves bawang garlic - crushed
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper paminta
  • 1 tablespoon cooking oil
  • patis fish sauce to taste
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Instructions

  1. Start by heating oil in a large deep pan or kawali over medium heat (180°C/350°F). Add sliced pork belly (liempo) and cook until golden brown and crispy (malutong), about 8-10 minutes. This process renders the fat which will add flavor to the dish.
  2. Using the same pan with rendered pork fat, sauté crushed garlic (bawang), chopped onion (sibuyas), and ginger strips (luya) until the onions become translucent (malinaw) and aromatic, about 3-4 minutes.
  3. Pour in coconut milk (gata) and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat to medium (160°C/320°F) and simmer for 5 minutes. Be careful not to let it boil too hard (huwag pakuluan masyado) to prevent the coconut milk from curdling.
  4. Add the pork cube (pampalasa) and cubed squash (kalabasa). Cook for 5 minutes or until the squash begins to soften. Add the cut string beans (sitaw) and continue cooking for 5-8 minutes until the beans are tender-crisp (malutong-lutong).
  5. Season with ground black pepper (paminta) and fish sauce (patis) to taste. Simmer for an additional 2-3 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together. For reheating, warm gently over medium-low heat to prevent the coconut milk from separating.

Notes

  • "Huwag pakuluan masyado ang gata" - Don't let coconut milk boil too hard to prevent curdling
  • Use fresh squash that feels heavy for its size
  • Cut vegetables in similar sizes for even cooking
  • Add chili if you want Bicolano-style heat
  • For best results, use fresh, second-press coconut milk for cooking and first-press for finishing

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 512kcal (26%) Carbohydrates 41g (14%) Protein 13g (26%) Fat 38g (58%) Saturated Fat 3g (15%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 5g Trans Fat 0.01g Cholesterol 10mg (3%) Sodium 5mg (0%) Potassium 35mg (1%) Fiber 11g (44%) Vitamin A 14126IU (283%) Vitamin C 64mg (71%) Calcium 3mg (0%) Iron 9mg (50%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 512 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 512kcal 26%
Carbohydrates 41g 14%
Protein 13g 26%
Fat 38g 58%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 5g 25%
Trans Fat 0.01g 1%
Cholesterol 10mg 3%
Sodium 5mg 0%
Potassium 35mg 1%
Fiber 11g 44%
Vitamin A 14126IU 283%
Vitamin C 64mg 71%
Calcium 3mg 0%
Iron 9mg 50%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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