Filipino Vegetable Stew Recipe – Ginataang Gulay

Filipino Vegetable Stew Recipe – Filipino cuisine features several stews and soups. Several variations of classic soup and stew dishes also fit whatever’s in the pantry. If you are looking for something featuring vegetables, there are several Filipino vegetable stews and soups you can try. Among the different stew and soup options that feature vegetables, ginataang gulay. Ginataang gulay is a general term for a stew dish otherwise known as ginataang kalabasa.

Ginataang kalabasa is a vegetable stew made from calabaza in coconut milk and spices. You will often find this dish featuring shrimp and yardlong beans. One variation involves pork and vegetables cooked in coconut milk. A list of vegetables you can use in this dish includes squash, eggplant, green beans, and okra. There are different ways you can make this dish and this Filipino Vegetable Stew Recipe is one of them:

Ginataang Gulay

A creamy vegetable stew featuring pork slices and a mix of vegetables cooked in coconut milk with different spices and seasonings.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Servings 6 servings

Ingredients

  

• 1 tbsp canola oil
• 1 onion (peeled and chopped)
• 2 cloves garlic (peeled and minced)
• 1/2 pound pork belly (cut into 1-inch strips)
• 1/2 pound medium shrimp (peeled and deveined)
• 1 tbsp shrimp paste
• 2 cans coconut milk (13.5 ounces each coconut milk)
• 8 ounces frozen young green jackfruit (thawed and cut into 1-inch pieces or 1 (20 ounces) can young green jackfruit)
• 1/2 medium calabasa (peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes)
• 12 pieces green beans (ends trimmed and cut into halves
• 2 medium eggplant (ends trimmed and cut into 1-inch thickness)
• 1 pinch salt (or to taste)
• 1 pinch pepper (or to taste)

Instructions

 

• Heat the oil in a wide pan over medium heat then add the onions and garlic. Cook them until they are softened then add the pork.
• Cook the pork until it is lightly browned. Make sure to stir it occasionally while it is cooking to prevent it from sticking to the pan.
• Add the shrimp and cook it just until the color changes to pink.
• Add shrimp paste and cook (make sure to stir regularly) for about 1 to 2 minutes then add the coconut milk.
• Bring the mixture to a simmer and continue to cook for about 3 to 5 minutes until it is slightly thickened and reduced.
• Add the jackfruit and cook it for about 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add the kalabasa and cook it until it's tender but not falling apart.
• Add the green beans and eggplant and continue to cook until the vegetables are tender and the sauce is thickened.
• Make sure the ingredients are well mixed before seasoning with salt and pepper to taste then serve.

Notes

Increase the amount of coconut milk to four cups if you are using fresh jackfruit as it takes longer to cook compared to when it is canned or frozen. 

Other Variations and Notes for a Filipino Vegetable Stew Recipe

If you want to go for a more vegetarian variation of this dish, you can replace the pork cuts with vegan luncheon meat and use a mushroom sauce instead of shrimp. You can also try out other proteins such as fish or crab for a different taste. For a spicier take on the dish, try adding green chili to the mix. If you are unable to find calabaza, you can also use butternut squash or kabocha as alternatives. There are plenty of ways you can enjoy this dish with different ingredients. There are also a number of dishes that can be stewed in coconut milk.

If you want to try out other Filipino soup/stew recipes, check out our “Filipino Callos Recipe” and “Filipino Mussels Recipe.” For meatier options, you can check out “Mechado.” Or if you prefer more vegetable options, there is “Gising gising.” On the sweeter side of things, check out our “Ginataang Mais” and “Ginataang Munggo” Recipes.