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Ginataang kalabasa at sitaw
Squash and long beans in coconut milk
Squash and yard-long beans simmered in coconut milk
Ginataan means 'cooked in coconut milk', and in the coconut country of Bicol and Southern Tagalog it is how a lot of weeknight vegetables end up on the table. Ginataang kalabasa at sitaw is the homely version: chunks of orange squash and lengths of yard-long beans simmered in coconut milk with garlic, onion and ginger until the squash just starts to melt into the sauce, turning it pale gold and lightly sweet. Bicolano cooks drop in a long green chilli or two for warmth. It is a one-pot dish served with rice, and many families make it on days when there is no money for meat. Chef's tip: keep back a few chunks of squash to mash into the sauce at the end; it thickens it naturally.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 cloves garlicchopped
- 1 onionchopped
- 1 ⅛ in fresh gingercut into thin matchsticks
- 1 ⅛ lb kabocha squashpeeled and cut into 3 cm chunks
- 1 ¼ cups coconut milk
- ¾ cup water
- 7 oz yard-long beanscut into 5 cm lengths
- 2 long green chillieswhole or sliced
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a medium pot over a medium heat. Fry 3 cloves garlic, 1 onion and 1 ⅛ in fresh ginger for 2–3 minutes, until the onion turns translucent and the ginger smells sharp and fresh.
3 minStep 2: Add 1 ⅛ lb kabocha squash and stir for a minute to coat. Pour in 1 ¼ cups coconut milk and ¾ cup water and bring to a gentle simmer over a medium-low heat.
2 minStep 3: Simmer uncovered for 10–12 minutes, until a knife slides into the squash with no resistance. Keep it at a soft bubble: the common mistake is boiling coconut milk hard, which splits it into oily, grainy curds.
12 minStep 4: Mash 4 or 5 pieces of squash against the side of the pot and stir them in to thicken the sauce.
Step 5: Add 7 oz yard-long beans, 2 long green chillies and 1 tsp salt and simmer for 4–5 minutes, until the beans are tender but still bright green. Season with ¼ tsp ground black pepper, taste and serve with rice.
5 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 210 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 20 g
- Fat
- 14 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does ginataang kalabasa at sitaw take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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