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Home » Recipes » Ginataang Tilapia Recipe

Ginataang Tilapia Recipe

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Ginataang tilapia is fish with spinach cooked in coconut milk. I am specifically using tilapia, a fish belonging to the tilapiine cichlid tribe, for this recipe. Red snapper and mackerel works well too. The word “ginataan” (also spelled as guinataan) is a Filipino cooking method that involves coconut meat or cream. It literally means cooked in coconut milk.

ginataang tilapia recipe

How to Cook Ginataang Tilapia

This dish is easy to cook. Note that I am using fried tilapia for this recipe. If you have your own method in frying fish, go ahead and prepare it that way. I start by seasoning the fish with salt. It is best to score both sides of the fish so that the salt can quickly penetrate. Ensure that salt is rubbed all over the fish, especially on the cavity. Give it 10 minutes to absorb the salt before frying.

Fry the fish in hot oil until golden brown. I like using a little bit more oil when frying fish. This helps cook the fish uniformly. It will also help if you have a splatter screen by your side before frying to protect you from splattering oil. Next is to turn the fish over to cook and brown the opposite side. Do the same steps as you did on the other side. It is also important to let the oil drip completely after frying the fish. This will help keep it crisp. Do it by placing your fried tilapia on a wire rack or simply let all the oil drip as you take it out of the pan. Here is a good source of information about this method.

Aromatics are important when cooking ginataang tilapia. These ingredients brings-in flavor and aroma to the dish. It also helps reduce the fishy taste and aroma. Onion, garlic, and ginger are first sauted until fragrant.

ginataang tilapia recipe panlasang pinoy

I then add 2 cups of coconut milk and chili pepper before adding the fish. Vinegar is also added when cooking this dish in some parts of the Philippines. You can do in this step. Cook the fried fish for 12 minutes. If using fresh tilapia, you’ll need to cook it a little bit longer just so you are ensured that it is cooked all throughout. 10 minutes should be enough per side.

The long green peppers and seasonings are added next. Siling pansigang or any long green pepper variety can be used for this recipe. Banana peppers work too. Fish sauce is my main seasoning when it comes to ginataang tilapia. It is known as “patis” in Filipino. Pour around tablespoon first and taste the sauce to see if you need to add more. Also add a bit of ground black pepper. Complete the dish with fresh leafy vegetables such as spinach.

Alternative Ingredients When Cooking Ginataang Tilapia

Fresh fish can be used to cook this dish. As mentioned above, cook it for 10 minutes per side just so you are sure that it is cooked completely.

I am using spinach for this recipe. Other green leafy vegetables can also be used. Malunggay leaves are ideal. Bok choy and hot pepper leaves can also be utilized.

ginataang tilapia filipino recipe

Fish sauce is a good seasoning because it gives the dish that Umami taste. Salt can be used as an alternative to this ingredient.
Using fresh coconut milk will provide optimal results. Canned coconut milk or coconut cream also works well.

Try this Ginataang Tilapia Recipe. Let me know what you think.

Ginataang Tilapia Recipe
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5 from 4 votes

Ginataang Tilapia

Fried fish sauteed in aromatics and cooked in coconut milk with spinach. This delicious fish recipe is a must try. Cook it for your family and share the love.
Course Main Course
Cuisine Filipino
Keyword fish recipe, ginataang isda, ginataang tilapia recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 3 people
Calories 451kcal
Author Vanjo Merano

Ingredients

  • 2 pieces tilapia cleaned
  • 2 cups coconut milk
  • 4 cloves garlic crushed
  • 1 piece onion chopped
  • 1 thumb ginger cut into strips
  • 2 pieces long green pepper
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 2 pieces Thai chili pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 cups fresh spinach
  • 3 tablespoons cooking oil
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Heat the cooking oil in a cooking pot.
  • Sauté the onion, garlic, and ginger in the hot oil
  • Once the onion become soft, pour the coconut milk into the pot. Let boil and cover. Cook for 5 minutes between low to medium heat.
  • Add the chili peppers and tilapia. Cover and simmer for 12 minutes.
  • Add long green chili peppers and season with fish sauce and ground black pepper. Stir. Cook for 3 minutes.
  • Add the spinach. Cover and cook for 1 minute.
  • Transfer to a serving plate. Serve hot. Share and Enjoy!

Notes

  • You can add ½ cup water if the coconut milk starts to evaporate quickly. Some people like to put a bit of vinegar when cooking this dish.
  • You can do so by adding 2 tablespoons of vinegar right after pouring the coconut oil. Salt can be used as a substitute for fish sauce.
  • Feel free to use other leafy green vegetables besides spinach. Malunggay leaves, pechay, bok choy, and hot pepper leaves are good examples.
  • Fresh tilapia can be used for this recipe. If doing so, it should be cooked for at least 10 minutes per side. Canned coconut milk can be used. It will make your dish creamier.

Nutrition

Calories: 451kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 46g | Saturated Fat: 29g | Sodium: 980mg | Potassium: 547mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1875IU | Vitamin C: 12.7mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 5.8mg

Watch How to Cook Ginataang Tilapia

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  • Fried Tilapia Recipe
    Fried Tilapia Recipe
  • Pinaputok na Tilapia Recipe
    Pinaputok na Tilapia Recipe
  • Sinanglay na Tilapia Recipe
    Sinanglay na Tilapia Recipe
  • Sweet and Sour Tilapia
    Sweet and Sour Tilapia
  • Ginataang Bilo bilo with Langka Recipe
    Ginataang Bilo bilo with Langka Recipe
  • Ginataang Talong with Malunggay and Tofu
    Ginataang Talong with Malunggay and Tofu

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Norma says

    January 31, 2020 at 5:22 pm

    5 stars
    Hellow , pwede banghindi iprito yung tilapia, I always watch your video recipe.

    Reply
  2. Liza reyes says

    March 16, 2019 at 6:46 am

    Wow,grabe po ittry kong iluto bukas ang ginataang tilapia,at piniprito pla muna ang tilapiamraming salmat po…

    Reply
    • Vanjo Merano says

      March 16, 2019 at 12:55 pm

      You are welcome, Liza.

      Reply
  3. Brenda G Ella says

    March 7, 2019 at 9:22 am

    Can i use other kind of fish aside from tilapia?? We’re not eating tilapia anymore. Thanks..

    Reply
    • Vanjo Merano says

      March 8, 2019 at 9:08 am

      Sure, this recipe can also be used with other varieties of fish.

      Reply
  4. Lollipop says

    September 20, 2018 at 4:53 am

    Kindly put the link of your video in the website as well so we can just click it easily

    Thankyouu <3

    Reply
  5. Carl McFly says

    February 3, 2018 at 12:52 am

    I am thankful how you made the steps of this dish for a simpleton cooker like me. It came out absolutely divine! The fam made me repeat it and it was even better. Thank you for the guide and kudos to you guys! May you have many more recipes (which I know you already have) to feature! ????????????????????????????

    Reply
  6. Annie says

    March 4, 2017 at 6:25 am

    5 stars
    Hello first time ko po magluto ng ginataang tilapia instead of spinach can i replace it with petchay? Thanks po

    Reply
  7. romel says

    October 2, 2015 at 9:11 am

    5 stars
    nice thank you .. !

    Reply
  8. jona says

    May 31, 2015 at 7:24 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you panlasang pinoy. old enough but cant cook. Thank you for sharing easy to cook dishes with techniques. They thought ive been cooking for a long time already.

    Reply
  9. lea says

    April 26, 2015 at 10:21 am

    Yummy…..i feel hungry this time … i eant to cook like that.mmmmmmmp

    Reply
  10. Richard C.V. says

    April 25, 2015 at 3:14 pm

    Dear Vanjo,
    Thank you very much on your numerous recipe of yours..got your emailed copies..Do you have a hard copies for sale? I mean a book of it with all your recipes on it..
    Thanks ,
    richard

    Reply
  11. lea says

    December 7, 2013 at 1:24 am

    I really love your website Kuya. I just got married and this site really helps me. When I was still single I never knew how to cook. LOL. Thats because I was workaholic… So, Thank you sooo much.

    Reply
    • Vanjo Merano says

      December 7, 2013 at 11:28 am

      Thans for the message. You are welcome 🙂

      Reply
  12. liza edpao says

    April 13, 2012 at 4:48 pm

    can u please send me the recipe for …..its like palitaw but has sweet sauce with latik i dont know if they call it latik like palitaw that comes with latik in juice or sauce, its a desert.

    Reply
  13. luisa says

    April 2, 2012 at 11:15 pm

    i know na siling pangsigang ..right? thnks

    Reply
  14. Liza Fe says

    March 29, 2012 at 5:37 pm

    thank you very much…your reioes are so simple but sooo wonnnderrrrful!

    Reply
  15. Vanjo Merano says

    February 17, 2012 at 11:55 am

    Mickey, you may use patis.

    Reply
  16. jonah says

    January 5, 2012 at 7:08 pm

    you may try frying the fish first before putting it in the simmering coconut milk. that way, the fish won’t get mashed up even if you simmer it a little longer, or if you want the sauce to dry up a little bit. my husband’s good at cooking this recipe.. =)

    Reply
  17. dwyne says

    October 4, 2011 at 10:38 pm

    thanks po sa recipe cause aside from being healthy sa katawan ay delicious pa cya

    Reply
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