By: Vanjo Merano Leave a Comment Published: 6/1/21

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To many Filipinos, halabos na hipon is one of the quickest and most basic ways to cook shrimp. It’s so fast that in less than 30 minutes, your dish will be ready at your dining table!

Halabos is basically the process of cooking seafood–– mostly shrimps or crabs ––in water or salt. It’s the minimal number of ingredients that really brings out the shrimp’s fresh flavor. This is why it’s quite important to the halabos na hipon recipe that the shrimp you use is the freshest it can be!

Luckily for us who live on an archipelago, fresh seafood isn’t very hard to come by. Beautiful seafood, shrimps, crabs, and fish alike, line our supermarkets, waiting for us to buy and cook them in a myriad of ways. Filipinos love seafood –– and this halabos na hipon is no exception. In case you want to learn more shrimp recipes, here are others that me and my family really enjoy.

Steamed Shrimp

Apart from halabos na hipon, this is another quick way to enjoy the seafood. Steamed shrimp’s taste is a bit milder, but still as enjoyable. If you’re looking for a little more zest to your palate, I personally recommend using a bowl of vinegar as the dipping sauce. Not everyone has a steamer at home, however, which is why halabos na hipon is often the method more looked to. Regardless, if you have a steamer on hand, try giving this a try!

Ginataang Hipon (Shrimp in Coconut Milk)

If you’ve got more time on your hands and want to prepare a dish “fancier” than halabos na hipon, you might enjoy this one! With how versatile coconut milk is, it’s no wonder people have begun cooking seafood in it, too. Ginataang Hipon is all about the right timing, and making sure you’ve cooked all of the ingredients properly; not just shrimp, but also the ginger and garlic. The rich, nutty taste of the dish is truly unforgettable.

Sinigang na Hipon (Shrimp Sinigang)

Of course, nothing beats the classic sinigang. Although hot soup is great for cold weather days, we here in the Philippines enjoy sinigang any time of the year! This sour broth is a staple in any Filipino home. Alongside the other vegetables in sinigang, it’s always excellent. Nothing spells comfort food quite like a nice bowl of sinigang na hipon.

While the recipe used to only call for cooking shrimp in saltwater, halabos na hipon has evolved since. Instead of using water, we’ve replaced the liquid with lemon lime soda! The brand you use is totally up to you; be it Sprite, 7-up, or Sierra Mist, any brand works, as long as it gets the job done! The reason behind using lemon lime soda is that it gives your halabos na hipon a sweeter kick in flavor. You really can’t go wrong with the fresh flavors of shrimp, that are only further emphasized by soda’s uniquely sweet taste!

The halabos na hipon that we’re cooking today will also include the addition of butter –– and butter is always a sure fire way to make recipes better! Its rich, velvety texture and flavor are unmatched. Not only will your shrimps turn out incredibly flavorful, but the addition of butter really gives it that extra oomph you didn’t know you were missing. You can also opt to add garlic to this recipe, frying it in the butter until it’s a beautiful golden brown. It’s the perfect combination!

Let’s Cook Halabos na Hipon with Butter

Halabos na hipon with butter is as simple to prepare as it is to cook; all you have to do beforehand is chop your tablespoon of parsley! Your shrimp also has to be deveined prior.

Heat your pan atop a stovetop and add in your 1 pound of shrimp. Stir it, then gradually pour in 1 cup of your lemon lime soda. Wait until your pan comes to a boil, and stir your shrimp every so often. Continue to do so until most of the liquid in the pan has evaporated.

Once only about half of the liquid in the pan remains, season your halabos na hipon with salt. Then, add in your butter––about two tablespoons should do. Melt your butter in the pan, and continue cooking for about 1 to 2 minutes. Add in the tablespoon of parsley you’d chopped, then stir again.

Once you’ve incorporated all your ingredients well, transfer your halabos na hipon to a serving plate –– and just like that, you’re done! Serve this dish warm and enjoy it with a nice bed of rice, white or brown.

Let us know what you think of this awesome halabos na hipon with butter recipe!

Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag us on Instagram at @panlasangpinoy or hashtag #panlasangpinoy so we can see your creations!