• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Travel
  • Recipes
  • About Me
    • Contributors

Sees Food, Will Travel logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Travel
  • Recipes
  • About Me
    • Contributors
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Travel
    • Recipes
    • About Me
      • Contributors
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Filipino

    May 20, 2022

    Ginataang Hipon & Kalabasa

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This ginataang hipon with kalabasa (shrimp and squash in coconut sauce) recipe is yet another Filipino comfort food perfect for a cold day. It is actually my favorite Filipino food. It's quite a staple dish in my life! I had to develop a simpler version while making substitutions as little as possible. One thing I am grateful for is that it is a simple recipe. The three main ingredients are shrimp, coconut milk (or cream), and fish sauce. These three things are enough to give me a comforting and nostalgic taste and feel. 

    Closeup of ginataang hipon in a class bowl

    Since it is a flexible dish, you can leave out many ingredients and simply end up with shrimp in coconut sauce - the more straightforward dish known as ginataang hipon. But this recipe has a bit more since I also like to add vegetables. The recipe does provide you with options and guidelines if you end up with a different vision for your ginataan. Remember that no two homemade Filipino dishes are exactly the same, and there is nothing wrong with that. The diversity of ingredients and cooking techniques are all parts of what makes the Filipino cooking culture interesting!

    Along with other braised Filipino dishes like adobo and nilaga, this one is relatively easy to make once your ingredients are laid out. Go here for the full breakdown of the recipe with pictures.

    What is Ginataang Hipon

    To better understand this dish, you should know that ginataan is any braised dish in coconut milk or cream. Anything can be braised in coconut milk. Then the given name of the dish would be ginataang [insert food here]. So in Tagalog shrimp is hipon, therefore we use the name ginataang hipon. Kalabasa is squash, particularly pumpkin, so the recipe in this post is called ginataang hipon at kalabasa, meaning shrimp and squash in coconut sauce.

    What is in Ginataang Hipon Kalabasa

    Ginataang hipon isn't typically dressed with other vegetables. Most Filipinos would expect only shrimp braised in coconut milk (or cream) if you were to say you made ginataang hipon. But I like to add some pumpkin and other vegetables to add more color to this dish. 

    Type of Squash to Use

    There are many types of squash out there. While it's totally fine to add whatever is available in the supermarket, kabocha is the best type of pumpkin to add to this dish. It's noticeably sweet and absorbs the flavors of the shrimp and fat from coconut milk. The slices also create a pretty orange color during the cooking period.

    Where I live, only butternut squash is available during this time. Butternut doesn't leave a color when boiled as much as kabocha. It is also more structured, so it doesn't absorb flavors as much. I had to improvise the color by adding a bit of turmeric while supplementing the dish with butternut as kalabasa.

    How to Make Ginataang Hipon Kalabasa

    Devein Shrimp

    Shrimp with the head on should be used for a more traditional look, but I could only find headless skin on shrimp. Before starting on this ginataang hipon recipe, devein the shrimp while keeping the skin on as much as possible. 

    Cook Aromatics 

    Heat some oil in a medium or a large-sized stockpot, then add the onions, garlic, and ginger. Cook the aromatics until the onions are glassy and the garlic and ginger are still slightly browned. 

    Aromatics for ginataang hipon

    Add Coconut Milk

    Open a can of coconut milk and pour it into the pot. Tip If you want a thicker coconut sauce and not so soupy, use coconut cream instead of coconut milk. Alternatively, you can add some water to thin out the soup - just make sure to salt it to your preference.

    Coconut milk in a silver pot

    Add the sliced pumpkin and green beans to add more color. Mix everything before finally adding the fish sauce. Tip Where I live, there is no alamang (Filipino shrimp paste), a traditional ingredient. Although I opted out of this, feel free to add some to create more depth to the flavor!

    Allow it to simmer on low heat for about ten to fifteen minutes. Tip Make sure the heat setting is set to low. High heat will harden the shrimp and make for a rubbery texture that we don't want! 

    Green beans and pumpkin in coconut milk
    Shrimp in coconut milk with pumpkin and green beans
    Vegetables and shrimp in coconut milk

    Next, add the shrimp and let it simmer for between five to eight minutes. Finally, add the red bell peppers and continue to cook for five to eight minutes. Finally, add the turmeric, chili flakes, some salt, and pepper to your taste. 

    Variations of Ginataan

    Now that you know a basic ginataan recipe feel free to make ginataan dishes with your choice of meat and vegetables. You can sub out the shrimp for beef cubes. Other great vegetables to add to ginataan are broccoli, carrot, cauliflower, and other hardy options.  

    The other way to create a different version is to minimize the additions used. Cook only shrimp without vegetables in coconut cream. Alternatively, you can also choose to just cook kabocha pumpkin in coconut cream and make it a side or main dish. A personal favorite of mine is ginataang talong, which is an eggplant braised in coconut milk. It's a straightforward, healthy, and quick dish!

    A lesser-known recipe is combining adobo with coconut milk. And yes, we call it ginataang adobo! See what you come up with and let me know in the comments where your creativity led you!

    How to Eat Ginataang Hipon

    Ginataan dishes are eaten on top of steamed white rice, but there are some exceptions. You may not have as much sauce if you make ginataang with coconut cream. In this case, feel free to eat it as a side dish. But I think the best way to eat ginataang hipon is with rice!

    Closeup of shrimp in ginataang

    Storing Leftovers

    Any ginataan dish is better after it has some time in the fridge! I'm not a big leftover person. I like making food sizable enough for single meals. But with ginataan, I make a big batch knowing that I will have leftovers for a couple of days after the first meal! When the leftover ginataan sits in the fridge, it has time to develop its flavors and integrate better together. So when it is reheated, it's even more delicious! 

    Have You Tried This Recipe?

    Simply rate the recipe by clicking on the ⭐️s on the recipe card. Have something to say? Please leave me a comment down below telling me what you think of this recipe.

    Bonus: Let me and other readers know what you did to make this recipe your own - 💫 let's inspire each other!

    Also, follow me on Instagram [@seesfoodwilltravel] and send me a DM with a picture of what you made. I would love to share and celebrate YOUR creation with our budding community 💞

    Check out Sees Food, Will Travel on Pinterest and Facebook for more delicious updates.

    Closeup of ginataang hipon in a class bowl

    Ginataang Hipon at Kalabasa - Shrimp & Squash in Coconut Sauce

    This easy dish can easily be adjusted based on what you are feeling in a particular day. Shrimp braised in coconut milk sounds a little funky, but trust me it's one of the best comfort food dishes out there. In fact, it's my favorite Filipino food to eat with rice! Give it a try and let me know what you think!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Cook Time 40 mins
    Total Time 40 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Asian, Filipino
    Servings 4 people

    Ingredients
      

    • 500 grams (~1 pound) whole shrimp, deveined with shell on optional: head or headless
    • 200 grams Kabocha pumpkin, cut in large pieces optional: you can substitute Butternut squash
    • 1 can (14 oz) coconut milk
    • 1 medium onion, diced
    • 4 cloves garlic, minced
    • 2 tablespoon ginger, minced
    • 100 grams green beans (preferably snake beans) optional
    • 1 bell pepper, thickly juliened optional
    • 3 tablespoon fish sauce
    • ¼ teaspoon turmeric optional; only use when you are not using Kabocha pumpkin
    • ⅛ teaspoon crushed black pepper & salt optional; add more or less to your taste
    • ½ teaspoon chili flakes optional

    Instructions
     

    • Add a little bit of oil to a stock pot and heat. Then add ginger, onions, and garlic and cook until onions are glassy.
    • Add coconut milk, water (optional), pumpkin, and beans. Simmer on low for 10-15 minutes
    • Add shrimp and fish sauce, then simmer for 5-8 minutes
    • Add bell pepper and continue simmering for 5-8 minutes
    • Add salt, pepper, chili flakes (optional) and turmeric (optional; use if not using Kabocha) then mix and take off heat
    Keyword braised, coconut, coconut milk, comfort food, pumpkin, shrimp
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Filipino

    • Baked ube sugar cookies
      Ube Sugar Cookies
    • Fried Filipino fritters on a gray plate
      Filipino Apple Banana Fritters (Maruya)
    • Closeup of Bistek tagalog or Filipino beefsteak
      Bistek Tagalog (Filipino Beefsteak)
    • Closeup of ube lava cake on a blue plate
      Ube Lava Cake

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Joanne!

    Living abroad has taught me how food plays an important role in making connections worldwide. I love pies, Asian food, anything made from potatoes, and wine when it comes to food.

    You can learn more about me here.

    I created this site to track my gastronomy adventures, record inspired recipes, and help others build meaningful (and delicious!) travel itineraries.

    Cheers!

    Trending Recipes

    • Closeup of ube lava cake on a blue plate
      Ube Lava Cake
    • Rolled egg omelet or gyeran mari on a plate
      Cheesy Gyeran Mari (Rolled Omelet)
    • Ube cinnamon rolls on a wood table
      Ube Cinnamon Rolls
    • Sliced maja blanca on parchment paper
      A Creamy Maja Blanca Recipe

    Delicious Food Guides

    • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner in Belém (then Lisbon)
    • Overhead view of various plates in Degenried
      Wirtschaft Degenried: A Hidden Gem Restaurant in Zurich
    • Hawksmoor steak header
      Hawksmoor & Flatiron: Steaks in London

    Don't know where to start? See everything I've ever written here.

    Footer

    Currently

    I love anything that has to do with travel, eating, and cooking.

    Nowadays I am getting to know my Filipino heritage by developing some recipes of my own. Check out some Filipino recipes - you will love it 💕

    • Contact
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy

    Filipino Recipes

    Baked ube sugar cookies
    Fried Filipino fritters on a gray plate
    Closeup of Bistek tagalog or Filipino beefsteak
    • Recipe Index
    • Travel & Food Guide Index

    stay connected

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Copyright © 2023 Sees Food, Will Travel

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Do not sell my personal information.
    Cookie SettingsAccept
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT