Ginataang kalabasa · Filipino · Main Course

Ginataang kalabasa

Born in Philippines

“A creamy, umami-laden dish where sweet calabaza softens into coconut milk and fermented fish sauce.”

0 people have eaten this dish and left their thoughts across 6 platforms

8 in 10 mention creamy texture first

8 in 10 say it's worth it for the umami-laden

5 in 10 would come back the same week

Synthesised from Google · Yelp · TripAdvisor · Reddit · 2 food blogs · Updated August 2026

The story the reviews tell

Ginataang kalabasa is a Filipino stew where chunks of calabaza soften into a creamy coconut broth, their natural sweetness playing against the funky depth of fermented fish or fish sauce. Shrimp and yardlong beans tumble through the pot, though you might find it studded with crab, fish, or meat depending on what's on hand. It's the kind of dish that tastes like home because it tastes like umami and comfort at once.

What makes this version distinct

Ginataang kalabasa, also known as kalabasa sa gata, is a Filipino vegetable stew made from calabaza in coconut milk and spices. It commonly includes shrimp and yardlong beans and either bagoong (fermented fish or shrimp) or patis (fish sauce). It can also be cooked with fish, crab, or meat and a variety of other ingredients. It is a creamy umami-laden dish that is naturally slightly sweet due to the calabaza. It is a type of ginataan.

Signature elements

coconut-braisedumami-forwardnaturally sweetfermented funkvegetable stew

What people love

creamy texture
umami-laden
naturally sweet from calabaza
flexible with proteins

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“Vegetables cooked low with fermented fish sauce—umami-driven, no added fat, all flavor.”

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“Unripe jackfruit becomes tender and absorbent in coconut milk, anchoring a stew that shifts with seafood, meat, and vegetables.”

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“A Filipino sweet steamed in its own coconut shell, made from mashed taro, condensed milk, and egg yolks.”