Focused recipe

Ginisang Sardinas with Ampalaya

A Filipino dish of sautéed sardines in tomato sauce with bitter melon, garlic, and onion. Quick to prepare and full of savory umami flavor balanced by the distinctive bitterness of ampalaya.

Difficulty Easy
Time 12 min
Servings 3
Ingredients 9
Steps 7
Ginisang Sardinas with Ampalaya
Filipino Updated 4/19/2017

Ingredients

Measured from the catalog payload.

  • 1 large can sardines in tomato sauce
  • 1 medium bitter melon cored and sliced into thin pieces
  • 1 small red onion sliced
  • 5 cloves garlic crushed
  • 2 tablespoons toasted garlic
  • 2 tablespoons scallion chopped
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons fish sauce
  • 3 tablespoons cooking oil

Instructions

7 cooking steps

  1. Heat oil in a cooking pot over medium heat.
  2. Sauté garlic and onion until the garlic starts to turn light brown.
  3. Add the sliced bitter melon. Continue to sauté for 2 minutes.
  4. Pour in the sardines in tomato sauce. Gently stir to combine.
  5. Season with ground black pepper and fish sauce. Cover and cook over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes.
  6. Transfer to a serving plate. Top with chopped scallions and toasted garlic.
  7. Serve hot with steamed rice. Share and enjoy!

Catalog details

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Fish No tags Public recipe Revision 1

Recipe notes

  • To reduce bitterness, soak sliced bitter melon in salted water for 15 minutes before cooking, then rinse and drain well.
  • For extra flavor, add a beaten egg in the last minute of cooking and gently stir until set.

Storage notes

  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
  • Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.