It’s great to know that Upo or Bottle Gourd is readily available in the produce section and that Filipinos have several ways of preparing it. Ginisang Upo or Sautéed Bottle Gourd is a classic Filipino dish that’s often served as a side or a main dish. Adding pork to Ginisang Upo is just one way to prepare this dish, and it adds an extra layer of flavor and protein to the course. Pork is a popular meat choice in Filipino cuisine, and its addition to Ginisang Upo creates a delicious and satisfying meal.
Cathy’s Ginisang Upo on the other hand is an all-vegetable recipe. All she did was sautee her bottle gourd in onions, garlic, tomatoes and salt and peppers to taste. She also added bean sprouts in the mix, for additional vegetable flavor. In other words, this is an exclusive veggie recipe.
Bottle Gourd is a nutritious vegetable that’s rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, making it a healthy addition to any diet. It’s great to see how Filipino cuisine incorporates different vegetables in their dishes to create flavorful and nutritious meals.
Ingredients: 3-4 servings
4 cups medium upo, peeled and cut into strips
1/2 cup bean sprouts
1 tbsp. coking oil
1 medium slice onion
2 minced cloves garlic
2 medium chopped tomatoes
1 ½ cups water
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
salt & pepper to taste
Cooking Procedure:
- First skin off upo, then slice them into thin cubes. Set them aside.
- On a pan or a wok, heat the oil, sauté onions and garlic. Gently stir to mix the two ingredients.
- Apply sliced tomatoes to the mix, continue to stir until tomatoes are softened. Add the sliced bottle gourd or upo, mix together to incorporate.
- Add water and bring it to boil. Adjust the heat to low, cover the pan and let ingredients simmer until they are slightly cooked.
- Readjust the heat to medium, uncover the pan and add sliced upo into the mix. Let it cook while stirring occasionally for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the bean sprouts, apply oyster sauce, then stir to combine ingredients. Season with salt and pepper. Continue to simmer while stirring occasionally for another 5 minutes, or until upo is fully cooked.
- Turn off the heat, transfer Ginisang Upo or Sauteed Bottle Gourd on a serving bowl. Serve hot with steamed rice.
Tip: Always add bean sprouts last. They easily overcook. You can use fish sauce as a substitute to oyster sauce. Adding pork strips as meat ingredients is a great idea for meat lovers!