Pro Tips

**Chef's Tips & Troubleshooting:**

- Let the oven fully preheat before putting the dish in for consistent cooking.

- Use a meat thermometer to check doneness rather than relying on cooking time alone.

- Squeeze calamansi or lemon over seafood just before serving for a bright, fresh finish.

- Add fish sauce gradually when cooking seafood — its strong flavor can easily overpower delicate fish.

Cooking Tips

Seafood cooks quickly — remove it from heat the moment it turns opaque and flakes easily with a fork. Overcooking makes it tough and rubbery. Pat shellfish dry before adding to the pan so they sear rather than steam. A hot, quick cook preserves their natural sweetness.

Ingredient Substitutions

Short on time? A pressure cooker (Instant Pot) can reduce cooking time by roughly half for most braised and stewed Filipino dishes. Reduce liquid slightly since less evaporates.

Storage & Reheating

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. The flavors often deepen overnight, making leftovers even more delicious. Seafood dishes are best consumed within 1–2 days. Reheat gently — microwave on low power or warm in a covered skillet over low heat to avoid overcooking. Do not refreeze thawed seafood dishes. Once reheated, consume immediately and do not re-refrigerate. Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water or broth if the sauce has thickened during storage. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each.

Baked Garlic Milkfish

Baked Garlic Milkfish

Metro Manila, NCR

Garlic milkfish baked in the oven until golden and tender. A hands-off Filipino preparation with rich, developed flavors.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 45 min Total: 60 min Medium Serves 16

Instructions

  1. Combine the chopped parsley and crushed garlic in a mortar. Pound the mixture using a pestle.
  2. Add salt, ground black pepper, and olive oil. Grind the ingredients using the pestle.
  3. Arrange the milkfish in a plate in a position wherein the open cavity faces upwards. Rub the garlic and parsley mixture over the milkfish. Let it stay for 3 hours.
  4. Cut the head and tail off the milkfish. Slice into serving pieces. Arrange in a baking tray lined with aluminum foil.
  5. Preheat the oven to 370F. Once the oven gets hot, bake the milkfish for 45 minutes or until the top turns light brown.
  6. Take off from the oven and transfer to a serving plate. Serve.

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Pro Tips & Troubleshooting

**Chef's Tips & Troubleshooting:**
- Let the oven fully preheat before putting the dish in for consistent cooking.
- Use a meat thermometer to check doneness rather than relying on cooking time alone.
- Squeeze calamansi or lemon over seafood just before serving for a bright, fresh finish.
- Add fish sauce gradually when cooking seafood — its strong flavor can easily overpower delicate fish.

Cooking Tips

Seafood cooks quickly — remove it from heat the moment it turns opaque and flakes easily with a fork. Overcooking makes it tough and rubbery.
Pat shellfish dry before adding to the pan so they sear rather than steam. A hot, quick cook preserves their natural sweetness.

Substitutions

Short on time? A pressure cooker (Instant Pot) can reduce cooking time by roughly half for most braised and stewed Filipino dishes. Reduce liquid slightly since less evaporates.

Storage & Reheating

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. The flavors often deepen overnight, making leftovers even more delicious.
Seafood dishes are best consumed within 1–2 days. Reheat gently — microwave on low power or warm in a covered skillet over low heat to avoid overcooking.
Do not refreeze thawed seafood dishes. Once reheated, consume immediately and do not re-refrigerate.
Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water or broth if the sauce has thickened during storage. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each.
R

Tita Liza Reyes

Heirloom Recipes & Modern Adaptations

Tita Liza Reyes is a contributor to the UlamDaily editorial team. A retired school teacher from Batangas with over 30 years of home cooking experience, she helps document and adapt heirloom recipes from across the Philippines for today's kitchen.

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