Pro Tips
**Chef's Tips & Troubleshooting:**
- Cook shrimp and squid quickly over high heat — they turn rubbery in under 3 minutes.
- Do not overcook shrimp — they are done as soon as they turn pink and curl into a C-shape.
- Squeeze calamansi or lemon over seafood just before serving for a bright, fresh finish.
- Use fresh seafood whenever possible — frozen releases excess water and dilutes the sauce.
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.
Kung Pao Shrimp
Kung Pao Shrimp — fresh seafood prepared Filipino-style with garlic, vinegar, and calamansi. Briny, savory, and deeply flavorful.
Instructions
- Make the Kung Pao sauce by first diluting the cornstarch in 4 tbsp water then combine soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, sesame oil, and the diluted cornstarch. Mix well then set aside.
- Heat over a wok then pour-in cooking oil.
- When the oil is hot enough, add-in the garlic and ginger then stir fry until the color turns medium brown. The aroma should indicate that the next ingredients need to be added.
- Put-in the dried chilies, bell pepper, and onion and stir fry for 2 to 5 minutes or until the vegetables are done.
- Add the peanuts and stir-fry for a minute.
- Put-in the shrimp and cook for 2 minutes.
- Pour-in the Kung Pao sauce and stir. Make sure that all the ingredients are coated with sauce.
- Mix in the green onions, turn off the heat, and transfer to a serving plate.
- Serve hot.
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Pro Tips & Troubleshooting
- Cook shrimp and squid quickly over high heat — they turn rubbery in under 3 minutes.
- Do not overcook shrimp — they are done as soon as they turn pink and curl into a C-shape.
- Squeeze calamansi or lemon over seafood just before serving for a bright, fresh finish.
- Use fresh seafood whenever possible — frozen releases excess water and dilutes the sauce.
Cooking Tips
Pat shellfish dry before adding to the pan so they sear rather than steam. A hot, quick cook preserves their natural sweetness.
Substitutions
Storage & Reheating
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.
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