Pro Tips

**Chef's Tips & Troubleshooting:**

- Marinate fish in vinegar and calamansi for no more than 30 minutes, or the acid starts cooking it raw (like ceviche).

- Pat fish completely dry before frying — moisture is the enemy of crispy coating.

- Fry fish in batches to maintain oil temperature and prevent sticking.

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.

Homemade Fish Balls with Spicy Fish Ball Sauce

Homemade Fish Balls with Spicy Fish Ball Sauce

Metro Manila, NCR

Homemade Fish Balls are as fun to make as they are to eat! Soft and bouncy, they're popular as street food with spicy fish ball sauce but just as delicious in soups or stir-fries.

Prep: 5 min Cook: 25 min Total: 30 min Hard Serves 19

Instructions

  1. Warm up some oil in a pan or pot on medium heat.
  2. Get fish nicely browned in the pan, then set it aside. in the pan.
  3. Add the aromatics — garlic, onion, ginger — and Cook it until fragrant.
  4. Add the garlic, pepper. Season it to taste.
  5. Heat it until everything gets tender and the flavors have melded together.
  6. Serve it while it's hot with steamed rice.

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Pro Tips & Troubleshooting

**Chef's Tips & Troubleshooting:**
- Marinate fish in vinegar and calamansi for no more than 30 minutes, or the acid starts cooking it raw (like ceviche).
- Pat fish completely dry before frying — moisture is the enemy of crispy coating.
- Fry fish in batches to maintain oil temperature and prevent sticking.

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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