Seafood is an essential part of a meal in the Philippines. The seafood includes a variety of food items such as fish, shrimp (hipon), crab, shellfish and others. When I say seafood Ulam Ideas, it includes all the seafood that is available in the Philippines.

Many Filipino Families eat seafood dishes frequently as the seafood is affordable and easy to cook. Out of hundreds of seafood Ulam recipes, I have selected 15 seafood Ulam ideas that are worth cooking at home.

Why Filipino People Choose Seafood Over Other Meats

The seafood is often the first choice of Filipino People to prepare Ulam and other food dishes. There are some significant reasons for the popularity of seafood compared to other meat options available in the Philippines. Here I share five main reasons to explain why seafood is more favourable than other meats.

[I] Freshness: The seafood is fresher compared to other meats. The Filipino People have noticed that they can get fresh fish and hipon easily, while the chicken and pork are not that much fresh.

[II] Ease of Access: In coastal regions of Philippines, the seafood is available almost every day of the year but the pork and beef are not available or accessible as compared to seafood.

[III] Budget-Friendly: The seafood is more affordable in comparison of other meats like chicken, beef and pork. The seafood items (fish, shrimp, etc.) are expensive during the rainy season only otherwise, the seafood is a budget-friendly yet healthy Ulam option for Filipino People.

[IV] Faster Cooking Time: The seafood is easier and faster to cook at home. There are many seafood Ulam dishes that you can cook completely in 15 to 30 minutes. On the other hand, the meat dishes like pork and beef take longer time to get cooked and ready for eating.

[V] Easy to Digest: The seafood is also a meat yet it is lighter for your digestive system. If you eat chicken or pork Ulam in dinner, it will feel heavy in your stomach. On the other hand, if you eat seafood Ulam in dinner, it will feel light in your stomach and will easily digest.

So, these are the five reasons for which the Filipino People choose seafood Ulam over other meats.

15 Easy Seafood Ulam Ideas for Family Meals

I have prepared a curated list of various seafood dishes that you can prepare as an Ulam and pair it with steamed rice to get the best taste and flavour. Here I am going to share 15 seafood Ulam ideas including the Ulam Recipes cooked using the Fish, Shrimp, Squid, Crab and Shellfish.

Fish Ulam Ideas

#1. Daing na Bangus

Daing na Bangus is an easy seafood Ulam dish made by frying the Bangus (Milkfish). The ease of cooking feature makes Daing na Bangus a favorite fish Ulam recipe for many Filipino families on busy days. Moreover, the fresh Bangus is available almost everywhere in the Philippines.

The Daing na Bangus Ulam is delicious and nutritious. It contains protein and healthy fats that are good for your physical and overall health. You must clean the Bangus, wash it and marinate it well with vinegar, garlic, pepper and salt. Thereafter fry it in hot oil till its skin becomes crispy and enjoy eating it with your family.

#2. Paksiw na Isda

Paksiw na Isda is a classic Filipino Seafood Ulam Recipe to cook at home. The Paksiw na Isda means cooking a fish in vinegar, you need a whole fish which can be either Bangus or Tilapia or Galunggong, you can choose the fish that your family likes the most.

You need to clean the fish, remove its bones and cut it into pieces. Then add the fish, garlic, ginger and vegetables (e.g. eggplant) in a pot. Then pour vinegar and some water and bring to boil, then cook at low heat for 10 minutes. Add some salt and pepper for taste and your Paksiw na Isda Ulam is ready.

If you are craving something meaty, explore our delicious Chicken Ulam Ideas for easy everyday meals.

#3. Inihaw na Isda

Inihaw na Isda is one of the healthy Filipino seafood dishes prepared with a little oil. You can cook this seafood Ulam dish using a Bangus or Tilapia or any other fish you like. Kindly note that the fish must be fresh and you must clean and wash it well before cooking it.

You should cut the fish from both sides and fill it up with stuff like chopped onions, tomatoes and other herbs. You can brush the fish from outside using a marinade (mixture) of garlic, soy sauce and calamansi. Then wrap the fish with banana leaves and grill it over hot charcoal till its skin becomes crispy.

Once the Inihaw na Isda Ulam is ready, cut it into the serving size for your family members. You can eat this yummy seafood Ulam with a dipping sauce and steamed rice.

Shrimp (Hipon) Ulam Ideas

#4. Sinigang na Hipon

Sinigang na Hipon is a Filipino Seafood Ulam Soup popular for its tangy flavour and delicious taste. This soup dish is made with Shrimp (Hipon), tamarind mix, common ingredients and some vegetables. The tangy flavour and sour broth make it more delicious and addictive.

You need to clean the shrimp properly, then boil 1 liter water in a pot. Add onion, tomatoes and radish, cook them for some minutes. Add tamarind mix and shrimp, cook it till it turns pink. Add kangkong and okra, cook them for a while and add fish sauce at the end to finish.

#5. Ginataang Hipon

Ginataang Hipon is a rich and creamy seafood Ulam dish that you must try once to know why it is everyone’s favourite. To prepare this Ulam recipe, you need to cook the shrimp in coconut milk. The combination of creamy and savory flavours will delight you and your family when eating Ginataang Hipon Ulam with steamed rice in dinner.

You can add squash and string beans like vegetables to make your Filipino Seafood Ulam Dish more filling and nutritious. You should saute garlic, onion and ginger in a little oil pan to enhance the taste.

The coconut milk makes Ginataang Hipon a bit sweet, you can add chilli to make it spicy. It is recommended to cook at low heat and serve hot to get the tangy and delicious flavours in every bite. For rich and hearty dishes, don’t miss these flavorful Pork Ulam Ideas perfect for family dinners.

#6. Butter Garlic Shrimp

Butter Garlic Shrimp is a perfect seafood Ulam recipe to cook on special occasions. Instead of oil, the shrimp is cooked in butter and plenty of garlic. The enhanced flavour of garlic makes this budget seafood Ulam Philippines more delicious when paired with hot white rice.

The Garlic Butter Shrimp is very easy to cook and required limited ingredients. You just need to clean the shrimp and pat it dry. Heat up butter in a pan and saute garlic till it turns golden. Add the shrimp and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.

Finally add salt, pepper and calamansi juice for adjusting the taste. You can add chilly flakes to spice up this Filipino seafood recipe, not recommended for children. Now it is ready to serve on the dinner table. Want more seafood inspiration? Check out our complete list of Fish Ulam Ideas for quick and budget-friendly recipes.

Squid (Pusit) Ulam Ideas

#7. Ginisang Pusit

Ginisang Pusit is a quick seafood Ulam dish that you can cook in just 10 to 15 minutes. The word “Ginisa” means to saute and Pusit is the seafood, it is also known as Squid. So, Ginisang Pusit and Ginisang Squid are two names of the same one seafood dish cooked in Philippines.

You need to clean the squid (pusit), remove ink sac and cut it into rings. Saute garlic, onion and tomatoes in hot oil in a pan. Add the squid and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add soy sauce, salt and pepper to get the desired taste.

Adding chilli is a personal choice otherwise your Ulam dish is ready to serve and eat with hot rice.

#8. Adobong Pusit

Adobong Pusit is a simple yet healthy seafood Ulam recipe loved by Filipino People for cooking family meals. The Squid (Pusit) is rich in protein, while the savory ingredients make it delicious as well. You need to clean the Squid but don’t remove ink sac as its natural ink offers the deep flavour in Adobong Pusit Ulam Dish.

In order to create a tempting aroma, you should add garlic, onion and bay leaves in Adobong Pusit recipe. The soy sauce and vinegar provide added flavour, while the red chilli turns this Ulam a bit spicy. You can also add green chilli in place of red chilli if you want.

The Squid (Pusit) takes only 3 minutes to get cooked. When all ingredients are cooked properly and the sauce has become thick, your Adobong Pusit Ulam is ready to serve.

#9. Inihaw na Pusit

Inihaw na Pusit is a popular Filipino Seafood Ulam that is cooked by grilling over hot charcoal. The grilling process adds smoky flavour to the Inihaw na Pusit Ulam Recipe. Many Filipino people love to eat smoky flavour Ulam with steamed rice and therefore Inihaw na Pusit is their favourite dish.

Before cooking, clean the Squid (Pusit) and don’t cut it. Fill up the squid with stuffing of tomatoes, garlic and onions. Brush the Squid with a mixture of soy sauce, calamansi juice, salt and pepper. Wrap the Squid in banana leaves and grill it over hot charcoal.

You should grill the Squid for up to 5 minutes on top side and 5 minutes on bottom side to cook properly. You can eat the Inihaw na Pusit Ulam with hot rice and a dipping sauce.

Crab Ulam Ideas

#10. Ginataang Alimango

Ginataang Alimango is a seafood Ulam cooked on special occasions because Filipino People consider Crab (Alimango) as a premium food. The name Ginataang Alimango indicates that the crab is cooked in coconut milk to add the rich and creamy flavour to the Ulam Dish.

To make this yummy seafood Ulam more filling, you can add Squash and String Beans vegetables. Cooking Ginataang Alimango is super easy. Just clean and cut the crab (alimango) into pieces. Saute garlic, onion and ginger in hot oil. Then add crabs and cook for a few minutes.

Pour coconut milk and simmer it for a while. Add Squash and cook it till it becomes soft. Finally add string beans and chilli as well as fish sauce as per your taste needs. When it is ready, serve it with rice to your loved ones.

#11. Chili Crab (Filipino Style Chili Crab)

Chili Crab is a Filipino Style Seafood Ulam for spicy food lovers. The chili is in its name, it means this Ulam Dish is going to be spicy. You need to cook the crab in a spicy sauce made with a mixture of garlic, onion, tomato sauce and chili along with the soy sauce. You can add sugar if you want otherwise avoid it, it’s not mandatory.

In order to make the spicy sauce thicker, you can beat an egg and add its yolk in the sauce. Kindly note that you should add the yolk after the crabs are fully cooked and you just need to add salt & pepper to finish it. You can serve the Chili Crab Ulam with hot rice and you can also use it as a dipping sauce for eating the bread.

#12. Rellenong Alimasag

Rellenong Alimasag is a perfect combination of sweet and savory flavours in one Ulam dish. It is prepared by stuffing the crab with a mixture of garlic, onion, eggs and vegetables. If cooked correctly, you will enjoy eating every little bite of it with its yummy flavours.

Before you fill up the crab, you should clean it, steam it and get the meat out of it. Then mix the meat with other stuff and put it back into the crab. Once filled up, you need to bake the stuffed crab(s) in an over for up to 20 minutes. When the crab turns golden on top, it is ready.

Shellfish Ulam Ideas

#13. Tinolang Tahong

Tinolang Tahong is a Filipino Seafood Ulam Soup that is very easy to cook yet feels flavourful when eating. The word Tinola means ginger based soup and Tahong means mussels i.e. type of shellfish.

To cook Tinolang Tahong at home, you need to create a mixture of garlic, onion and ginger. Saute all three in hot oil and add some water, then boil it. Add vegetables like Chayote or Papaya and cook them.

Add mussels and cook them for 5 minutes. When the shell opens, consider the mussels as cooked. Add Malunggay Leaves and fish sauce at the end. Once ready, serve it with hot steamed rice and eat Tinolang Tahong with your family.

#14. Butter Grilled Talaba

Butter Grilled Talaba is a rich and savory Ulam recipe for Filipino Family Meals. You need to grill Oysters (Talaba) with butter to create a rich and flavourful Ulam dish.

The combination of buttery taste and naturally sweet taste of Oysters make this dish worth cooking on special occasions like birthdays, family gatherings and others.

Firstly, you should clean the Oysters and put them on a grill. Melt the butter in a pan and mix it well with garlic and calamansi juice. Add some salt and pepper for taste. Pour the mixture on each Oyster using a spoon.

Cook the Oysters for up to 7 minutes and remove the grill. Wait for the Butter Grilled Talaba to cool down and then serve it with hot steamed rice for the dinner.

#15. Baked Cheesy Scallops

Baked Cheesy Scallops is a rich and slightly sweet Ulam recipe cooked in Filipino Style. To prepare this yummy dish, the Scallops are backed with cheesy and creamy topping. The taste of melted cheese mixed with other spices make this Ulam dish special for everyone.

You need to use cheese, butter and milk cream to cook this Baked Cheesy Scallops Ulam creamy, smooth and very delicious. You should clean the Scallops, then arrange them in their shells or in the baking dish.

Melt the butter in a pan and saute garlic for a while. Add milk cream, salt and pepper. Then pour the sauce plus cheese with a spoon on each Scallop. Bake it for 15 minutes. As the cheese melts and the Scallops turn golden, your Baked Cheesy Scallops Ulam Dish is ready to serve and eat. Looking for something lighter? Try these healthy and simple Vegetable Ulam Ideas to balance your meals.

Expert Tips for Cooking Seafood Ulam

In order to cook a delicious seafood Ulam, you must have expertise knowledge about it. Here I provide some pro cooking tips to help you prepare seafood Ulam with the best possible taste.

[i] Check Seafood for Freshness

When buying seafood, you must check it carefully to know if it is fresh or not. Whether it is a fish, shrimp or other seafood, check its eyes. The fish eyes must be clear and the texture must be firm. One more thing, the seafood should have mild fishy smell and not the strong smell. If these three things are correct, the seafood is fresh and worth buying.

[ii] Clean and Wash Before Cooking

Before cooking the seafood, you must clean it by cutting with a knife and removing its guts, fins and gills. Cut the seafood from tail to head properly, then wash it with vinegar plus cold water.

[iii] Remove Fishy Smell

You must clean the seafood and use vinegar to remove the fishy smell. If you don’t remove the fishy smell, it will ruin the taste of cooked seafood. Therefore you must remove the smell before cooking the seafood.

[iv] Marinate Properly

Before cooking the seafood, I recommend you to marinate it with the mixture of garlic, ginger and onion. You can also use some soy sauce to add some flavour and adjust the taste.

[v] Don’t Overcook Seafood

While cooking Filipino Seafood Ulam at home, you must add other ingredients i.e. cooking oil, soy sauce, spices and vegetables before the seafood. You should cook vegetables till they turn soft and add the seafood at the end.

Cook the seafood at low heat for 5 to 8 minutes. Don’t cook the seafood longer than 10 minutes. If it is overcooked, the seafood will become rubbery on outside and dry on inside, you won’t like its taste or texture. Therefore you must not overcook the seafood.

Kindly follow these cooking tips to prepare your seafood Ulam properly and get the yummiest taste when eating the seafood Ulam with steamed rice at home.

Wrapping Up

The Seafood Ulam is popular among Filipino People living in various regions of the country. The seafood is budget-friendly and rich in Omega 3 & Protein. Moreover, the seafood is easily available and its fresher than other meat options.

Above I have explained 15 best seafood Ulam ideas for Filipino Family Meals in brief. I have included five different types of seafood in the list of seafood Ulam dishes for everyday cooking and occasional time.

For more queries or doubts related to Filipino Style Seafood Ulam Ideas, just check out the FAQs and their answers given below. You can also ask your queries and questions in the comment section and expect a response from the author in 24 working hours.

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