We Filipino people eat hot steamed rice with various Ulam recipes. When we are busy all day, we need some quick Ulam ideas to cook Ulam Dish for dinner is short time.

Cooking white rice takes a little time, but the Ulam Dish may take longer. Therefore we must pick an Ulam Recipe that can be cooked as quickly as 10 to 15 minutes. It will help us to prepare our dinner meal faster so that our family members don’t need to wait much.

In order to find the yummiest quick Ulam recipe Philippines, I have tried and tasted 100+ Ulam Meals. At the end, I found some delicious Filipino Ulam Dishes that get cooked fast yet pair perfectly with steamed rice and make the meal more filling to satisfy your appetite.

15 Quick Ulam Ideas for Busy Days

Here I am going to share 15 Ulam ideas that get ready in just 10 to 30 minutes. When you have a hectic day and want to cook rice and Ulam for dinner, you can try out these quickest Ulam ideas to cook yummy Filipino Meals for your family.

Let me explain the quick Filipino Ulam ideas for 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes and 30 minutes.

10-Minute Quick Ulam Ideas

#1. Tuna Omelet (Tuna Omelette)

Tuna Omelet (Tuna Omelette) is one of the quickest Ulam recipes to cook for dinner. This yummy and budget-friendly Ulam Dish takes only 10 minutes to get cooked and ready for eating with steamed rice.

To cook Tuna Omelet Filipino Ulam, you need to mix Canned Tuna with Beaten Eggs and common seasoning ingredients like onions, tomatoes, salt and pepper. Make sure the onions are chopped and tomatoes are diced properly to mix well with Tuna and Eggs.

After mixing all the ingredients, pour the mixture in a pan with hot oil. Take a little oil to stir-fry and cook the Ulam Dish thoroughly. Cook it for 3 minutes and flip it, then cook again for 3 minutes and your Tuna Omelet Ulam is ready to serve and eat with steamed rice.

#2. Garlic Butter Shrimp

Garlic Butter Shrimp is a famous Filipino Ulam Recipe because of its garlic aroma and buttery flavour. When you are too busy for cooking multiple dishes, you can manage with this quick Ulam dish that gets cooked in just 10 minutes.

The combination of butter and garlic creates a delicious flavour that feels good when paired with rice. Cooking Garlic Butter Shrimp at home is very easy. Make sure that you have cleaned the Shrimp properly before you start cooking the Ulam.

You should add 3 spoons of butter in a pan and heat it up. Add garlic and saute it for one minute, then add the Shrimp and cook for 3 minutes, then flip. Add soy sauce and cook for another 3 minutes. Add salt and pepper for taste and enjoy eating the Garlic Butter Shrimp as an Ulam dish.

To customize the Ulam, you can add chilli to make it spicy or add calamansi juice to make it sour.

Try these tasty and easy 👉 Seafood Ulam Ideas that are perfect for busy weekdays.

#3. Corned Beef with Potato Cubes

Corned Beef with Potato Cubes is a kids-friendly Filipino Ulam cooked mostly for the breakfast or lunch. When you kids are hungry, they won’t wait longer, therefore I suggest to prepare this quick Beef Ulam Dish named Corned Beef with Potato Cubes in 10 minutes only.

The canned corned beef comes pre-cooked, therefore it takes only 2-3 minutes to get ready for eating. However, the potato cubes takes up to 4 minutes of stirring-cooking to turn golden and become tender to mix well with beef and other ingredients.

You need to saute garlic and onion in a pan with some hot cooking oil. Then add potato cubes and fry or stir-fry them. You can add tomatoes to add some tangy taste. Add corned beef and cook for 3 minutes. Finally, add salt and pepper to adjust taste and finish cooking the Corned Beef with Potato Cubes Ulam Dish.

#4. Ginisang Sardinas

Ginisang Sardinas is the easiest and quickest Ulam recipe to cook in the shortest time of 10 minutes. You need a Can of Sardines in tomato sauce and some common seasoning ingredients like garlic, onion, tomato and chilli.

Kindly note that the canned sardines are already cooked, they just need 2-3 minutes of low heat to get warm and ready to eat as a quick Fish Ulam Dish. You can add leafy vegetables for customization purposes.

First of all, heat up oil in a pan, saute garlic and onion for 1 minute. Add chopped tomatoes and wait till they become soft. Add canned Sardines along with its sauce, stir and cook at low heat for 3 minutes. Ad chilli, salt and pepper, the Ginisang Sardinas Ulam is ready to serve with steamed rice.

15-Minute Quick Ulam Ideas

#5. Bistek na Itlog

Bistek na Itlog is a well known recipe, but originally it is prepared with beef, while the Filipino version is cooked with eggs. You need four eggs with common ingredients to cook this quick Ulam dish in just 15 minutes.

First you need to heat oil in a pan and fry all four eggs in cooking oil. Get the fried eggs out and saute garlic and onion rings in the same pan. Add soy sauce, calamansi juice and some water, then stir it well and cook slowly for 3 minutes.

Add fried eggs in the pan and use a spoon to take soup from the pan and pour it on each egg. Cook for 2 more minutes and it is ready. The Bistek na Itlog is a creamy and flavourful Ulam that pairs perfectly with steamed rice to provide the yummiest taste in every bite.

#6. Ginataang Gulay

Ginataang Gulay is a fresh vegetable Ulam dish in which the veggies are cooked with coconut milk. It offers a creamy, smooth texture with mild sweetness to satisfy your taste buds. Overall, it is a healthy and budget-friendly Ulam to cook quickly and eat with your loved ones.

In order to cook this quick vegetable Ulam recipe at home, you should have squash, string beans, eggplant and some leafy greens. You can use shrimp or dried fish if you want to make it more filling, adding shrimp is a personal choice, it is completely up to you.

To prepare Ginataang Gulay Ulam, saute garlic and onion in a pan with hot oil. Add squash and cook for 2 minutes, add coconut milk and mix well. Then add eggplant, string beans and leafy greens, cook them for 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper, serve it hot with steamed rice to enjoy its creamy flavourful taste.

#7. Chicken Teriyaki Strips

Chicken Teriyaki Strips are a Filipino Style Ulam Recipe inspired from Japanese Teriyaki. In order to cook this quick chicken Ulam recipe, you need to use either chicken breast or chicken thigh. You also need some soy sauce, honey, garlic, cooking oil and water.

You should make thin slices of chicken so that they get cooked faster than usual. Moreover, the thin chicken slices easily absorb the flavour of soy sauce and other ingredients to offer the best possible taste ever.

Saute garlic with medium heat in a pan with cooking oil. Add chicken strips and cook for 6 minutes to turn them brown. Pour soy sauce, honey and water, stir properly. Simmer for 4 minutes and the Chicken Teriyaki Strips Ulam is ready.

You can add vegetables to make the Ulam more filling and add Cornstarch mixture to make sauce thicker.

#8. Quick Sinigang na Hipon

Quick Sinigang na Hipon is a Filipino Soup Ulam Dish to eat with hot steamed rice for lunch or dinner. If you are looking for a Quick Seafood Ulam Recipe then Sinigang na Hipon is the best option for you.

The Shrimp is the main ingredient of this Ulam Meal. It takes a little time to get cooked and that’s why the Sinigang na Hipon Dish gets ready in just 15 minutes. The Kangkong and Okra vegetables make this Ulam filling and nutritious.

You need to boil water in a pot, add sliced tomatoes & onions and cook for 2 minutes. Add Okra and cook it till it turns tender. Add 1 pack of Sinigang Mix and stir well. Add Shrimp, cook it for 3 minutes. Add Kangkong and cook for 1 minute. Add salt and pepper to finish.

20-Minute Quick Ulam Ideas

#9. Kare-Kare Style Peanut Chicken

Kare-Kare Style Peanut Chicken is a quick chicken Ulam recipe prepared with chicken thigh. You should cut the chicken into small pieces, it makes the cooking process easier and faster.

The mixture of chicken, vegetables and peanut butter creates a creamy flavour with every bite. Cooking Kare-Kare Style Peanut Chicken is super quick and very easy. It gets ready in less than 20 minutes.

You should saute garlic and onion in a pan with cooking oil. Add chicken pieces and cook them for 5 minutes. Add water and soy sauce, simmer for 3 minutes. Add peanut butter and wait for it to melt. Add Eggplant and Pechay, cook them till turn soft. Add salt and pepper to finish and serve hot with steamed rice.

#10. Ginataang Tilapia

Ginataang Tilapia is a rich and creamy Ulam Dish with a savory, satisfying taste. The coconut milk offers a bit of sweetness, while other ingredients balance make it sour and spicy to balance the taste.

The Ginataang Tilapia is easy and quick to cook in minutes. If you want to cook a Quick Fish Ulam in 20 minutes then you should try out Ginataang Tilapia Ulam Dish.

You can start with sauteing garlic, onion and ginger in hot oil. Add Tilapia and cook it for 3 minutes. Pour coconut milk and simmer. Add egg plant, leafy vegetables and chili peppers, cook them till turn tender (10 minutes). Add salt and pepper at the end.

#11. Chicken Afritada

Chicken Afritada is a Classic Filipino Ulam Recipe that combines chicken with tomato sauce. It also has some vegetables and seasoning ingredients. The chicken thigh and leg piece are perfect for the Chicken Afritada Ulam Dish.

The combination of chicken, veggies and tomato sauce make this quick Ulam dish perfect for busy days and also for special occasions. You can cook it easily by sauteing garlic and onion in hot oil. Add chicken pieces and cook them for 5 minutes.

Once the chicken turns brown, it’s time to pour tomato sauce and simmer for 5 minutes. Add potato and carrot pieces and cook for 3 minutes. Add bell peppers and cook for 2 minutes.

Finally, add salt and pepper for taste and serve hot with steamed rice to enjoy this savory Ulam with your family.

30-Minute Quick Ulam Ideas

#12. Chicken Adobo

Chicken Adobo is one of the most popular Filipino Ulam Recipes cooked in every household across the country. To prepare Chicken Adobo at home, you need to cook the chicken pieces in a mixture of garlic, soy sauce, vinegar and spices.

When cooked properly, the soft chicken pieces absorb the sauce to create a rich flavour. You should use chicken thigh and drumsticks to cook this quick chicken Ulam Dish.

The simple cooking process makes Chicken Adobo a perfect Ulam choice for beginners. Saute garlic and onion in hot oil, add chicken pieces and cook for 5 minutes, Add soy sauce, vinegar and water. Add bay leaves & black peppercorns, leave it to simmer for 10 minutes. Once the chicken become tender, it’s ready to serve and eat.

#13. Pork Menudo

Pork Menudo is a rich and flavourful pork Ulam. It is prepared by cooking pork in tomato sauce with various vegetables. The combination of pork, veggies and tomato sauce make this a colourful Ulam dish to serve on special occasions like birthdays and others.

You should cut the pork in small cubes that make cooking faster and eating comfortable. First saute onion and garlic in hot oil, add pork cubes and cook till it turn light brown.

Add soy sauce, tomato sauce and water, then simmer it for 15 minutes. Add potatoes and carrots, cook them till they turn soft. Add bell peppers, stir for a while. Add salt and pepper at the end to get your Pork Menudo Ulam ready to eat. Enjoy this rich Ulam with rice.

If you love meat-based meals, don’t miss these delicious 👉 Pork Ulam Ideas for quick and satisfying everyday cooking.

#14. Bangus Steak

Bangus Steak is a simple yet flavourful fish Ulam dish that gets cooked quickly. In order to prepare the Bangus Steak Ulam, you need to cook the Bangus (Milkfish) with calamansi juice, soy sauce, garlic and a lot of onions.

The Bangus Steak Recipe is popular among Filipino People because it uses fish instead of beef (red meat). It is good for heart health and also offers quick cooking to get the Bangus Steak Ulam ready in 30 minutes.

Start cooking by marinating Bangus in soy sauce and calamansi juice for 10 minutes. Fry Bangus in hot oil for 4 minutes and get it out. Saute garlic and onion, then add marinade water and simmer for 3 minutes. Add Bangus and cook for 5 minutes to get the Ulam ready.

#15. Beef Caldereta Express

Beef Caldereta Express is a tangy Ulam recipe cooked in tomato sauce. It also requires garlic, onion, bell pepper and other spices and ingredients. The potatoes and carrots make this quick beef Ulam more filling, while chili flakes add some spicy taste to it.

To cook the Beef Caldereta Express Ulam in 30 minutes, you should learn the process. Firstly, cut the beef into small cubes and put it aside. Saute garlic and onion in hot oil for 1-2 minutes. Add beef cubes and cook till they turn brown.

Add tomato sauce and water and simmer for 15 minutes. Add cubed potatoes and sliced carrots, cook them till they turn soft. Add cheese or liver spread and bell peppers. Add salt, pepper and chili flakes, simmer for 2 minutes and you are done.

The Beef Caldereta Express Ulam Dish is ready to serve with steamed rice and eat with your family.

Quick Ulam Ideas for Rainy Days

Cooking a meal is a challenge on rainy days. You cannot get all vegetables or seafood easily available in rainy season. Moreover, most people don’t have much time to cook for hours, therefore they look for some quick Ulam ideas for rainy days and use them.

Many people want to eat a warm meal on a rainy day. Here I provide 10 super quick Ulam recipes for rainy days as under:

1. Sinigang na Isda – Sour tamarind fish soup with tomatoes and kangkong.
2. Sardines with Misua – Simmer canned sardines with garlic, onion, and misua noodles.
3. Chicken Tinola Shortcut – Use chicken breast strips or leftover rotisserie chicken with ginger and malunggay.
4. Ginisang Monggo – Quick moong bean stew with spinach and flakes of tinapa or chicharon.
5. Tokwa’t Itlog – Fried tofu with scrambled eggs and tomatoes.
6. Lucky Me Pancit Canton Upgrade – Add egg, cabbage, carrots, and leftover meat to instant noodles.
7. Arroz Caldo Express – Quick rice porridge using leftover rice, ginger, chicken, and boiled egg.
8. Adobong Sitaw with Pork – String beans cooked adobo-style.
9. Creamy Tuna Sopas – Macaroni soup with tuna, evaporated milk, and vegetables.
10. Beef Noodle Soup – Use instant beef noodles and add pechay, egg, and beef strips.

The quick Ulam recipes mentioned above can be cooked in 10 to 20 minutes. You can try cooking them on a rainy day to prepare your family meal quickly and enjoy eating it with your loved ones.

Final Words:

Cooking Ulam is a daily activity for every home maker person i.e. man or woman. Above I have suggested 15 quick Ulam ideas for a variety of Ulam recipes that get ready in minimum 10 minutes and maximum 30 minutes.

The Filipino Style Ulam includes pork, beef, chicken, fish and other seafood plus vegetables. I have covered all of them in my list of quick Ulam recipes for Filipino Family Meals.

In case you have a doubt or query about any Ulam Dish, you can ask it in the comment section. To learn more about quick Ulam recipes in Philippines, check out the FAQs and their answers shared below.

FAQs