If there's one diet that feels practically made for Filipinas with PCOS, it's the pescatarian diet. We already live in an archipelago where fresh fish and seafood are part of everyday life. Bangus from Dagupan, fresh tilapia from the palengke, sardinas in the can, tahong from the coast. Fish is in our bones, literally and culturally.
A pescatarian diet means you eat fish and seafood but no poultry or red meat. For PCOS specifically, this is a strong combination: you get the omega-3 fatty acids from fish that reduce inflammation and improve insulin sensitivity, the high-quality protein that keeps blood sugar stable, and you cut out the saturated fats from red meat that can worsen hormonal imbalance.
Why Pescatarian Eating Is a Natural Fit for PCOS
Omega-3 fatty acids are among the most well-researched nutrients for PCOS. They reduce the inflammatory markers that are chronically elevated in PCOS, improve insulin receptor sensitivity, support ovulation, and have even been shown in studies to reduce testosterone levels in women with PCOS.
Fatty fish like bangus, salmon, mackerel, and sardines are your richest sources. The beauty of the Filipino diet is that these are all everyday, affordable options that don't require a fancy grocery store.
Additionally, fish is generally a complete, lean protein that digests easily and keeps you full without the metabolic drawbacks of red meat. It's a hormone-friendly protein source by almost every measure.
Best Fish and Seafood for PCOS in the Philippines
Highest omega-3 content: Bangus (milkfish), sardinas/sardines, galunggong (mackerel scad), tanigue (wahoo/mackerel), salmon (canned or fresh)
High protein, lower fat: Tilapia, cream dory, maya-maya (red snapper), lapu-lapu (grouper)
Shellfish (zinc-rich, great for hormones and skin): Hipon (shrimp), tahong (mussels), talaba (oysters), pusit (squid), alimango/alimasag (crab)
Practical canned options: Sardines in tomato sauce, tuna in water, mackerel in brine.
7 - Day Pescatarian PCOS Meal Plan
DAY 1
Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs with Garlic Spinach and Whole Grain Bread
Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
Eggs | 3 large |
Baby spinach | 1 large handful |
Garlic, minced | 2 cloves |
Olive oil | 1 teaspoon |
Salt and pepper | To taste |
Whole grain bread or whole wheat pandesal | 1 slice or 1 piece |
Green tea (unsweetened) | 1 cup |
Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
1 | Beat eggs with salt and pepper. |
2 | Heat olive oil in a non-stick pan over medium heat. Sauté garlic 30 seconds. |
3 | Add spinach. Toss until just wilted, about 1 minute. |
4 | Pour in beaten eggs. Stir gently with a spatula over medium-low heat until just set and slightly creamy. |
5 | Serve immediately with whole grain bread and a cup of green tea. |
Lunch: Sinigang na Bangus
Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
Bangus (milkfish), cleaned and sliced into serving pieces | 1 medium (about 700g) |
Kangkong (water spinach) | 1 bunch |
Eggplant (talong), sliced | 1 large |
String beans (sitaw), cut into 2-inch pieces | 1 cup |
Tomatoes, quartered | 3 medium |
Onion, quartered | 1 medium |
Tamarind powder or fresh sampaloc | 1 sachet or 200g sampaloc |
Fish sauce (patis) | 2 tablespoons |
Green chili (siling haba) | 2 pieces |
Water | 6 cups |
Cooked brown rice | 1/2 cup |
Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
1 | Bring water to a boil in a large pot. Add tamarind powder and stir until dissolved. (If using fresh sampaloc, boil sampaloc in water, mash, and strain into the pot.) |
2 | Add tomatoes and onion. Simmer 5 minutes. |
3 | Add bangus slices and eggplant. Cook 5 to 7 minutes until fish is cooked through. |
4 | Add sitaw and green chili. Cook 3 more minutes. |
5 | Season with fish sauce. Taste and adjust sourness by adding more tamarind if desired. |
6 | Add kangkong in the last 2 minutes. Cook until just wilted. |
7 | Serve immediately with 1/2 cup brown rice. |
Dinner: Grilled Tanigue Steak with Steamed Broccoli
Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
Tanigue (wahoo or Spanish mackerel) steak | 2 pieces (about 500g total) |
Calamansi juice | 4 tablespoons |
Soy sauce or tamari | 2 tablespoons |
Garlic, minced | 3 cloves |
Black pepper | 1/2 teaspoon |
Olive oil | 1 tablespoon |
Broccoli florets | 2 cups |
Cooked brown rice | 1/2 cup |
Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
1 | Mix calamansi juice, soy sauce, garlic, pepper, and olive oil. Marinate tanigue in this mixture for at least 20 minutes. |
2 | Heat a grill pan over high heat until very hot. Brush with a bit of oil. |
3 | Grill fish 4 to 5 minutes per side until grill marks appear and fish is cooked through. |
4 | While fish grills, steam broccoli over boiling water for 4 to 5 minutes until bright green and tender-crisp. |
5 | Serve grilled tanigue with steamed broccoli and 1/2 cup brown rice. |
DAY 2
Breakfast: Oatmeal with Chia Seeds and Walnuts
Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
Rolled oats | 1/2 cup |
Unsweetened soymilk or oat milk | 1 cup |
Chia seeds | 1 tablespoon |
Ground flaxseed | 1 tablespoon |
Banana, half (sliced) | 1/2 piece |
Walnuts, roughly chopped | 1 tablespoon |
Cinnamon | 1/4 teaspoon |
Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
1 | Combine oats and soymilk in a pot over medium heat. |
2 | Stir frequently and cook 5 to 7 minutes until thick and creamy. |
3 | Remove from heat. Stir in chia seeds, flaxseed, and cinnamon. |
4 | Pour into a bowl. Top with sliced banana and walnuts. |
5 | Serve immediately while warm. |
Lunch: Ginisang Monggo with Tinapa Flakes and Malunggay
Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
Green mung beans, soaked 1 hour | 1 cup |
Smoked fish (tinapa), flaked and bones removed | 1/2 cup |
Malunggay leaves | 1 large handful |
Garlic, minced | 4 cloves |
Onion, diced | 1 medium |
Tomatoes, chopped | 2 medium |
Cooking oil | 1 tablespoon |
Fish sauce | 1 tablespoon |
Water | 4 cups |
Salt and pepper | To taste |
Cooked brown rice | 1/2 cup |
Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
1 | Heat oil in a pot. Sauté garlic, onion, and tomatoes until soft and fragrant. |
2 | Add tinapa flakes. Stir and cook 2 minutes. |
3 | Add soaked monggo and water. Bring to a boil. |
4 | Reduce heat. Simmer 20 to 25 minutes until monggo is soft. |
5 | Season with fish sauce, salt, and pepper. |
6 | Add malunggay leaves. Cook 2 more minutes. |
7 | Serve with 1/2 cup brown rice. |
Dinner: Steamed Lapu-Lapu with Ginger and Tamari
Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
Whole lapu-lapu (grouper), cleaned | 1 medium (about 600g) |
Fresh ginger, julienned | 3 tablespoons |
Green onions (scallions), cut into 2-inch pieces | 4 stalks |
Tamari or soy sauce | 3 tablespoons |
Sesame oil | 1 tablespoon |
Garlic, minced | 3 cloves |
Red chili, sliced (optional) | 1 piece |
Cooking oil (for hot oil drizzle) | 2 tablespoons |
Bok choy, halved | 2 heads |
Cooked brown rice | 1/2 cup |
Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
1 | Score the fish on both sides with diagonal cuts. Season lightly with salt. |
2 | Place fish on a heatproof plate. Stuff the cavity and cuts with half the ginger. |
3 | Set up a steamer with water. Place the fish plate inside once water is boiling. |
4 | Steam 15 to 18 minutes until flesh is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. |
5 | While fish steams, mix tamari, sesame oil, and garlic in a small bowl for the sauce. |
6 | Steam bok choy alongside the fish for the last 3 to 4 minutes. |
7 | Remove fish from steamer. Top with remaining julienned ginger, green onions, and chili. |
8 | Heat 2 tablespoons of oil until smoking. Pour carefully over the fish — it will sizzle dramatically and cook the aromatics. |
9 | Drizzle tamari sauce over everything. Serve with steamed bok choy and brown rice. |
DAY 3
Breakfast: Soft-Boiled Eggs with Sweet Potato and Ginger Tea
Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
Eggs | 2 to 3 large |
Sweet potato (camote), medium | 1 piece |
Fresh ginger, sliced | 4 thick slices |
Water | 2 cups (for ginger tea) |
Honey | 1 teaspoon (optional, for tea) |
Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
1 | For ginger tea: boil ginger slices in 2 cups water for 10 minutes. Strain into a mug. Add honey if desired. |
2 | For sweet potato: steam or boil until tender, about 20 minutes. |
3 | For soft-boiled eggs: bring water to a boil. Lower eggs in gently with a spoon. Cook exactly 6 minutes for a runny-jammy yolk. |
4 | Transfer eggs immediately to cold water for 2 minutes. Peel carefully. |
5 | Serve eggs halved alongside steamed sweet potato and ginger tea. |
Lunch: Cold Brown Rice Tuna Salad Bowl
Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
Cooked brown rice (cold) | 1/2 cup |
Canned tuna in water, drained | 1 can (180g) |
Cucumber, diced | 1 large |
Cherry tomatoes, halved | 1 cup |
Red onion, thinly sliced | 1/4 medium |
Baby spinach or kangkong (blanched and drained) | 1 handful |
Extra virgin olive oil | 2 tablespoons |
Calamansi juice | 3 tablespoons |
Garlic, grated | 1 small clove |
Salt and pepper | To taste |
Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
1 | Make the dressing: whisk together olive oil, calamansi juice, grated garlic, salt, and pepper. |
2 | In a large bowl, combine cold brown rice, tuna, cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, and spinach. |
3 | Pour dressing over the bowl. Toss gently to combine. |
4 | Taste and adjust seasoning. Eat immediately or refrigerate for up to 4 hours. |
5 | No reheating needed — this bowl is eaten at room temperature or chilled. |
Dinner: Sinigang na Hipon with Sitaw and Kangkong
Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
Shrimp (medium to large), cleaned and deveined | 400g |
Kangkong | 1 bunch |
String beans (sitaw), cut | 1 cup |
Labanos (radish), sliced | 1 medium |
Tomatoes, quartered | 3 medium |
Onion, quartered | 1 medium |
Tamarind powder or fresh sampaloc | 1 sachet or 200g |
Fish sauce | 2 tablespoons |
Green chili | 2 pieces |
Water | 6 cups |
Cooked brown rice | 1/2 cup |
Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
1 | Bring water to a boil. Dissolve tamarind. |
2 | Add tomatoes and onion. Simmer 5 minutes. |
3 | Add labanos. Cook 5 minutes. |
4 | Add sitaw and green chili. Cook 3 minutes. |
5 | Add shrimp. Cook 3 minutes until pink and cooked through. Do not overcook. |
6 | Season with fish sauce. |
7 | Add kangkong. Cook 2 minutes. |
8 | Serve with 1/2 cup brown rice. |
DAY 4
Breakfast: Sardine and Egg Brown Rice Sinangag
Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
Cooked brown rice (cold, day-old) | 1 cup |
Canned sardines in tomato sauce | 1/2 can (about 90g) |
Eggs | 2 large |
Garlic, minced | 4 cloves |
Onion, diced | 1/4 medium |
Soy sauce or tamari | 1 teaspoon |
Coconut oil | 1 tablespoon |
Green onions, sliced | 2 stalks |
Salt and pepper | To taste |
Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
1 | Heat coconut oil in a wide pan or wok over high heat. |
2 | Fry garlic and onion until golden and fragrant. |
3 | Add cold brown rice. Stir-fry 3 to 4 minutes, breaking up any clumps. |
4 | Push rice to the side. Crack eggs into the pan and scramble. Mix into rice. |
5 | Add drained sardines. Break apart gently and stir into rice. |
6 | Season with soy sauce, salt, and pepper. |
7 | Garnish with green onions. Serve hot. |
Lunch: Kinilaw na Tanigue (Fresh Fish Ceviche)
Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
Sashimi-grade fresh tanigue (wahoo), cubed into 2cm pieces | 500g |
Calamansi juice | 1/2 cup (about 15 pieces) |
White cane vinegar | 3 tablespoons |
Fresh ginger, julienned | 2 tablespoons |
Red onion, thinly sliced | 1 medium |
Tomatoes, diced | 2 medium |
Green or red chili, thinly sliced | 1 to 2 pieces |
Coconut cream (optional, for richer version) | 3 tablespoons |
Salt and pepper | To taste |
Cooked brown rice | 1/2 cup |
Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
1 | Make sure your fish is extremely fresh — ideally bought that morning. |
2 | Place cubed fish in a non-metal bowl (glass or ceramic). |
3 | Pour calamansi juice and vinegar over fish. Toss well. |
4 | Let marinate 10 to 15 minutes at room temperature, stirring once or twice. Fish will turn opaque on the outside — this is the acid "cooking" it. |
5 | Drain most of the marinade, leaving just a small amount. |
6 | Add ginger, red onion, tomatoes, and chili. Toss to combine. |
7 | Stir in coconut cream if using, for a creamier version. |
8 | Season with salt and pepper. Taste and adjust sourness. |
9 | Serve chilled or at room temperature with brown rice. |
Dinner: Baked Stuffed Bangus with Pinakbet
Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
Whole bangus, cleaned and butterflied | 1 large |
Tomatoes, diced | 2 medium |
Onion, diced | 1 medium |
Garlic, minced | 4 cloves |
Ginger, sliced | 4 thin slices |
Calamansi juice | 3 tablespoons |
Soy sauce or tamari | 2 tablespoons |
Salt and pepper | To taste |
Aluminum foil | For wrapping |
For pinakbet: | |
Ampalaya, sliced | 1 medium |
Eggplant, sliced | 1 large |
Sitaw, cut | 1 cup |
Kalabasa, cubed | 1 cup |
Okra | 6 pieces |
Shrimp paste (bagoong alamang) | 1 tablespoon |
Garlic, minced | 3 cloves |
Onion, sliced | 1 medium |
Tomatoes, chopped | 2 medium |
Cooking oil | 1 tablespoon |
Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
1 | Preheat oven to 200°C. |
2 | Mix calamansi juice, soy sauce, garlic, salt, and pepper. Rub over bangus inside and out. |
3 | Stuff fish cavity with tomatoes, onion, and ginger. |
4 | Wrap tightly in foil. Bake 25 to 30 minutes. |
5 | For pinakbet: heat oil. Sauté garlic, onion, and tomatoes. Add bagoong. |
6 | Add kalabasa. Cover and cook 5 minutes. |
7 | Add eggplant, sitaw, okra, and ampalaya. Cook 8 minutes covered. |
8 | Serve baked fish alongside pinakbet. |
DAY 5
Breakfast: Coconut Milk Chia Pudding with Mango and Pumpkin Seeds
Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
Chia seeds | 3 tablespoons |
Full-fat coconut milk (unsweetened) | 1 cup |
Vanilla extract | A few drops |
Cinnamon | A pinch |
Fresh mango, diced | 1/4 cup |
Pumpkin seeds (for zinc) | 1 tablespoon |
Hard-boiled eggs (on the side) | 2 large |
Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
1 | The night before: combine chia seeds, coconut milk, vanilla, and cinnamon in a jar. |
2 | Stir very well for 2 minutes to prevent chia from clumping at the bottom. |
3 | Cover and refrigerate overnight. |
4 | In the morning, stir the pudding. Top with mango and pumpkin seeds. |
5 | Serve with 2 hard-boiled eggs on the side for protein. |
Lunch: Seafood Chopsuey
Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
Shrimp (medium), cleaned | 200g |
Squid (pusit), cleaned and sliced into rings | 150g |
Fish balls (homemade or store-bought) | 8 pieces |
Cabbage, cut into squares | 1 cup |
Carrots, sliced diagonally | 1 medium |
Cauliflower florets | 1 cup |
Snap peas | 1/2 cup |
Bell pepper (red and green), sliced | 1/2 each |
Garlic, minced | 4 cloves |
Onion, sliced | 1 medium |
Oyster sauce | 2 tablespoons |
Soy sauce | 1 tablespoon |
Sesame oil | 1 teaspoon |
Cornstarch | 1 teaspoon dissolved in 3 tablespoons water |
Chicken or fish broth | 1/2 cup |
Cooking oil | 2 tablespoons |
Cooked brown rice | 1/2 cup |
Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
1 | Heat oil in a wok over high heat. Sauté garlic and onion 1 minute. |
2 | Add carrots and cauliflower. Stir-fry 3 minutes. |
3 | Add squid and shrimp. Stir-fry 2 to 3 minutes until seafood is just cooked. |
4 | Add cabbage, snap peas, bell pepper, and fish balls. Toss together. |
5 | Pour in broth, oyster sauce, and soy sauce. Stir. |
6 | Add cornstarch mixture. Stir until sauce thickens and coats everything. |
7 | Finish with sesame oil. Serve with 1/2 cup brown rice. |
Dinner: Red Lentil Soup with Pan-Fried Tilapia Fillet
Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
Red lentils | 1 cup |
Tilapia fillets | 2 pieces (about 350g) |
Garlic, minced | 5 cloves |
Onion, diced | 1 large |
Tomatoes, chopped | 3 medium |
Cumin | 1/2 teaspoon |
Turmeric | 1/2 teaspoon |
Olive oil | 3 tablespoons (divided) |
Calamansi juice | 3 tablespoons |
Kangkong or spinach | 1 large handful |
Water | 5 cups |
Salt and pepper | To taste |
Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
1 | Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a pot. Sauté garlic and onion until golden. |
2 | Add cumin and turmeric. Stir 30 seconds. Add tomatoes. Cook 3 minutes. |
3 | Add lentils and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes. |
4 | Stir in kangkong. Cook 2 more minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and calamansi. |
5 | Season tilapia with salt, pepper, and a bit of calamansi juice. |
6 | Heat remaining olive oil in a separate pan over medium-high heat. |
7 | Pan-fry tilapia 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. |
8 | Serve soup in bowls with a piece of fried tilapia on top or alongside. |
DAY 6
Breakfast: Three-Egg Omelette with Bell Pepper and Onion
Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
Eggs | 3 large |
Red bell pepper, diced | 1/4 piece |
Green bell pepper, diced | 1/4 piece |
Onion, diced | 1/4 medium |
Garlic, minced | 1 clove |
Coconut oil | 1 teaspoon |
Salt and pepper | To taste |
Unsweetened soymilk | 1 glass (on the side) |
Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
1 | Beat eggs with salt and pepper. |
2 | Heat coconut oil in a non-stick pan. Sauté garlic, onion, and bell peppers 2 minutes. |
3 | Pour in eggs over the vegetables. |
4 | As edges set, lift and tilt pan. When mostly set, fold in half. |
5 | Cook 1 more minute. Slide onto plate. |
6 | Serve with a glass of cold unsweetened soymilk. |
Lunch: Paksiw na Isda with Eggplant
Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
Bangus, tilapia, or any firm fish, sliced | 600g |
Eggplant, sliced | 1 large |
Ginger, sliced into thick strips | 5 slices |
Garlic, crushed | 5 cloves |
White cane vinegar | 1/2 cup |
Water | 1/2 cup |
Whole peppercorns | 1 teaspoon |
Long green chili (siling haba) | 2 pieces |
Salt or fish sauce | To taste |
Cooking oil | 1 tablespoon |
Cooked brown rice | 1/2 cup |
Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
1 | Arrange ginger and garlic at the bottom of a shallow pot or wide pan. |
2 | Lay fish slices on top. Arrange eggplant slices around and between the fish. |
3 | Pour in vinegar and water. Add peppercorns and green chili. |
4 | Do not stir. Bring to a boil over medium heat. |
5 | Once boiling, reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 12 to 15 minutes. |
6 | Drizzle oil over the top. Season with salt or fish sauce. |
7 | Serve with steamed vegetables and 1/2 cup brown rice. |
Dinner: Grilled Garlic Shrimp Skewers with Brown Rice Salad
Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
Large shrimp, shell-on or peeled | 500g |
Garlic, minced | 5 cloves |
Calamansi juice | 4 tablespoons |
Olive oil | 3 tablespoons |
Red chili flakes | 1/4 teaspoon |
Salt and pepper | To taste |
Bamboo skewers (soaked in water 30 minutes) | 6 to 8 |
For brown rice salad: | |
Cooked brown rice (cold) | 1/2 cup |
Cherry tomatoes, halved | 1/2 cup |
Cucumber, diced | 1 medium |
Red onion, thinly sliced | 1/4 medium |
Olive oil | 1 tablespoon |
Calamansi juice | 2 tablespoons |
Salt and pepper | To taste |
Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
1 | Mix garlic, calamansi, olive oil, chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Marinate shrimp in this mixture for 20 minutes. |
2 | Thread shrimp onto soaked bamboo skewers. |
3 | Grill over hot coals or in a grill pan over high heat, 2 to 3 minutes per side until pink and slightly charred. |
4 | For rice salad: combine cold brown rice, tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion. |
5 | Dress with olive oil, calamansi, salt, and pepper. Toss well. |
6 | Serve shrimp skewers alongside the brown rice salad. |
DAY 7
Breakfast: Malunggay Smoothie with Chia Seeds and Hard-Boiled Eggs
Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
Fresh malunggay leaves or malunggay powder | 1 large handful or 1 teaspoon powder |
Coconut milk (unsweetened) | 1 cup |
Frozen banana, half | 1/2 piece |
Chia seeds | 1 tablespoon |
Small piece of fresh ginger | 1/2 teaspoon grated |
Hard-boiled eggs | 2 large |
Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
1 | Add malunggay, coconut milk, banana, chia seeds, and ginger to a blender. |
2 | Blend 60 seconds until completely smooth and bright green. |
3 | Pour into a glass and drink immediately. |
4 | Serve with 2 hard-boiled eggs on the side for protein. |
Lunch: Nilagang Isda with Bok Choy and Sayote
Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
Bangus or any firm white fish, sliced | 600g |
Bok choy, halved | 2 heads |
Sayote (chayote), cubed | 1 large |
Potatoes, quartered (small) | 1 small |
Onion, quartered | 1 medium |
Ginger, sliced | 4 thick slices |
Peppercorns | 1 teaspoon |
Fish sauce | 2 tablespoons |
Calamansi | 2 pieces |
Water | 6 cups |
Cooked brown rice | 1/2 cup |
Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
1 | Bring water to a boil with onion, ginger, and peppercorns. Simmer 10 minutes to build flavor. |
2 | Add potato. Cook 8 minutes. |
3 | Add sayote. Cook 5 more minutes. |
4 | Add fish. Cook 5 to 7 minutes until fish is cooked through and flakes easily. |
5 | Add bok choy. Cook 2 minutes. |
6 | Season with fish sauce. Serve with calamansi on the side and brown rice. |
Dinner: Steamed Tahong (Mussels) in Ginger Broth
Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
Fresh tahong (mussels), scrubbed and debearded | 1 kilo |
Ginger, sliced into thick strips | 4 tablespoons |
Garlic, crushed | 5 cloves |
Onion, sliced | 1 medium |
Calamansi juice | 3 tablespoons |
Cooking oil | 1 tablespoon |
Fish sauce | 1 tablespoon |
Water or dry white wine | 1/2 cup |
Green onions, sliced | 3 stalks |
Red chili (optional) | 1 piece |
Sauteed kangkong (on the side) | 1 bunch |
Cooked brown rice | 1/2 cup |
Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
1 | Discard any mussels that are already open and don't close when tapped — these are dead. |
2 | Heat oil in a large pot or wok over medium-high heat. Sauté ginger, garlic, and onion 2 minutes. |
3 | Add water or wine. Bring to a boil. |
4 | Add mussels. Cover tightly. Cook over high heat 3 to 5 minutes until all shells open. |
5 | Discard any mussels that did not open. |
6 | Season broth with fish sauce and calamansi juice. |
7 | Add green onions and chili. |
8 | For sauteed kangkong: stir-fry with garlic and a drop of oil for 2 minutes. |
9 | Serve mussels in bowls with the broth poured over. Accompany with sauteed kangkong and brown rice. |
Omega-3 Guide for Common Filipino Fish
Fish | Omega-3 per 100g (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Sardines (canned) | 1,400 to 2,000mg | Highest, very affordable, eat 2 to 3x per week |
Bangus (milkfish) | 1,200 to 1,600mg | Excellent, widely available |
Galunggong (mackerel scad) | 1,000 to 1,400mg | Great value for omega-3s |
Tanigue (wahoo) | 800 to 1,200mg | Lean and mild, good for grilling |
Tilapia | 200 to 400mg | Lower omega-3, but still good protein |
Shrimp | 300 to 500mg | High in zinc, great for skin and hormones |
Mussels (tahong) | 600 to 800mg | Good omega-3, high in iron |
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