How to Make Kilawin na Pugita: A Filipino-Inspired Appetizer
Kilawin is the term for a raw seafood dish in the Philippines. You could say it is like a Filipino version of the famous ceviche of South America. However, kilawin doesn't always refer to seafood that's completely raw. In the northern part of the Philippines, for example, the term commonly refers to lightly blanched or grilled meat.
Pugita is the Tagalog word for octopus. Kilawin na pugita, therefore, is lightly blanched (or grilled) octopus.
I would like to share my simple recipe for how to make this dish. It is commonly served as an appetizer, but it can also be part of the main meal.
Ingredients
- 1/2 kilogram pugita (octopus), thinly sliced
- 1 inch ginger, minced
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 small tomatoes, sliced
- Water, as needed
- Pinch of salt
- Dash of vinegar
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Utensils
For Preparing:
- 1 medium bowl
- 1 large plate
- chopping board
- knife
For Cooking:
- pot
- tongs
Cook Time
Instructions
- Boil water in a pot.
- Add octopus, vinegar, and salt. Cook for at least 10 minutes, or until octopus is slightly tender.
- Remove octopus from the boiling water immediately. Set aside to let it cool.
- Prepare the ginger, onions, and tomatoes. Set aside.
- Slice the octopus into small pieces. Place it in a bowl.
- For the bowl with the octopus, add the ginger, onions, and tomatoes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Thoroughly mix all the ingredients.
Kilawin na Pugita Step-by-Step Procedure
Tips and Techniques
- Serve this dish as an appetizer or as a part of the main meal.
- Drizzle a spicy vinegar to spice up the flavor.
- Adjust the amount of the vegetables if desired.
- Cooking time may vary depending on the size of the octopus. The smaller the octopus, the shorter the cooking time.
- In a larger octopus, the tenderness of the various parts (e.g., tentacles vs. body) may vary.
Questions & Answers
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Comments
Hey, Dred cuam, you are welcomed. Some persons get horrifed when they heard that from me. But I am glad you have great knowledge and insight into what you are doing. Ah ah ah! eh, eh, eh! Have a nice time.
- AUTHOR
Hi Miebakagh,
Yeah, it is! hahaha
Hey, Dred cuam, you got it. But does not it actually look like a worm in a description? Thanks, and good day.
- AUTHOR
Hello Miebakagh,
Oh, you mean the vein/intestine? Yeah I know that, it's usually taken off for peeled shrimp. Anyway, I thought you are referring to an actual worm.
Hello, Dred cuam, if you dissect a fresh giant shrimp length-wise, you'llsee the form. Thanks.
- AUTHOR
HI Miebakagh,
Seriously with the worms? So far, I haven't seen anything like that.
Hello, Dred cuan, I agreed with you. Not every person can eat all plates of seafood like the Octopus. Some even dread a big shrimp, because of the big worms in them. Good day.
- AUTHOR
Hello Eric,
In our place, not everyone eats octopus because of its toughness. So they're not able to sell this all the time. But I myself, I love eating both! Especially when battered with some cold drinks. lol
- AUTHOR
Hello Mary,
Yes, size may affect the octopus. The video above shows smaller octopus so the cooking time is lesser than the typical 30 to 45 minutes. Last new year, we had a 9 kilos octopus far bigger than the one in the video. So the tenderness of each part of an octopus may vary for the bigger one. Tentacles call for a longer time, while the other parts require different cooking time. I also think the age of the octopus will affect their softness too. Therefore, baby octopus requires lesser time to cook. I hope I was able to answer the question. Thank you!
Very cool. I just assumed everyone ate Calamari and Octopus. Such delightful foods. I will use this to vary my uses.
I have cooked octopus twice and I thought it has to be cooked longer. I want to try the 10 minutes. Do you think it is based on size? One youtube video said to cook it for 45 minutes. I am not really sure. Ihave not yet tried 10 minutes so I will try it. Love the spices you used.
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Hello, Dred cuan, I was offline due to a family commitment. Burials, weddings, meeting with fellow pension colleagues, and so on. But from now, I will be twice a week online. Thanks for weighing in, and have a nice day.
- AUTHOR
Hello Miebakagh,
Where have you been my friend? It's been a while huh!
That's new information to me, thank you for sharing. So Pugita, Ome, and Octopus are all the same. Have a wonderful day!
Hello, Dred cuan, the Octopus is called "Ome" in my Ijay language. Your recipe can serve as a balanced meal for weight watchers,as it includes natural vegetable ingredients like onions, presh tomatoes, and fresh peppers, and ginger. Thanks for sharing, and good day.
- AUTHOR
Hi Liz,
Not everybody is aware that octopus can be eaten because of its intimidating look. But yeah, it is possible. I hope you can try in the future.
I would not know where to start cooking octopus. This is a good idea.
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