Tortang kalabasa facts for kids
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| Alternative names | squash omelette, squash fritters, okoy na kalabasa, squash okoy |
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| Course | main course, side dish |
| Place of origin | Philippines |
| Serving temperature | Warm |
| Main ingredients | Calabaza |
Tortang kalabasa is a tasty dish from the Philippines. It's a type of omelette or fritter made mainly from calabaza, which is a kind of pumpkin or squash. People also call it squash fritters, squash okoy or okoy na kalabasa.
This dish is made by mixing mashed or finely grated pumpkin with flour, water, egg, salt, and pepper. Sometimes, other chopped vegetables are added to make it even more flavorful. It's often served warm as a main course or a side dish with other Filipino meals.
What is Tortang Kalabasa?
Tortang kalabasa is a popular Filipino dish. The word "torta" means "omelette" or "fritter" in Filipino, and "kalabasa" means "pumpkin" or "squash." So, it literally means "pumpkin omelette" or "squash fritter." It's a simple yet delicious way to enjoy vegetables.
How It's Made
Making tortang kalabasa is quite easy. First, you need to get some fresh calabaza. This squash is often bright orange or green.
- Prepare the squash: The squash is usually peeled, seeded, and then either mashed or grated into small pieces.
- Mix the batter: The mashed or grated squash is then mixed with flour, which helps bind everything together. An egg is added to make it an omelette-like texture. Water, salt, and pepper are also mixed in for flavor.
- Add extras: Some people like to add other ingredients to their tortang kalabasa. This could include minced garlic, onions, or other finely chopped vegetables like carrots or green beans.
- Cook it: Once the mixture is ready, spoonfuls are dropped onto a hot pan with a little oil. They are flattened slightly and cooked until they are golden brown and crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside.
Serving Tortang Kalabasa
Tortang kalabasa is usually served warm. It can be eaten on its own as a snack, but it's more commonly served with rice as part of a main meal. Many people enjoy dipping it in a sauce, like vinegar with garlic and chili, or a simple soy sauce and calamansi (a small Filipino lime) mixture.
Similar Dishes
Tortang kalabasa is very similar to another Filipino dish called okoy. Both are types of fritters. However, okoy is traditionally made with a batter from glutinous rice flour, not eggs. Even though they are different, tortang kalabasa is sometimes called "squash okoy" because of their similar appearance and cooking style. This shows how Filipino cuisine often has many variations of popular dishes.
