Main Course · Dinner · Filipino ·

Filipino Pinakbet with Bitter Melon and Eggplant

Name: Filipino Pinakbet with Bitter Melon and Eggplant
Prep time: 23 min
Cook time: 70 min
Total time: 93 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: 1 cup bitter melon, sliced and seeded; 1 cup eggplant, cubed; 1 cup squash, diced; 1 cup string beans, cut into 2-inch pieces; 1 cup okra, whole; 1 small onion, sliced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 2 tomatoes, chopped; 3 tablespoons shrimp paste (bagoong alamang); 1 tablespoon vegetable oil; 1/2 cup water; Salt to taste; Black pepper to taste

A savory and hearty Filipino dish featuring a mix of fresh vegetables stewed with shrimp paste, capturing the authentic taste of the Ilocos region.

4.7(459 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·October 16, 2025

Filipino Pinakbet with Bitter Melon and Eggplant — Main Course served and photographed from above

Prep

23 min

Cook

1 h 10 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Vegetable Medley

For the Shrimp Paste Base

For Seasoning

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 113 kcal
Protein: 4.75 g
Carbs: 15 g
Fat: 4.5 g
Fiber: 4.25 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 451 kcal
Protein: 19 g
Carbs: 60 g
Fat: 18 g
Fiber: 17 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
1 cup bitter melon sliced and seeded	20	1	4	0	2
1 cup eggplant cubed	35	1	9	0	2
1 cup squash diced	36	1	9	0	3
1 cup string beans cut into 2-inch pieces	31	2	7	0	3
1 cup okra whole	33	2	7	0	4
1 small onion sliced	28	1	6	0	1
3 cloves garlic minced	13	1	3	0	0
2 tomatoes chopped	44	2	10	0	2
3 tablespoons shrimp paste (bagoong alamang)	90	8	5	4	0
1 tablespoon vegetable oil	120	0	0	14	0
1/2 cup water	0	0	0	0	0
Salt to taste	0	0	0	0	0
Black pepper to taste	1	0	0	0	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Prepping the Vegetables

1
Rinse Vegetables
Rinse all vegetables thoroughly under running water.
2
Remove Seeds
Remove the seeds from the bitter melon and slice it into thin pieces.
3
Cut Eggplant and Squash
Cut the eggplant into cubes and dice the squash.
4
Chop Onion and Tomatoes
Chop the onion, tomatoes, and mince the garlic.

Preparing the Shrimp Paste Base

1
Heat Oil
In a small pot, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil.
2
Sauté Aromatics
Sauté the garlic and onion until fragrant.
3
Simmer Paste
Add shrimp paste and water; simmer for 5 minutes.
Tip: Avoid overcooking to preserve nutrients. Add shrimp paste in moderation and adjust to taste due to its saltiness.

How to Make Filipino Pinakbet with Bitter Melon and Eggplant

Total time: 1 h 33 min · Yields 4 servings

1
Sautéing
Begin by heating oil in a large pan. Sauté garlic, onions, and tomatoes until soft.
2
Incorporating Vegetables
Add the prepared vegetables starting with squash and eggplant. Mix in the shrimp paste base.
3
Simmering
Cover and let simmer until vegetables are tender but not mushy.