Escabeche Lapu Lapu with crisply-fried grouper, pickled bell peppers, and papaya in a sweet and tangy sauce. This Filipino sweet and sour fish is easy to make for family dinners yet fancy enough for special occasions.
I was going to update these old escabeche lapu lapu photos for our 24 Days to Christmas special series, but I couldn’t find a big enough fish at the Asian supermarkets I frequent. Of course, any type or size of firm-fleshed fish such as tilapia, red snapper (Maya Maya), talikitok, apahap or tanique is fine to use in this recipe, but I just think a hefty grouper is more party-worthy and would look more impressive on a holiday table.
Anyway, I am not going to sweat about how badly these pictures need reshooting. After all, it’s all about the taste and this Filipino-style sweet and sour fish is amah-zing! With crisply-fried whole fish smothered in colorful bell peppers, shredded papaya, and a perfectly sweet and tangy sauce, it is sure to be a crowd favorite.
What is in Escabeche?
Escabeche refers to a type of dish popular in Latin and Mediterranean cuisine wherein meat or fish are marinated and cooked in an acidic mixture such as vinegar or citrus juices. Assorted vegetables such as peppers, onions, and carrots are also commonly added for color and texture.
Filipino escabeche is a local adaptation of this Spanish dish consisting of either poached or fried fish which is smothered in a sweet and sour sauce made of vinegar and sugar with ketchup added for color and cornstarch for thickening. and garnished with tender-crisp vegetables such as bell peppers and shredded papaya.
Although other variants of escabeche can be served cold, this Filipino version is best enjoyed hot and fresh from the stove or at the very least at room temperature as the sauce tends to congeal.
Escabeche Lapu Lapu with crisply-fried grouper, pickled bell peppers, and papaya in a sweet and tangy sauce. This Filipino sweet and sour fish is easy to make for family dinners yet fancy enough for special occasions.
- 1 (2 to 3 pounds) whole Lapu Lapu (grouper)
- salt and pepper to taste
- canola oil
- 1 small onion, peeled and sliced thinly
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 1 thumb-size ginger, peeled and julienned
- 1/2 small green papaya, peeled and grated
- 1 small red bell pepper, seeded and cut into strips
- 1 small green bell pepper, seeded and cut into strips
- 1 cup vinegar
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoons cornstarch
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Clean and gut the fish. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
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In a wide pan over medium heat, heat about 2-inch deep of oil. Add fish and cook, turning once or twice, until golden, crisp, and cooked through. Remove from heat and drain on paper towels. Keep warm.
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In a pan over medium heat, heat about 1 tablespoon of oil. Add onions, garlic, and ginger and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened.
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Add grated papaya and bell peppers and cook, stirring regularly, until tender yet crisp. Remove from pan and keep warm.
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In a saucepan over medium heat, combine vinegar, sugar, and ketchup. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil.
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In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and water. Stir until smooth. Add to the pan and continue to cook, whisking continuously, for about 1 to 2 minutes or until sauce thickens.
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Place fried fish on a serving platter and garnish with the vegetable mixture. When ready to serve, pour sweet and sour sauce on top.
Hi Lalaine. Just wanted to ask if you can substitute banana ketchup with ordinary ketchup. Tnx! I just made your maja blanca. It was delicious!
Hello Joan,
Yes, you can! Just adjust the amount of sugar and vinegar as banana ketchup tends to be sweeter and less tangy than tomato.
a response to lalaine,
you sounded like youve already experience being born again?
hahaha can you share what happen?
and it seems youve seen people who goes in hell? hahaha
share also what you saw
Dear Lalaine Manalo,
-You asked: “I am a Catholic and my roommate, G, is a Lutheran. Although religion has never played in our discussions before, my abstaining from meat for Lent has become a small bone of contention. The way he sees it, we follow God “by how we live and not by what we eat.” He believes that alms-giving and personal works of charity are more meaningful acts of penance than fasting and abstinence. I maybe not be willing to give up on Catholic practices I’ve been raised all my life but his ideas on faith have certainly given me food for thought. What do you think?”
-Response: It is not by doing (alms-giving, works, food abstinence, etc..) that you will be saved. It is ONLY by being born again. By accepting JESUS CHRIST as your Personal Savior and Lord. JESUS is not a religion. Anyone that leave this earth without JESUS in his heart goes straight to hell. Everybody has to accept HIM in his heart sometimes in this life and HE loves you. The fact that you are asked this above question means that you are looking for HIM.
If you are not born again yet, just say this prayer:
Lord JESUS I believe you are the Son of GOD. I believe you died at the Cross for my sins to give me life. Forgive for my sins. Please come into my heart and be my personal Lord and Savior.
Lalaine Manalo, if you pray this prayer in the sincerity of your heart and believe it. You are born again and your life will be changed for the best.
Be blessed.
Amen to Wealth,
I was born & raised Catholic too & was going to be a nun. Jesus is The Way, The Truth and The Life. No one cometh to the Father but by Him. John 14:6, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: It is the gift of God: Not of good works, lest any man should boast….We are created in Christ Jesus unto good works.After we die there is only Hell & Heaven. No purgatory. Accept Jesus Christ today…While God can be found & while we are alive. Do not wait till tomorrow. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ finished work today. It is done. There is a penalty for our sins. But Jesus who is the Only Begotten Son of God came down from heaven to save all sinners. Yes and He died once and for all.
Read who is the real Jesus Christ of the Bible. Isaiah 9:6, John 1:1,1:31:10-14, Revelation 19:13,16. Matthew 1:21-23. The Bible is the Word of God and according to it.. the Lamb of God for the sacrifice. Only Him can save us not works nor religion nor the priests or our sacrifices. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. John 3:16. Read what it says and what the Bible says. Do not believe me but read the Bible for yourself. God is good and He is not a respecter of man. He will come again to redeem His and to judge.Once you are saved no more condemnation. No more condemnation. You need to be born again. May the Lord God open your eyes to the truth. The Lord Jesus is waiting to hear from you today. Thank you,
I’ve just recently discovered your website and am very happy I did 🙂 I am not a very experienced cook but your recipes are simple and easy to follow and the pictures just make my mouth water 😀 Thank you for sharing. I am also a Catholic and want to give my share of “food for thought” 🙂 I,too did not understand much of the practices we had in our Church but because we grew up with it so we just follow it,right? But I’m glad that I was curious enough to look for answers within our Church. As with everything that is done in our Church,including the kneeling and the standing during mass,fasting has a deeper meaning: it is to help us practice resistance against temptation,physically and spiritually. That is why it is not only meat that we can abstain from,it’s from anything that can harm our spiritual life. Hope this helps 🙂
Lalaine, this looks awesome. Thanks for the share.