Bangus a la Pobre is all about crispy, boneless milkfish topped with lots of garlicky goodness. The best part? This a la pobre recipe comes together in under 30 minutes—perfect for a quick and satisfying meal.
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What is Bangus ala Pobre?
Bangus ala Pobre is a delicious, budget-friendly dish with fried milkfish, known locally as bangus. It's prepared in a style similar to Bistek, a tangy and savory steak dish with soy sauce, calamansi, toasted garlic, and seared onions.
The term "a la pobre" translates to "poor man's style" in Spanish. In Filipino cuisine, a la pobre recipes contain a protein, like chicken, cooked with a savory sauce containing copious amounts of garlic and sometimes onions.
Ingredients you'll need
Notes and substitutions
- Boneless bangus: Also known as milkfish, this has a mild flavor and a meaty texture. For convenience, it’s often sold already deboned or butterflied—so you can skip the hassle of picking out tiny bones.
- Knorr or Maggi liquid seasoning: These are liquid condiments that add a savory, umami flavor to dishes. If you need a substitute, oyster sauce works great.
- Shallot: I use shallots for their mild, slightly sweet flavor—they blend better with the garlic without overpowering it. You can also use seared onion rings or thinly sliced red or yellow onions if you prefer.
How to make this recipe
Step 1: Prepare the sauce
In a small bowl, mix together 3 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 tablespoons calamansi juice (or lemon juice), 1 teaspoon Knorr or Maggi liquid seasoning, 2 teaspoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, ½ cup water, and ground black pepper to taste. Stir to dissolve the sugar and cornstarch completely. Then set it aside.
Step 2: Prepare the bangus
Season the bangus lightly with salt and pepper. Then coat each piece evenly with about 2 tablespoons of cornstarch or flour—this helps create a crisp, golden crust when frying.
Step 3: Fry the bangus
Pour in about ¼ inch of oil—just enough for shallow frying. Over medium-high heat, fry the bangus until both sides are crispy and cooked to golden perfection. Drain on paper towels and transfer to a serving plate.
Step 4: Sauté the aromatics
In a small skillet, heat 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil (or butter) over medium heat. Add 6 minced garlic cloves and sauté until just starting to turn golden. Add 1 to 2 sliced shallots (or onion rings) and cook until lightly browned.
Step 5: Add the sauce
Pour the prepared sauce into the skillet and stir gently as it cooks. It should start to thicken in about a minute. Give it a taste and adjust as needed.
Step 6: Dress the fish
Spoon the warm sauce over the fried bangus. Top with scallions, crispy garlic bits or shallots, and sliced chilies, if you like.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! While milkfish is traditionally used for Bangus ala Pobre, the delicious sauce works well with just about any fish, so feel free to pick your favorite.
Sure, you can definitely air fry the bangus! It’s a healthier option that still gives you that crispy texture, but uses less oil.
Absolutely! Frozen bangus works great for this recipe. You'll often find boneless or butterflied bangus sold frozen at Asian supermarkets, which is really convenient for this dish.
More bangus recipes
- Sinigang na Bangus: A sour soup made with bangus, tamarind, and various vegetables.
- Bangus Sisig: Chopped fried bangus with onions and chili peppers.
- Rellenong Bangus: Stuffed deboned milkfish, fried until crispy.
- Paksiw na Bangus: Milkfish cooked in a vinegar-based sauce.
- Tinapang Bangus: Smoked bangus with a savory, smoky flavor.
- Tinapa Fried Rice: Fried rice with smoked bangus flakes, eggs, and aromatics.
Other seafood recipes you may like
Did you make this recipe? I would love to know! Your feedback helps me make better recipes. Please rate, review, or comment below. Questions about this recipe are welcome, too!
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📖 Recipe
Bangus a la Pobre
Equipment
- Large skillet (for frying)
- Small skillet (for the sauce)
Ingredients
- 2 small or 1 large boneless bangus, butterflied (see note)
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch or flour for coating
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil or butter
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 1-2 shallots or small red onion sliced into rings (see note)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Neutral oil for frying
- Optional garnishes: scallions, fried garlic or shallots, or chilies
For the sauce
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons lemon or calamansi juice sub: lime juice
- 1 teaspoon Knorr or Maggi liquid seasoning (see note)
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- ½ cup water more as needed
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- Ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In a small bowl, mix soy sauce, calamansi or lemon juice, liquid seasoning, brown sugar, water, cornstarch, and pepper. Stir until the sugar and cornstarch are fully dissolved, then set aside.
- Prepare the bangus: Season with salt and pepper, then coat evenly with cornstarch or flour to help it crisp up when fried.
- Fry the bangus: In a frying pan over medium-high heat, add about ¼ inch of cooking oil. Fry the boneless fillets until crispy and golden brown. Remove from oil, drain on paper towels, and transfer to a platter or sizzling plate.
- Sauté the aromatics: In a small skillet, heat extra virgin olive oil (or butter) over medium heat. Sauté garlic until golden, then add shallots (or onion rings) and cook until lightly browned.
- Add the sauce: Pour in the prepared sauce and stir as it cooks. Let it thicken, then turn off the heat. Give it a taste and adjust as needed.
- Dress the fish: Spoon the warm sauce over the fried fish. Top with scallions, crispy shallots or garlic bits, and chilies, if desired.
Notes
- Boneless bangus: Mild, meaty milkfish often sold deboned or butterflied for convenience.
- Knorr or Maggi: Adds savory, umami flavor. You can sub with oyster sauce.
- Shallot: Milder and sweeter than onions. Sub with seared onion rings or thinly sliced red/yellow onions.
Lorna
I’ve never tried this but it looks so good.
Nora Reyes
Hi Lorna, You should definitely give it a try, it's super tasty and easy to make! Let me know how it turns out 😄🐟