Usage Note
Gata is freshly pressed coconut milk, a cornerstone ingredient in Filipino cooking used in dishes like kare-kare, ginataang gulay, and laing. It is distinct from coconut water (tubig ng niyog). Fresh gata is made by squeezing grated coconut flesh; the first pressing ('una') is richer, while the second pressing ('pangalawa') is thinner.
Examples
" Maglagay ka ng gata. "
Natural Translation
Add some coconut milk.
Literal Translation
Add you of coconut-milk.
" Nilagyan ng gata ang kare-kare para lumapot. "
Natural Translation
Coconut milk was added to the kare-kare to thicken it.
Literal Translation
Added-with coconut-milk the kare-kare so-that thicken.
" Habang nagluluto ng ginataang gulay, dapat haluin ang gata nang madalas para hindi ito mamuo sa ilalim ng kaldero. "
Natural Translation
While cooking vegetables in coconut milk, you should stir the coconut milk often so it doesn't curdle at the bottom of the pot.
Literal Translation
While cooking of coconut-vegetable, should stir the coconut-milk often so-that not it curdle at bottom of pot.
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