Milk Fish Soup

This is one more recipe sent to me by my good friend form Phillippines. Her name is Mrs. Marissa Buhalog. She is a very good cook and in spare time sells Suzuki Cars. This is the third recipe which she has sent to me. This recipe is made from milkfish. This fish is called milk fish because when boiled in water, it makes the water white like milk. The recipe below is in her own words. Sinigang is a Filipino soup or stew characterized by its sour and savory flavour most often associated with tamarind (sampalok). It is one of the popular viands in Philippine cuisine.

Please check this recipe in her own words.

Sinigang is a very delicious soup traditionally associated with tamarind extract, or could it be tamarind mix or bouillon cubes in place of tamarind natural fruit. Other version of sinigang derive its sourness according to its ingredients such as Guava fruit, calamansi juice(Chinese orange), unripe mango strawberry and many other fruit with sour flavour. Philippine sinigang usually cooked in several variation like pork sinigang, beef sinigang seafood sinigang, shrimp sinigang and the dish that i’am introducing Sinigang na Bangus in banana heart blossom.

Banana heart blossom in Filipino called “Puso ng saging” commonly used as a vegetables in cooking and very rich in dietary nutrients. The blossom always available all year round and normally harvested as soon as the banana fruits form. In handling the blossom it is best wear disposable gloves or plastic to keep the plant sap from sticking into your hand.

Bangus(Milk fish),This heavily boned silvery scaled and white flesh fish with good adhesion thus-it takes vigorous scraping to removed them is an important fish in the Philippines for it is our national fish. All commercially available milk fish in the market is farmed.

1. 1medium sized Bangus (Milkfish) gutted and cut into 4 pcs
2. 1 large-sized banana heart blossom(puso ng saging)removed the stick in the middle and cut as desired.
3. 1 sachet Tamarind sinigang mix
4. 2 ripe tomatoes, sliced
5. 2 medium red onion
6. 100 grams . water spinach(kangkong)
7. 1 medium radish(labanos),sliced diagonally
8. 3 pieces siling haba(finger chilies)
9. Salt to taste
10. 1 small eggplant(optional)
11. 4 cups rice water

1.In a large casserole, put the rice water and bring to boil.

2.Add in the banana blossom ,simmer for 15 minutes.

3.Add radish eggplant, tomatoes, onions, chillies and Bangus(milkfish)then add salt and cook for 5 minutes

4.Add water spinach

5.Serve hot and with cooked rice and fish sauce, for a dip.