How to Cook Sinigang Na Isda

Co-authored by Sasha Reyes and Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: February 25, 2023

If you love sweet and sour soup, you'll enjoy the Filipino dish sinigang na isda. To make a simple sinigang, boil your choice of fish with tomatoes, onion, green peppers, and mustard greens. To get the sour flavor, include whole kamias which will soften as the dish boils. If you prefer to make a classic sinigang, use tamarind powder to get the zippy taste. Simmer onion, eggplant, okra, and ginger before stirring in the tamarind powder and fish sauce.

Ingredients

Sinigang na Isda sa Kamias^{[1]
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2 pounds (0.91 kg) of fish steaks or 2 whole fish, cleaned
12 fresh or frozen kamias (bilimbi)
4 plum tomatoes
1 medium yellow onion, wedged
4 long green pepper (sili mahaba)
6 to 8 mustard green leaves
6 cups (1.4 l) of water
Salt and pepper to taste

Makes 4 servings

Sinigang na Isda sa Sampalok Mix^{[2]
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Research source}

1 pound (450 g) of fish pieces such as salmon, tilapia, or snapper
2 tomatoes
1 red onion
1 clove of minced garlic
3-in (7.5 cm) piece of ginger, peeled
1 eggplant
5 to 6 pieces of okra
2 cups (300 g) of string beans
1 bundle of water spinach (kangkong)
1 1.4-ounce (40 g) package of tamarind soup base (sinigang mix)
10 cups (2.4 l) of water
2 tablespoons (30 ml) of fish sauce
2 tablespoons (30 ml) of vegetable, canola, or coconut oil

Makes about 4 servings

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Making Sinigang na Isda sa Kamias

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1
Bring water to a boil and add tomatoes, kamias, and the onion. Pour 6 cups (1.4 l) of water into a large pot and turn the burner to high. While the water heats, cut 4 plum tomatoes and 1 medium yellow onion into wedges. Add these to the boiling water along with 12 whole fresh or fresh frozen kamias (bilimbi).
- Put the lid on the pot while the water is heating. This will make the water boil faster.
2
Cover and boil the vegetables for 8 minutes. Turn the burner to medium-high so the water continues to bubble. Put the lid on the pot and cook the vegetables for 8 minutes.
- The vegetables and kamias will soften as they boil.
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3
Add the fish and long green peppers to the pot. Carefully lower 2 pounds (0.91 kg) of fish steaks or 2 whole fish into the boiling water. Add 4 whole long green peppers (sili mahaba) as well.
- You can use any type of fish for this soup. For example, use salmon, tilapia, or snapper.
4
Cover and simmer the soup for 10 to 12 minutes. Turn the burner down to medium so the water bubbles gently. Put the lid back on the pot and simmer the soup for 10 to 12 minutes so the fish cooks completely.
- To test the fish, run the tines of a fork against a piece of fish. It should flake easily once it's finished cooking.
Add 6 to 8 mustard green leaves and stir the soup. Taste it and stir in salt and pepper until it's flavored to your liking.
Once the fish has finished cooking, turn off the burner. Leave the soup covered and let the flavors develop for 5 minutes.
7
Serve the sinigang na isda sa kamias. Stir the soup and divide it among 4 serving bowls. Set out steamed white rice to serve alongside the soup.
- Refrigerate leftover soup in an airtight container for up to 3 to 5 days. Keep in mind that the flavor will intensify the longer it's stored.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Cooking Sinigang na Isda sa Sampalok Mix

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1
Sauté the garlic, onion, ginger, and tomatoes for 5 minutes. Pour 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of cooking oil into a large pot and turn the burner to medium. Once the oil shimmers, stir in 1 clove of minced garlic. Cut 2 tomatoes and 1 red onion into 4 quarters and add them to the pot along with a 3-in (7.5 cm) piece of sliced ginger.
- Stir the vegetable mixture frequently to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- The vegetables will soften and become fragrant.
Pour 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of fish sauce and 10 cups (2.4 l) of water into the pot. Stir so the vegetables are combined with the liquids.
3
Boil the water and cut the eggplant, okra, and string beans. Turn the burner to high so the water begins to boil. While the water is heating, trim the ends from 1 eggplant and 5 or 6 pieces of okra. Then slice the eggplant into 1/2 in (1.3 cm) rounds. You'll also need to cut 2 cups (300 g) of string beans into 2 in (5 cm) pieces.
- You can leave the okra whole since they're small.
Once the water boils vigorously, add the cut vegetables to the pot. Stir to combine the soup.
Turn the burner down to medium so the water bubbles gently. Keep the lid off of the pot and let the vegetables simmer in the water until they soften.
6
Stir in the tamarind soup base and fish. Open a 1.4-ounce (40 g) package of tamarind soup base (sinigang mix) and stir it into the hot soup until it dissolves. Then stir in 1 pound (450 g) of fish pieces.
- Use large chunks of fish that are about 2 to 3 in (5 to 7.5 cm) in size.
7
Simmer the soup for 5 to 10 minutes. Adjust the burner to medium or medium-high heat so the soup begins to bubble gently. Stir the soup occasionally as the fish simmers and cooks.
- The fish should flake easily if you scrape a fork against 1 of the pieces.
8
Stir in the water spinach and let it wilt. Cut 1 bundle of fresh water spinach into 3 in (7.5 cm) pieces and stir them into the soup. Let the soup bubble for another minute so the water spinach wilts. Then turn off the burner and serve the soup.
- Refrigerate the leftover soup in an airtight container for up to 3 to 5 days.