Sinigang
Sinigang is a sour soup native to the Philippines. This recipe uses pork as the main ingredient. Other proteins and seafood can also be used. Beef, shrimp, fish are commonly used to cook sinigang. The chicken version, on the other hand, is called sinampalukang manok. I prefer to use either pork belly or buto-buto when cooking sinigang. The latter refers to cuts with bones intact. These are either pork neck bones, chopped spare ribs, and chopped baby back ribs. Pork shoulder and ham can also be used when cooking sinigang.
I grew-up eating pork sinigang at least once a week with a saucer of fish sauce and crushed siling labuyo on the side as my dipping sauce. During rainy days, I enjoy my sinigang meal with rice and a few pieces of fried tuyo. These are small fish that were salted and dried under the sun. It is a good combination as far as I am concerned.
Ingredients:
| Amount | Metric | Ingredient |
| 2 lbs | pork belly or buto-buto | |
| 1 bunch | spinach or kang-kong | |
| 3 tablespoons | fish sauce | |
| 12 pcs | string beans sitaw, cut in 2 inch length | |
| 2 pieces | tomato quartered | |
| 3 pieces | chili or banana pepper | |
| 1 tablespoons | cooking oil | |
| 2 quarts | water | |
| 1 piece | onion sliced | |
| 2 pieces | taro gabi, quartered | |
| 1 pack | sinigang mix good for 2 liters water |
Instructions:
1. Heat the pot and put-in the cooking oil
2. Sauté the onion until its layers separate from each other
3. Add the pork belly and cook until outer part turns light brown
4. Put-in the fish sauce and mix with the ingredients
5. Pour the water and bring to a boil
6. Add the taro and tomatoes then simmer for 40 minutes or until pork is tender
7. Put-in the sinigang mix and chili
8. Add the string beans (and other vegetables if there are any) and simmer for 5 to 8 minutes
9. Put-in the spinach, turn off the heat, and cover the pot. Let the spinach cook using the remaining heat in the pot.
10. Serve hot. Share and enjoy!
