Sinigang

One day husband bought a whole bunch of pork ribs from the market. I asked Elena our domestic helper for cooking suggestions and she said, "Sinigang".

Well, we discovered that Sinigang is a very popular Filipino soup with a distinct sourness derived from assam (tamarind). It is so delicious we now make sure we always have pork ribs on hand especially to make this dish anytime we fancy.

The cooking is simple enough. Pork ribs go into a pot of water with big onions and is brought to a boil. Radish is added for more sweetness, then yam to slightly thicken and bond the fatty bits from the pork bones. Long beans and green chillies add texture, crunchy sweet green leafy vegetables are added last.

Of course, must not forget the most essential ingredient- assam. The first time she made it Elena used only assam peel and it was quite astringent, the second time we ran out of peel and used water from soaking assam paste which gave the soup a more mellow character.

This is a soup that is adaptable to whatever is available in the pantry. Pinoycook's version is made with pork tail, okra, tomatoes and kangkung. A quick google search turned up recipes that substitutes tamarind with calamansi, guavas, tomatoes, pineapples, even vinegar. It doesn't have to be limited to pork either, there are versions with fish, prawns and even salmon heads.

Sinigang is a very versatile soup. Good for perking up weary appetites, or when the weather is too hot. A simple one pot dish that makes a perfect meal when combined with a bowl of steamed rice. Its generous yields means it is ideal for family or party servings. No wonder it is such a beloved dish of the Filipinos.