Best Soup: Filipino Sinigang

Another reason Filipinos are even more proud of their history and culture is the fact that Sinigang won the “Best Rated Soup in the World” award! Sinigang's unique sour taste and brilliant flavors surprised people all over the world with its unique sour taste. Despite Japan's Shoyu Ramen and Tonkotsu Ramen, Turkey's lentil soup, and Romania's bean soup with smoked meat, Sinigang won unanimously. According to the 2021 Taste Outlast Awards, Sinigang beat all of those heavyweight soup dishes with a score of 4.63/5.0.

Why do we love Sinigang so much? In the traditional Sinigang, Sampalok or Tamarind is used and a variety of vegetables like labanos (radish), sitaw (green beans), kamatis (tomato), gabi (taro), and many more are added. Alternatively, you can make Sinigang with any main ingredient you like, including pork, beef, chicken, and even fish. However, the best and most popular versions are Sinigang na Baboy and Sinigang na Baka! Weddings, birthday parties, reunions, and all kinds of special occasions are common places to serve these bad boys.

What is the best version of Sinigang for me? Homemade Sinigang. Yes, definitely homemade! I am sure that every Filipino household has a cook who knows how to cook classic Filipino dishes like adobo, nillaga, and of course, sinigang. No matter who it is, I know their version will always be your favorite comfort food and no one else is going to be able to beat them!

Let's take a moment to talk about the delicious variations of Sinigang recipes while we're at it! I've said earlier that you can be as creative as you want when you're cooking Sinigang. If you want pork, beef, or fish, you can cook it any way you want. What are you waiting for? Let's go!

SINIGANG NA BABOY (PORK SINIGANG)

I think Sinigang na Baboy or Pork Sinigang is probably the most popular version of Sinigang. Almost every Filipino household serves this delicious soup every week as their favorite "ulam." Why? Firstly, you can easily buy the ingredients at your local grocery store or market. As a result, Filipino moms can even entrust the preparation of sinigang to their teenage children, who are already very capable of cooking it.

It's best to serve Pork Sinigang with freshly-cooked white rice and fish sauce topped with lots of red peppers or siling labuyo on the side.

SINIGANG NA BAKA (BEEF SINIGANG)

In the Philippines, pork is traditionally cheaper than beef, so Sinigang na Baka is usually served only on special occasions. It is a soup dish that is usually served only on special occasions. As a side note, Beef Sinigang is also one of the best-selling dishes in several restaurants across the country. Its soft meat and flavorful soup make it a delicious meal you shouldn't pass up!

SINAMPALUKANG MANOK (CHICKEN SINIGANG)

A sinigang recipe can also be made with chicken as a main ingredient! During the rainy season, when it's nice to sip a boiling-hot, sour soup, Sinampalukang Manok or Chicken Sinigang is one of Filipinos' favorite dishes. It is said that Filipinos use Native Chickens or Free-Range Chickens in this dish because their meat is much firmer than that of commercial chickens. Since the meat is simmered for a long time, this is perfect for Sinampalukang Manok.

SINIGANG NA BANGUS SA MISO (MILKFISH SINIGANG)

In addition to Milkfish, we can also use Bangus or the National Fish of the Philippines as the main ingredient in Sinigang. Its meaty flesh goes well with the sour flavor in the soup, along with vegetables like radish, green beans, tomatoes, etc. Filipinos make the soup even better by adding Miso or Soybean Paste!

SINIGANG NA HIPON (SHRIMP SINIGANG)

Would you like to know more? We've also got a Sinigang na Hipon Recipe or Shrimp Sinigang Recipe that will make you even more hungry for shrimp. In comparison to all the recipes I've mentioned, this one is probably the simplest and fastest one. As with the other recipes, Shrimp Sinigang is best served with fresh cooked rice and fish sauce with chili. Shrimp Sinigang takes only a short amount of time to cook.

You can see why Sinigang was voted "Best Soup in the World" so many times, right? It is one of the most delicious, relaxing, and native Filipino dishes. By using many native Philippine ingredients such as bangus, labanos, mustasa, sitaw, and many more, it perfectly reflects the culture and tradition of the Philippines.

Chef Johanna Lawrence is the epitome of culinary excellence as a private chef in Redondo Beach, southern California. To elevate your dining experience to new heights, visit www.chefjohanna.us or contact Chef Johanna directly at 310-422-4936. Don't miss the opportunity to savor the exquisite flavors and impeccable service that Chef Johanna Lawrence brings to the table.