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Pesang isda
Ginger fish soup
Pesang isda: Central Luzon's fish poached in a gingery rice-water broth with cabbage and pechay
Pesang isda comes from Pampanga and the provinces of Central Luzon, the gentle ginger soup Filipino families make on rainy days and for anyone who is unwell. Fish is poached in water from rinsing rice, which gives a faintly milky, rounded broth, with lots of ginger, onion and whole peppercorns, then cabbage and pechay (pak choi) wilt in at the end. It is mild, soothing and light, with about 25 g of protein a bowl from the fish; it is often served with a sautéed miso and tomato sauce on the side. The common mistake is throwing in the greens too early, so they go grey. Chef's tip: save the second rinsing of the rice, not the first, for the cleanest, creamiest broth.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ lb tilapia, milkfish or sea basscleaned and cut into 4 thick pieces
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 ⅜ in gingercut into thick matchsticks
- 1 onionquartered
- 1 tsp black peppercornswhole
- 1.2 litres rice washing waterfrom the second rinse of rice
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- ¼ napa cabbagehead, cut into chunks
- 2 pechay or pak choiheads, halved
- 3 spring onionscut into lengths
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a pot over a medium heat and fry 2 ⅜ in ginger and 1 onion for 3 minutes, until fragrant and the onion is just soft.
3 minStep 2: Pour in 1.2 litres rice washing water, add 1 tsp black peppercorns and bring to the boil. Simmer 5 minutes so the ginger flavours the broth.
6 minStep 3: Lower in 2 ¼ lb tilapia, milkfish or sea bass and simmer gently for 10–12 minutes, until the fish is opaque and flakes from the bone. Season with 2 tbsp fish sauce.
12 minStep 4: Add ¼ napa cabbage and cook 2 minutes, then 2 pechay or pak choi and 3 spring onions for 1 minute, just until the leaves wilt and are still bright green.
3 minStep 5: Serve hot in bowls with rice.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 220 kcal
- Protein
- 25 g
- Carbs
- 9 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does pesang isda take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of black peppercorns?
- Ground black pepper, a little less than the amount.
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