Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Yummy Paksiw na Isda

Paksiw is a term used to refer to dishes cooked in vinegar and garlic. In Illonggo we called it as "Pinaksiw" or my Lola called it as "Pinamalhan".This could pertain to meats like pork (Paksiw na Pata and Lechon Paksiw are some of the examples) and seafood.


Paksiw na Isda or Fish Cooked in Vinegar (Pinalmahan) is a quick and easy seafood dish that is said to be one of the common everyday dishes prepared by Filipino families. Since the Philippines is composed of over 7,100 islands, fish is a staple particularly on the coastal areas.

Bangus or Milkfish has been the regular fish variety for this dish (Paksiw na Bangus or Pinamalhan na Bangrus). However, due to availability, budget reasons, and personal preference, other fish varieties can be used.

I grew-up ignoring this dish. When my mom serves this for lunch or dinner, I would go straight to the pantry and open a can of ma-ling (a brand of Chinese luncheon meat) or corned beef for myself. I guess that my taste buds are configured for fried meat and sweet foods when I was a kid; I’m sure that most of you can relate.

As time passed-by, I learned to appreciate simple dishes; fish and vegetables slowly became part of my regular diet. I guess all I needed was enough time to adjust. It’s about time or else I wouldn’t have had experienced the pleasures in trying different Filipino Food.

Try Paksiw na Isda (Pinamalhan na Isda) recipe and let me know what you think.

Ingredients:

2 pieces fish (about half a pound each), cleaned and scales removed

1 knob ginger, sliced and pounded

6 cloves garlic, skin removed

1/2 cup vinegar

1 cup water

1 medium onion, sliced

1 small bitter gourd, chopped (optional)

3 pieces finger chili

2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon whole peppercorn

YouTube Video Here:



Cooking procedure:

1. Heat a pan and cooking pot then pour-in vinegar and water.

2. Add salt and whole peppercorn then stir. Bring to a boil.

3. Arrange the fish in the pan along with the ginger, garlic, onion, bitter gourd, and finger chili. Cover and simmer in low to medium heat for 12 to 15 minutes.

4. Turn off the heat and transfer to a serving plate.

5. Serve hot with steamed rice. Share and enjoy!

Note: You may substitute salt with 3/4 to 1 tablespoon fish sauce.

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