Sinigang na Bangus is an all time Filipino favorite milkfish soup with vegetables in sour tamarind broth. Cooking this nutritious Sinigang na Bangus in an instant pot or stove is very similar.
Tamarind gives this savory soup it’s unique taste and it is simple, quick and easy to make. When it comes to vegetables, add your favorite ones. I wish Kang Kong is available here, but unfortunately it's not.
There’s no such thing as traditional when cooking this soup. Different regions have different ways of making it.
Bangus also known as milkfish is the National Fish of the Philippines. Although it is bony, Filipinos love it. For one it doesn’t smell so fishy, which is great and second, it’s belly is delicious and creamy.
Luckily, I don’t have to clean it myself. Upon request, Asian stores can gut and scale the fish but unfortunately, at times they end up scraping some of the fish belly which annoys me.
In my opinion, it is the best part of bangus. I usually buy 2 bangus, the upper part with belly for sinigang and the lower portion for daing.
This is just our preference, you can use the whole bangus to make soup.
My brother had mentioned I can also use the frozen Sarangani brand that is already clean and unseasoned. In fact, I used this brand to make Rellenong Bangus which made it much easier.
Cooking Sinigang na Bangus in an instant pot is similar to how you would cook it on the stove. Pressure cooking is not required. SOUP/BROTH program is all you need to cook this delicious soup.
Things to Remember When Using Your Instant Pot
As I have mentioned in my previous instant pot post, please read the manual before making this recipe. If this is your first time to cook with your instant pot, familiarize yourself with it’s features and program for your own safety.
Don’t forget to install the condensation collector before cooking.
Set SOUP/BROTH program time between 30 to 40 minutes. When time elapse, the display will show L000, L001 and so on until you press “CANCEL”.
Do not use the instant pot lid, instead cover the pot with a regular pot cover. The instant pot lid is only used when pressure cooking.
How to Cook Sinigang na Bangus in an Instant Pot or on Stove Top
Cooking this healthy soup in an instant pot and on stove top is very similar, one difference is setting the SOUP/BROTH program and cooking time.
Another difference when cooking in an instant pot, once soup boils you are not able to control the temperature but the device will so it doesn’t heavily boils while on stove top, you can lower the temperature.
But other than that, they both render the same flavorsome, savory soup.
Also, we prefer to slice the bangus diagonally, that is how I learned it from my mom. It doesn’t affect the taste, it is more about aesthetic – looks better in appearance.
Water is added together with the onion and tomato. Bring to a boil, then lower heat to simmer and cook ingredients until soft. Mash tomato with kitchen utensil.
Then add bangus and hot peppers, cook for 2 minutes.
Stir-in tamarind mix and add the vegetables and continue cooking.
Season with fish sauce or salt.
Note: You can add a stalk of lemongrass, if desired but optional.
When adding any soft leafy greens, add it last then turn off heat. It will cook in the hot soup and retain its crisp texture.
The instant pot inner pot has a maximum fill level, as much as possible don't go over that.
Recipe
Sinigang na Bangus
Ingredients
- 1 medium whole bangus gut, scaled, cut into pieces and cleaned
- 1 medium onion quartered
- 2 medium tomatoes
- 2 banana peppers (or 5 sili labuyo is you like it spicier)
- 1 (1.4 oz) Knorr Sampalok mix
- 8 pieces okra
- 1 eggplant slice diagonally
- ¼ green cabbage
- 6 cups of water
- 1 stalk lemongrass cut (optional)
- Salt or fish sauce to taste
Instructions
- Combine water together with onion and tomato in pot.
- Cooking in Instant Pot: Set SOUP/BROTH PROGRAM between 30 to 40 minutes. Once it is done, the display will show L000, L001 etc. Press “CANCEL”. If done before the time set, CANCEL the program
- Cooking on Stove: Set temperature to HIGH and once mixture boils then lower heat and simmer.
- Then add bangus and hot peppers, cook for 2 minutes.
- Stir-in tamarind mix and add vegetables and continue cooking until bangus is cooked through and vegetables are done but not overcooked.Note: Add only ½ package of tamarind mix and taste if sourness is good enough to your liking. Stir-in more if desired.
- Season with fish sauce or salt.
Notes
- You can add a stalk of lemongrass, if desired but optional.
- When adding any soft leafy greens, add it last then turn off heat. It will cook in hot soup and retain its crisp texture.
- Pay attention to the maximum fill line in the instant pot inner pot.
Nutrition
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