Sinigang (Philippine Sour Soup)

Sinigang, the famous sour soup of the Philippines, is a fruity sour-based soup boiled with either pork, beef, chicken, fish or seafood. A variety of vegetables can be included, but onions and tomatoes are required. Root vegetables are too starchy and not recommended, with the exception of taro root, which adds a milky and starchy texture. Okra can also provide a pleasant thickness, although it is more clear or…
Ingredients
- Sampaloc (tamarind) fruits or ready-to-use tamarind paste
- 1 onion, chopped
- 4–6 tomatoes, quartered
- ½–1 kg pork belly, cubed
- 250 g taro root, diced or sliced into chunks
- 3–4 horseradish, sliced
- 200 g string beans, cut in 1-inch pieces
- 1–3 onions, quartered
- 250 g kangkung (water spinach) leaves or other leafy yet crunchy vegetable even when cooked.
- 5 Tbsp fish sauce
- Salt
- Pepper
- MSG (optional)
- 3 green chiles (e.g. serrano or any other fragrant and mild variety)
Steps
- If using whole tamarind, boil in water until the shells crack. Work the flesh from the seeds. Strain, reserving all liquid. Skip if using packed tamarind base.
- Sauté chopped onions in another large pot.
- Add tomato and pork. Sauté until the pork is no longer pink.
- Add enough water or boiled tamarind stock to cover. Boil until tender.
- Add taro root. Simmer until soft and tender, until the soup thickens.
- Add horseradish. Simmer until tender-crunchy.
- Add string beans, quartered onions and water spinach. Simmer 2–3 minutes.
- Check that all ingredients are cooked. Add the tamarind pack, if using.
- Add fish sauce, salt, pepper and MSG to taste. Top with green chillies.
- Serve hot.
Source. Adapted from “Cookbook:Sinigang (Philippine Sour Soup)” by Wikibooks contributors, revision of 2025-12-04, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Changes. Steps rewritten into short commands. Introduction shortened. Wiki formatting removed. This adapted recipe is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo. Sinigang na Baboy DSCF4234.jpg by Joy D. Ganaden, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia. Resized; otherwise unchanged.






