Sinigang is a Filipino soup or stew characterized by its sour and savoury taste most often associated with tamarind.

It is one of
the more popular dishes in Filipino cuisine. Wikipedia

Main ingredients: Meat, vegetables, tamarind, fish sauce, onions, siling mahaba, tomatoes
Place of origin: Philippines
Similar dishes: Pinangat na isda, paksiw
Other information: Can be served in many different forms
Ingredients

 2 lbs pork liempo; cut 2 inches chunks

 1 package tamarind sinigang soup mix
 1 tomato; quartered
 1 onion; quartered
 1 taro; quartered
 3-4 long green chili peppers (siling haba)
 1 medium size radish (labanos); sliced
 3 string beans (sitaw), cut in 2 inches long
 1 eggplant; sliced
 10 stems of kangkong leaves
 Fish sauce to taste
 Water

Steps

Boil water in a pot.

Add the pork liempo, tomato, onion, and tamarind sinigang soup mix.

Cover the pot and boil until the meat is tender.

Add the long chili pepper, radish, taro, string beans, and eggplant.

Cover the pot and continue boiling until the vegetables are cooked.

Add the kangkong leaves and simmer until the dish is done.

Season with fish sauce preference to your taste.

Serve while hot!

Pork Sinigang, also called Sinigang na Baboy, is a traditional Filipino soup dish known for its sour flavor. By tradition, the souring
ingredient of this dish comes from a tamarind fruit. Through time, this souring ingredient diversed and instead of using
tamarind, guava, calamansi, bilimbi (kamias), unripe green mango, or santol can also be used. Today, a popular powdered sour-
soup based ingredient called the "Sinigang Mix" is commonly used. This Sinigang Mix powder is as popular as it is commonly
available in most Filipino stores and supermarkets. It comes, popularly, in tamarind and guava flavor.

Sinigang is an indigenous Filipino dish believed to have been influenced by Philippine's neighboring countries. In fact, Sinigang
resembles that of the sour soup based cuisine of other Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia's "Singgang", Indonesia's "Sayur
Asam", Thailand's "Tom Yum", and "Canh Chua" of Vietnam.
Pork Sinigang also resembles other Filipino soup sour dish called Sinampalokan or Sinampalokan na Manok. The difference of
the two dishes, aside from their ingredients, are the ways they are cooked. While Sinampalokan uses the cooking method of
"sautéing" and "boiling", the authentic and traditional method of cooking Pork Sinigang is "boiling". In Sinampalokan, the meat
(traditionally chicken) is first sautéed in ginger before boiling and in Sinigang, the meat is simply boiled together with the
souring ingredients. Sinampalokan solely uses tamarind souring based ingredient like tamarind fruit and leaves, while Sinigang
has options to use various kinds of souring ingredients such as guava, santol, or mango.
 The common vegetable ingredients of Pork Sinigang are tomato, onion, water spinach, radish, taro, eggplant (talong), daikon
(labanos), long chilli pepper and string beans. Other variations include using fish (tilapia, milkfish, or salmon), shrimp, beef, or
goat as substitute for pork and bok choy, cabbage, brocolli, potato, carrot as alternative vegetable ingredients. Another
variation of Pork Sinigang is the "Sinigang na Miso" which include the use of Japanese seasoning composed of fermented rice
and barley or soy beans.
One of the secrets of cooking a delicious Sinigang na Baboy is to inlcude the bones of the pig (e.g. pork belly with rib bones, pork
neck with bones, baby back ribs, and other bony parts) because bones add more flavor to the broth. The cooking method is to
boil the pork together with the other souring ingredients, giving time for the meat to absorb the sour flavor of the broth. Add
the vegetables and those that are longer to cook should be the first to be added.

sinigang is marked as Filipino comfort food. It rouses the senses because

of the sourness and slight spice. Also, ingesting the long peppers can make the body sweat, which helps it to cool especially during a
humid day. Sinigang typically use meat or seafood (e.g., fish, pork, beef, shrimp, or chicken) stewed with tamarind, tomatoes, garlic,
and onions. It's a classic and an all-time favorite of many. It's a kind of soup or stew that is distinguished by its pleasantly sour yet
savory flavor. Traditionally, this distinct flavor is made by boiling and crushing tamarind (sampalok), the juice of which is crafted into
the stew. History of Sinigang. Sinigang, a sour tasting soup originating from the Philippines, is usually served as a main dish with rice.
... For example sinigang can be cooked with beef, chicken, pork spare ribs, shrimp, or even fish, but more commonly it is cooked
with pork.
 cultivation of a kind of dish that of which is not good for their health .Filipino is easily captured by a foods’ scent and taste .
by the glimpse on Sinigang- whatever the version of it that actually comes up on your mind, we could already identify that most
probably this food Is healthy! Well, the green leafy stuff that’s always in it plus the not-so-loved-by-the-kids sliced almost translucent
veggie AKA radish isn’t preserved to be kept there just for nothing!

But really. What are the nutrients with which we could found from Sinigang? In the realm of health standards, how healthy-really, is
Sinigang?
In order to identify this one, we will be looking at the main ingredients used- furthermore, let’s have a glimpse on how the different
version of Sinigang could actually give you a different set of health benefits-

With that, let us list them down:

Pork meat, eggplant, radish, string beans (sitaw), taro root, and utmost important, tamarind!

Now, what else is left to do- let’s now get down to business, folks!
1. Pork Meat
Fat (especially, the good kind of fats, of course.

 Fats– Although this one is dreadfully looked at- by many, because of its connection with allegedly increasing the risk for heart
disease, the real thing about this is that as long as you’re consuming them in proper amounts at regular intervals, then you could
even turn the tables by reducing the possibility of heart disease, itself! Imagine what moderation can actually do for you- oh yeah,
it’s unimaginable, right?
Nonetheless, that irony-like health fact had been possible because FYI, foods containing fats such as pork meat, as long as they are
not contributing to the addition of extra calories to your diet, is in fact, recommended for you and your heart-concerns.
 Protein– One another beyond-words significant nutrient, which is in macromolecule form, that is very much needed by the body and
is found in significant levels at your beloved Sinigang are proteins.
The body’s necessity for protein is rooted down until the cell-level- this might seem too technical for you but in order for each
among the billion cells in your body to actually work properly, you need to supply them with the proper amount of nutrients that
could only be sourced from nothing else but proteins.

Beyond from benefiting the evident growth of your hair and nails, proteins are also responsible for wound-healing as one of its
fundamental function revolves around the spontaneous act of building and repairing broken tissues.

One another remarkable importance of proteins is that these are used for the synthesis or development of enzymes. “What’s with
these enzymes that you are talking about?”

Well, a quick catch up for your missed science lesson- without enzymes, you could never function and actually, exist in the same way
as do and as you are right at this moment. That is because these E-proteins are very much responsible for increasing the rate of
reaction in your body. Hence, without them, every cell up to every system of your body would function noticeably slower than it is
efficiently and effectively doing right now… detrimental indeed. So, what does this have to say at the end? Make sure to eat up every
pork meat on your Sinigang bowl, hah!
The last thing about proteins that are insignificant levels within pork meats is that this nutrient is defined as macronutrient- and
what does this means, again? Well, that only says you really need to take them in relatively large amounts. That is why, beyond from
Sinigang and the many variations of it you should at least try at least once, here are other pork recipes you could use to make sure
that you are getting just enough amounts of this macronutrient.
 Vitamins- That pork in your Sinigang is said to contain vitamins, but what specifically are those vitamins?
Welp, that’s nothing else but the group of B Vitamins- and mind you, this vitamin B complex is actually composed of not one, not
two, certainly not three but 8 B vitamins!

That of which includes Thiamine (B-1), Riboflavin (B-2), Niacin, Pantothenic Acid (B-5), Pyridoxine (B-6), Biotin (B-7), Folic Acid (B-9),
and Cobalamin (B-12)… so, okay? That’s the list- but what do these could cause to your health?

All these B-Vitamins has a powerful impact on your body in terms of stabilizing your energy levels, improving your brain functions
and being accountable for the developmental processes that happen with and in-between cells.
 Also, it aids the following processing: Maintaining good eyesight and preventing various eye problems, active and progressive
functionality of the brain, uninterrupted digestion, stabilized appetite, and even so, regular hormone production,

 Minerals- The additional minerals other than what we have already stated that are found in your Pork Sinigang are mainly in forms
of phosphorus and zinc. With these two minerals working hand in hand- assuming that they are provided in a significant amount as
how the pork in your Sinigang do provide, a developed rate of cell growth is a result together with the increased efficiency of your
immune system; also, teeth and bone strengthening.
 Carbohydrates– Along with proteins, fats, and lipids- carbohydrates completes the Big Four which makes up the macromolecules
not only significant but more accurately, critically needed by the body.
Despite the accumulated unfair reputation to the term “carbs”, truth is, there is a whole bunch folds of goodness that this
macromolecule has in its back- in fact, carbs alone can help an individual have a regulated mood, improved heart health and
reduced risk for heart-related illnesses, boosted brain performance, and could even flex itself up towards the capability of possibly
decreasing the risk for the development or acquisition of cancer. Moreover, it could also help one who has sleeping problems and
what’s amazing is that consuming carbs could help directly in this “consuming” process it is involved with! Amazing, huh? Of course.
Your Sinigang is not “just-just” (As one of our Miss Universe candidates have once powerfully stated)
The most important fact among all of these most probably is how carbs actually are identified as the body’s main source if energy!
Oh, so if you need something to pump you up for the rest of the day, then why not prepare pork food like Sinigang?

2. Eggplant
So, what does these cylindrical-like purple veggie has to do with helping you in your health concerns?

 Eggplants in Your Sinigang Regulates Your Digestion: Dietary fibers are found in high levels only in selected veggies- these dietary
fibers are responsible for helping one achieved a balanced diet… and oh, have I already told you that eggplants contain significant
levels of these wondrous fibers? They do.
In addition to that, we all know that fiber is a great necessity as for your gut concerns- as it promotes a stabilized movement of food
bolus and chyme (yeah, they’re the terms used in describing your food as it moves down to its final destination- absorption of
nutrients) and also aids in healthy bowel movement.

In addition to all of what has been stated, fibers are also responsible for the facilitating the secretion of gastric juices- which then is
very much important in breaking down your food in while it is in stomach and small intestine so that it could be transformed into
something finally useful for the functionality of your different body systems.

 Eggplants in Your Sinigang Could Help You Lose Weight: One of the main problems that the world facing nowadays is the
prevalence of obesity- and worse, the many illnesses that is linked with it. Good news is that, with the help of the nutrients found in
your eggplant at your Sinigang, you could actually give your body system a hand in the reduction of acquiring obesity and
maintaining only the healthy weight just as you are in need of.
Also, eggplants contain only minimal amounts of cholesterol- hence, what makes it as additional food for those who want to lose
weight. What’s more awesome with all of this is that even taken in not relatively large amounts, you could already fill fulfilled!
Therefore, decreasing the possibility of you grabbing another food just right after you have eaten!

Without the tendency towards overeating and with ghrelin (the I-am-hungry-eat-now!) hormone production prevented, you are
sure a step nearer to your losing weight goals. Don’t forget to send us an update-card!

 Eggplants in Your Sinigang Could Decrease Risk for Cancer Acquisition: This by far, is the most impactful effect of any food, we
suppose are existent. A killing cancer-cell hormone had been found to be in significant levels within the eggplant’s peel as based on a
study. That hormone is called as the “Solasodine rhamnosyl glycosides” (phew, that’s definitely a hard to pronounce one). Although
the effectivity of this hormone is best applied only in topical treatment so far, what hinders the consumption of eggplants itself with
that possibility of producing almost if not exactly the same effect?
Believe in the power of your Sinigang eggplants, dear!

3. Radish
 Radish in Your Sinigang Protects the Heart: No, this is not a metaphor of any sort. What we are talking about is that heart of yours,
physically- with the high levels of what we call as the anthocyanins, consumption of radish not only helps the heart be kept healthy
and function regularly but as well as, could reduce the possible risk of acquiring cardiovascular illnesses… the kind of which we all
wish to be the last kind of sickness that we could ever possibly have.
 Radish in Your Sinigang Controls Blood Pressure: If you are experiencing hypertension, with the radish’ significant levels of
potassium, all that you are really in need of is to keep the flow in control- and voila, you’re already on the safety net!
 Radish in Your Sinigang Helps You Achieve That “Glow In The Outside”: The intake consumption of radish in regular levels and
sufficient amounts could help one have that glowing and healthy skin! Thanks to the Zinc, Phosphorus, and loads of Vitamin V that
this veggie has (oops, time to reform your thinking about eggplants, huh?)
 Radish in Your Sinigang Hydrates You: Radish has a high-water content and just by consuming one could help you a lot especially
during summer seasons. More Sinigang-themed meals during summer, then.

4. String Beans (Sitaw):

String beans are highly recommended for lactating mothers. Also, is identified as an energy food. It helps in the prevention of the
degradation of the bone.

Most importantly, string beans aids in assuring that your DNA is damage-free at all times.

For those who are experiencing issues with iron deficiency and if it is currently your red-days, be sure to eat all of those string beans
in you ‘ever-heathy’ sour broth.

5. Taro Root:
If you have a problem in concern with your digestive system that of which could include excess gas, experiencing cramping, being
prone to constipation, or maybe you have been experiencing diarrhea much usual that what you have been- then gulping down your
Sinigang could be a solution.

Also, the taro root in your Sinigang has the power to reduce the risk of developing diabetes as it stabilizes insulin and glucose release
within one’s system.

6.Tamarind:

So, what does the ‘original’ souring agent has to do in concern to your health?

A healthy heart is assured, and the immune system’s functionality is fueled up. Also, it can slow down your aging processes and even
more, could help you when you’re dealing with cold and flu… one more wondrous thing is that. it could be your back-up buddy vs.
diabetes!