What is Sinigang and Why Is It So Delicious? (2024)

If you’re a soup lover, you’ll definitely want to know about sinigang. Sinigang is a traditional Filipino soup or stew that boasts a sour flavor palate and can be made with a number of different ingredients. For a rundown on everything you need to know about this beloved Filipino food, keep reading on.

What is Sinigang and Why Is It So Delicious? (1)

As mentioned above, sinigang is a sour soup dish that typically uses tamarind, a tropical fruit from Africa, as a souring agent to get its flavor. It gets its name from the Tagalog verb “sinigang,” which means “to stew.” Given that there are 7,107 islands in the Philippines, there is no “one right way” to prepare sinigang. Even though its exact origins are unknown, historians believe sinigang is a native Filipino dish because it can be traced back to the Philippines before the Spanish colonized the country. Today, sinigang is considered to be one of the most popular kinds of Filipino street food, due to its comforting and refreshing nature, and its appetite-boosting qualities that make for easier living in a tropical climate.

Sinigang is compatible with all sorts of soup fixins, including beef, pork, fish, chicken, prawns, string beans, okra, eggplant, tomatoes, and so much more. The recipe for sinigang has been through some changes over the years, so much so that it's not uncommon to replace tamarind with other souring agents like guava, calamansi, lemon, raw mango, santol, kamias, and even strawberries and watermelon. Not only that, but now you can find all sorts of sinigang variations, like sinigang rice, sinigang paella, sinigang bulalo, and so much more.

Now that you have a better understanding of what sinigang is, it’s time to pick out the perfect Asian grocery items for your next bowl of sinigang on Bokksu Market.

Sinigang Sa Sampalok Tamarind Soup Base

Though you’ll need to add your choice of meats and vegetables to the broth, the Sinigang Sa Sampalok Tamarind Soup Base from Knorr provides beginners with the perfect spicy and sour tamarind base for their homemade sinigang dish.

What is Sinigang and Why Is It So Delicious? (2)

Sinigang Sa Sampalok Tamarind Soup Mix

Similar to the product above, the Sinigang Sa Sampalok Tamarind Soup Mix from Mama Sita’s requires extra fixins to complete the dish, but the base broth is ideal for creating that must-have mix of sour and savory.

What is Sinigang and Why Is It So Delicious? (3)

7 Grain Mix For Rice

If you’re interested in venturing into the world of sinigang rice, Bokku Grocery has a number of different rices to choose from, like the 7 Grain Mix For Rice by Nishiki. This multigrain rice option features seven types of grains: medium grain brown rice, brown sweet rice, red rice, buckwheat, quinoa, black rice, and millet.

What is Sinigang and Why Is It So Delicious? (4)

Or, if you’re looking to stick to one type of rice, check out the Dynasty Jasmine Rice or Nishiki Premium Brown Rice.

What is Sinigang and Why Is It So Delicious? (5)

What is Sinigang and Why Is It So Delicious? (6)

What is Sinigang and Why Is It So Delicious? (2024)

FAQs

What is Sinigang and Why Is It So Delicious? ›

Taste Atlas described Sinigang as a sour Filipino soup that consists of fruits from the tamarind tree. Filipinos traditionally serve them steaming and hot as a main dish accompanied with rice. Filipinos usually serve this during special occasions like weddings and birthdays.

What is so special about sinigang? ›

Sinigang is more than just a dish, it's an integral part of Filipino culture. It's a popular dish to serve during the rainy season, as the hot soup is said to warm the body and soul. Sinigang is often served during special occasions like birthdays, weddings, and other celebrations.

What does sinigang taste like? ›

Sinigang is a Filipino soup or stew characterized by its sour and savory taste. It is most often associated with tamarind (Filipino: sampalok), although it can use other sour fruits and leaves as the souring agent such as unripe mangoes or rice vinegar. It is one of the more popular dishes in Filipino cuisine.

Is sinigang healthy or not? ›

While it may be nostalgia, sinigang is a healthy soup with many options on preparation. You can use nearly any protein you want (pork being the most common) or leave it out altogether and just stick to vegetables. Not only is sinigang delicious but it is quite healthy too!

What is the ranking of sinigang in the world? ›

Sinigang, the well-loved sour Filipino soup, made it to TasteAtlas' list of 100 Best Dishes in the World, ranking 97th.

What is the #1 soup in the world? ›

According to the Taste Atlas Awards, the international food database, the Filipino favorite, Sinigang, is hailed as the best soup in the world.

What food goes well with sinigang? ›

For sinigang, pairing it with rice, patismansi (fish sauce with calamansi), and salted fish works. Sinigang can be mild to hot with chili intensity, but the flavours of the souring fruit, vegetables, and the meat stock must be the dominant ones.

What is sinigang called in English? ›

Sinigang in Tagalog means “stewed dish” in English.

Is sinigang similar to tom yum? ›

soup without the heat. Beef or pork ribs & veggies are. simmered in light savory and tangy tamarind broth.

How to eat sinigang? ›

This is best served with a condiment composed of fish sauce and crushed fresh Thai chili pepper. I grew up having salted fried herring (also known as tuyo) as a side dish for my sinigang. The saltiness of the fish complements the sour broth of the soup.

Why does sinigang smell bad? ›

If it smells sour or otherwise off, this is another sign as well that it may have spoiled. In the case of sour-tasting soups such as sinigang, the natural acidity of the ingredients in the soup may mask the sour smell and taste that signals spoilage.

Is sinigang anti-inflammatory? ›

This dish is not only a hearty and home-y soup often regarded as a quintessential Filipino comfort food, but can also help in boosting your immune system with Vitamin C from the tamarind base, treating constipation (since it is fiber rich), energy boosting from the protein, and packed with antioxidants and anti- ...

Does sinigang mix have MSG? ›

Ingredients. Iodized Salt, Food Acid (Citric), Falvor Enhancer (MSG), Tamarind, Wheat Flour, Thickener (Xanthan), Sugar, Taro, Tomato, Onion, Natural Flavor, Shrimp, Palm Oil, Spices, Color (Caramel).

Why do Filipinos like sinigang? ›

Why is Sinigang so popular among Filipinos? Sinigang is marked as a Filipino comfort food. It helps cool the body during hot conditions due to its tangy taste. There are many variations of the dish and it can be prepared in any way.

What makes sinigang special? ›

The sourness in sinigang can come from various sources: tamarind (sampaloc), kamias, tomatoes, green mango, guava, santol, calamansi, and batuan. Each of these ingredients imparts a distinct flavor, making every sinigang unique. This diversity of flavors is what makes sinigang a beloved dish across the Philippines.

Why is sinigang the best soup? ›

Served piping hot, sinigang is known to bring comfort and warmth to Filipinos within and outside the Philippines. “With its sour lightness perfectly matching the harsh tropical heat of the country, sinigang is a unique soup that is a true representative of Filipino cuisine,” Taste Atlas wrote.

What does the sinigang symbolize? ›

It's a symbol of unity and togetherness, bringing families and friends closer around the dining table. Sour Secrets: The souring agent in Sinigang can vary from region to region. Tamarind is the most common, but calamansi, green mango, or even green tomatoes can be used, adding regional character to each bowl.

What is the best soup in the world Philippines? ›

Three iconic Filipino soups have been rated as some of the world's best Meat Soups, according to the TasteAtlas rankings. These soups are Sinigang na Baboy, Bulalo, and Tinolang Manok.

What is more famous adobo or sinigang? ›

Adobo is considered as the national dish of the Philippines and Sinigang as the unofficial national dish.

What is the national dish of the Philippines? ›

Many Filipinos consider adobo, the national dish of the Philippines. The perfect adobo lies in the delicate balance of soy sauce, vinegar, garlic and spices (bay leaves and fresh ground peppercorns).

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Edwin Metz

Last Updated:

Views: 6394

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (78 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Edwin Metz

Birthday: 1997-04-16

Address: 51593 Leanne Light, Kuphalmouth, DE 50012-5183

Phone: +639107620957

Job: Corporate Banking Technician

Hobby: Reading, scrapbook, role-playing games, Fishing, Fishing, Scuba diving, Beekeeping

Introduction: My name is Edwin Metz, I am a fair, energetic, helpful, brave, outstanding, nice, helpful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.