Sinigang 101: Here Are The Different Types Of Souring Agents Used In Sinigang (2024)

Sinigang is finally getting the attention it so greatly deserves! These are the different kinds of sinigang that every Filipino knows and loves

Taste Atlas recently ranked our very own sinigang as the top contender for international vegetable soups! The renowned travel and food guide rated it a 4.8 out of 5, having beat out Turkey's mercimek çorbasi(lentil soup), and Lithuania's saltibarsciai (cold beet soup).

Sinigang, which is a Filipino soup or stew, is a popular recipe that's distinct in its strong flavour profile. It is characterised by a strong, sour taste, often associated with tamarind (sampalok); though of course, tamarind isn't the only souring agent used in this time-honoured recipe.Much like the cuisine in general, sinigangis versatile, with a different take from every household.

Generally,sinigangcan be classified according to two different ways: the soup base or souring agent used ("sinigang sa") and the meat or vegetable that is cooked through the soup base ("sinigang na"). The most popular variations of "sinigang na" includemanok (chicken),baboy (pork),baka (beef), isda(fish, usuallybangusor milkfish), andhipon (shrimp). Some like to mix different kinds of meat together—especially seafood—and throw in shrimp, crab, and squid altogether.

Of course, vegetables are also a popular alternative (as it was for Taste Atlas). This recipe is usually hallmarked by local greens such assitaw (string bean), okra,kang-kong (water spinach), or the like.

Check out some of the "sinigang sa" variations below!

Read more: 5 Native Filipino Liquors, Spirits, And Wine

Sinigang 101: Here Are The Different Types Of Souring Agents Used In Sinigang (2024)

FAQs

Sinigang 101: Here Are The Different Types Of Souring Agents Used In Sinigang? ›

While tamarind is the most common souring agent used, other regions may use alternative ingredients such as guava, calamansi, green mango, or santol. The choice of meat or seafood and vegetables also varies by region, with popular options including pork, shrimp, fish, beef, or even vegetarian versions.

What are the souring agents in sinigang? ›

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.

What are the different types of sinigang mix? ›

The most popular variations of "sinigang na" include manok (chicken), baboy (pork), baka (beef), isda (fish, usually bangus or milkfish), and hipon (shrimp). Some like to mix different kinds of meat together—especially seafood—and throw in shrimp, crab, and squid altogether.

Why is sinigang sour? ›

Tamarind Is The Traditional Souring Agent For Sinigang Broth

Sinigang is also served with steamed rice, with the soft grains' relative blandness helping to mitigate the soup's distinctive sourness. Besides, vinegar is never used to flavor this dish.

What are the different kinds of sinigang that can be served on the Filipino table? ›

The different kinds of sinigang that can be served on the Filipino table are sinigang sa ube, strawberry sinigang, sinigang na corned beef, and sinigang na baboy with guava and pineapple.

What is souring agents? ›

Souring Agents are commonly used in Middle Eastern cooking for a variety of foods and curries. Some of the typical Souring Agents include: fruits such as cocum, lemon, limes, mangos, and tamarind. In addition, tomatoes, vinegar and yogurt are also considered as Souring Agents.

Which acid is souring agent? ›

The sour taste of foods and beverages is largely due to organic acids, including acetic, citric, malic, and fumaric acids in fruits and vegetables and tartaric acid in wine. Dilute solutions of many inorganic acids also taste sour. One example is the phosphoric acid in cola beverages.

What mixture is sinigang? ›

What exactly is sinigang? It is a soup made in a tamarind broth, which gives it its sour taste. You can use chicken, pork, and even shrimp to make sinigang. Then add any vegetables you want to round it out.

Is sinigang mix healthy or unhealthy? ›

Sinigang: Many Filipino households serve sinigang as a comfort food, especially at dinner when tired family members arrive from school or work to the wafting smell of hot tamarind soup with pork or fish. However, try to avoid using instant sinigang mix as it contains chemicals that can harm the kidney with regular use.

Why is my sinigang foamy? ›

What is the Foamy Scum on Stocks? When liquids like chicken stock or bone broth are just about to boil, the proteins in the animal products start to congeal. This creates foam that rises to the surface. It can appear when boiling meat-based liquids like pork bones, beef knuckles or marrow bones, and chicken carcasses.

What to do if sinigang is too sour? ›

Add an extra 1 tsp (4.8 g) of baking soda to your soup if it's still sour. Stir the baking soda into your soup, once again waiting for the powder to bubble and settle. Taste the soup again to see if the flavor is any better. If not, continue adding baking soda in 1 tsp (4.8 g) to your soup.

What makes sinigang unique? ›

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.

What causes soup to sour? ›

A lot of types of bacteria (and sometimes other microbes) produce waste products that can taste "sour." And soup/stock is a good growth medium for microbes, which is why most food safety organizations recommend only keeping soup for 3-4 days in the fridge.

What are the souring agents of sinigang? ›

The most common kind of souring agent with sinigang is sampaloc or tamarind. Most sinigang mixes also use sampaloc. It has a very slight fruity note, but more importantly, its sour note hits you with a punch. Sampaloc is most often found in sinigang from Luzon.

What is sinigang mix? ›

Knorr Sinigang Mix is lactose-free and a versatile base for traditional and innovative sinigang-inspired dishes. A multipurpose sinigang mix that adds a rich and sour taste to dishes from soups, stews, sauces, rice dishes, and marinades. Made with sustainably sourced tamarinds, tomatoes, onions, and shrimps.

What is the most popular sinigang? ›

Pork sinigang or sinigang na baboy is among the most famous dishes for Filipinos.

What chemical makes food sour? ›

We know which compounds tend to stimulate sour taste receptors in vertebrates. Sour taste is elicited by both organic acids, including lactic acid, citric acid, malic acid and acetic acid, and inorganic acids, such as hydrochloric acid, nitric acid and sulfuric acid [19].

What ingredients make your food taste sour? ›

13 sour foods
  • Citrus fruits. Most citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, lime, and grapefruit are sour due to a high concentration of citric acid, which imparts a tart flavor to foods. ...
  • Rhubarb. ...
  • Currants. ...
  • Gooseberries. ...
  • Tamarind. ...
  • Vinegar. ...
  • Pickles. ...
  • Yogurt.
Sep 14, 2022

What is the sour chemical for food? ›

Acidulants are chemical compounds that give a tart, sour, or acidic flavor to foods or enhance the perceived sweetness of foods. Acidulants can also function as leavening agents and emulsifiers in some kinds of processed foods.

What is the most sour ingredient? ›

Fumaric and Tartaric Acid

The sourest-tasting acid is fumaric acid. In Sweets, fumaric acid will create a tart flavour that is long-lasting. This long-lasting effect is because fumaric acid doesn't dissolve easily. A minimal amount of fumaric can be found in carrots, tomatoes, beans, and apples.

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