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Authentic Sinigang na Baboy

Authentic Sinigang na Baboy

Sinigang na Baboy (si-NI-gang na BA-boy) is a beloved Filipino sour soup that holds a special place in Filipino cuisine. The term "sinigang" comes from the Tagalog word "sigang," meaning "to stew," while "baboy" means pork. This iconic dish features tender pork slowly simmered in a sour tamarind broth with an array of fresh vegetables.
5 from 3 votes
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Filipino
Servings 6
Calories 649 kcal
Difficulty Medium

Ingredients
 

For the Soup Base:

  • 2 pounds pork spare ribs baboy, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 8 cups water
  • 15 pieces fresh tamarind sampalok or 1½ packages (1.41 ounces each) tamarind powder
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce patis
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Vegetables:

  • 2 large tomatoes kamatis, quartered
  • 1 medium onion sibuyas, peeled and quartered
  • 6 pieces taro root gabi, peeled and halved
  • 1 daikon radish labanos, 6-inch length, sliced
  • 2 finger chilies siling haba
  • ½ bunch long beans sitaw
  • 1 medium eggplant talong
  • 6 pieces okra
  • 1 bunch bok choy pechay

Instructions
 

  • Start by preparing your workspace and gathering all ingredients. This will make the cooking process smoother (Ihanda ang lahat ng sangkap para sa maayos na pagluluto).
  • Take your pork ribs and rinse them thoroughly under cold water (hugasan ng mabuti ang baboy sa malamig na tubig). Cut the meat into 2-inch pieces (hatiin ang karne ng dalawang pulgada) and pat them dry with paper towels (patuyuin gamit ang paper towel).
  • Pour 8 cups of water into your large pot (maglagay ng 8 tasang tubig sa kaldero). Place the pot over high heat and add the cleaned pork. Bring everything to a boil (pakuluin sa malakas na apoy).
  • Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to medium (180°C/350°F). You'll see foam forming on top - use your skimmer to remove this scum. This step is crucial for achieving a clear broth (para luminaw ang sabaw).
  • While waiting for the meat to cook, prepare your vegetables (ihanda ang mga gulay). Quarter your onions (sibuyas) and tomatoes (kamatis). Peel and cut the taro (balatan at hatiin ang gabi) into 2-inch pieces. Slice the daikon radish (labanos) diagonally. Cut the long beans (sitaw) into 2-inch lengths. Slice the eggplant (talong) diagonally. Clean the okra and trim the ends. Separate the bok choy leaves from stems (ihiwalay ang dahon ng pechay sa tangkay).
  • Add the quartered onions and tomatoes to the pot. Let everything simmer for 30 minutes or until the pork starts to become tender (palambutin ang baboy).
  • Pour in the fish sauce (patis) and continue simmering for 15 more minutes (pakuluan ng kinse minutos).
  • Now add your tamarind base (sampalok). If using fresh tamarind, combine the pulp with warm water, mash well, and strain (durugin ang sampalok at salain). If using powder, follow package instructions.
  • Begin adding your vegetables in this order (magdagdag ng gulay ayon sa pagkakasunod-sunod). Add the taro first and cook for 6 minutes. Next goes the daikon radish - give it 3 minutes. Add finger chilies and cook for 2 minutes. The long beans go in next for 2 minutes. Add eggplant and okra together and cook for 2 minutes. Finally, add the bok choy and cook for just 1 minute.
  • Taste your soup (tikman ang sabaw) and adjust the flavors. Need more sourness? Add tamarind (dagdagan ng sampaloc). Want it saltier? Add fish sauce (dagdagan ng patis). Finish with black pepper to taste (paminta).
  • Let everything rest for 5 minutes after turning off the heat (palamiginin ng 5 minuto pagkatapos patayin ang apoy). This helps the flavors come together (para mas masarap).
  • Pour your hot soup into serving bowls (ilagay sa mangkok) and serve immediately with steaming white rice (mainit na kanin). Prepare small dishes of fish sauce with calamansi (sawsawan) and chilies (siling labuyo) on the side for each diner to customize their bowl's flavor.

For best results (Para sa pinakamasarap na sinigang):

  • Maintain a gentle simmer throughout cooking (panatilihing mahina ang apoy)
  • Don't overcook the vegetables (huwag lutuing masyado ang gulay)
  • Taste and adjust seasonings gradually (unti-unting tikman at ayusin ang lasa)
  • Add more hot water if the broth reduces too much (magdagdag ng mainit na tubig kung kumaunti ang sabaw)

Tips from Lola's Kitchen

  1. Choose meat with bones for richer broth (buto-buto)
  2. For clearer broth, parboil the meat first
  3. Never cover the pot while cooking to maintain the vegetables' vibrant color
  4. Add leafy greens last to keep them crisp
  5. Taste for sourness before adding more tamarind
 

Nutrition

Calories: 649kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 36gFat: 53gSaturated Fat: 17gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gMonounsaturated Fat: 19gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 181mgSodium: 932mgPotassium: 781mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 13IUVitamin C: 19mgCalcium: 77mgIron: 2mg
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