Pesang Tilapia is A Delicious Filipino Fish soup made with simple ingredients. It is quick to make and a simple dish packed with flavor and nutrients. It is cooked in a savory broth with ginger, tomato, and bok choy/pechay.
So simple and is the perfect comfort food on a cold day in the Philippines. In this article, we’ll look closely at its ingredients, answer some related questions, and explain the steps to make Pesang Tilapia.
What is Pesang Tilapia with Tomato and Veggies?
It is a Filipino fish soup made with tilapia fish, ginger, garlic, onion, tomato, fish sauce, soy sauce, and bok choy. It is a simple yet flavorful dish commonly served in Filipino households and famous during the cold and rainy seasons.
It is also a healthy and nutritious dish with fresh fish and vegetables—Tilapia is a good source of protein and fat, which are a great addition to a healthy diet. The dish contains vitamins and minerals from the bok choy, ginger, and tomatoes.
Why You Are Going to Love This
- Nutrients– this meal is straightforward but packed with nutrients. Talk about healthy oil from the fish and those veggies- bok choy and tomatoes are high in Vitamin C, consist of many fibers, and are high in calcium.
- Budget Friendly– You will not spend big bucks to make this. Most Tilapia are on sale in peak season, and you can look for vegetables on the sales rack, and they are still good to go.
- Leftover friendly– if you get any leftovers, this soup can be stored in the fridge and frozen too. Just place it in a sealed container, and you can refrigerate it for three days and freeze it to last longer.
Pesang Tilapia Ingredients
Below are the simple ingredients to make this dish flavorful.
- Tilapia: Tilapia is a freshwater fish commonly used in Filipino cuisine. It’s mild flavor and firm texture make it an ideal fish for soups and stews.
- Ginger: Ginger gives the broth a spicy and slightly sweet flavor. It’s commonly used in Asian cuisine for its aromatic qualities and ability to add depth of flavor to dishes. In Pesang Tilapia, ginger is added to the broth to give it a warm, spicy flavor.
- Tomato: Tomatoes are a versatile ingredient used in various dishes. They add a sweet, slightly acidic flavor to the broth and help to thicken the sauce.
- Red Onion: Red onions are milder and sweeter than yellow onions. They add a subtle sweetness to the broth.
- Garlic: Garlic is an onion family member with an intense, slightly sweet flavor. Garlic is used in many cuisines for its ability to add flavor to dishes.
- Fish Sauce And Soy Sauce: common ingredients in Filipino cuisine. They add a salty flavor to the dish and help balance the other flavors.
- Broth water: Broth water is the base of the soup and gives it a savory flavor.
- Bok choy: Bok choy is a leafy green vegetable commonly used in Asian cuisine. It has a crunchy texture. Bok choy is a nutritious vegetable with vitamins A and C, calcium, and iron. I add it towards the cooking end so it is not overcooked.
How Can You Make Pesang Isda -Tilapia?
To make Pesang Tilapia, you must gather the following ingredients and follow the instructions.
Clean The Fish: Rinse the tilapia thoroughly with water and remove the scales and innards. Cut the fish into serving pieces and set aside. Heat a pan and add enough oil to fry the fish. Once the oil is hot, fry it until it’s cooked. Remove the fish from the pan and set it aside. Fry the ginger until it becomes aromatic in the same oil. Add the minced garlic and cook it until it turns brown and add the onion.
Pour the broth water into the pan and season with fish and soy sauce. Let the mixture simmer for three more minutes, and add the fried Tilapia, tomatoes, green onion, and bok choy. Cover and let it simmer for three minutes. Serve Pesang Tilapia hot with fish sauce and soy sauce on the side.
What are other Fish substitutes?
- You use other types of fish, such as bangus (milkfish), damaging bukid (red snapper), and lapu-lapu (grouper) as well. Every kind of fish will have a slightly different flavor and texture, so feel free to experiment and find your favorite. But make sure to choose fresh fish with a firm texture, which will hold up well in the soup.
How long can you store this fish soup in the fridge?
- You can store Pesang Tilapia in the fridge for up to three days. Store it in an airtight container to keep it fresh for longer. To reheat, place the soup and fish in a heat-safe bowl and heat it in the microwave.
Can you freeze it?
- Yes, you can freeze this. Put it in an airtight container and freeze. Thaw and heat in the microwave when you are ready for it.
For more Seafood Recipe
Equipment
- Large pot
- Ladle
Ingredients
- 1 lb Tilapia
- 2 tbsp Cooking oil
- 1 inch Ginger, julienned
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups water or your favorite broth
- 1 medium red onion, chopped
- 2 stems green onion, chopped
- 2 medium tomatoes
- 2 bunches pechay( bok choy)
Instructions
- Rinse the tilapia thoroughly with water and remove the scales and innards. Cut the fish into serving pieces and set aside.
- Heat a pan and add enough oil to fry the fish. Once the oil is hot, fry it until it’s cooked. Remove the fish from the pan and set it aside.
- Fry the ginger until it becomes aromatic in the same oil. Add the minced garlic and cook it until it turns brown and add the onion.
- Pour the broth water into the pan and season with fish and soy sauce. Let the mixture simmer for three more minutes
- Add the fried Tilapia, tomatoes, green onion, and bok choy. Cover and let it simmer for three minutes. Serve Pesang Tilapia with rice.
