Adobado or Tinaguktok na Turingan is a Bicol term for Ginataang Isda(Tagalog), which basically means stewing tuna fish in coconut milk with vinegar, along with vegetables like sliced pechay(bok choy) and eggplants, minced garlic and ginger, sliced tomatoes and onions, then seasoned with salt and peppers.
The common choice of fish for Tinaguktok is either Tilapia or Tulingan(tuna). For Mark’s fish Adobado recipe, he has the yellowfin tuna for his main ingredient, which is obviously what this preparation is about. Preparing Adobadong Turingan or Tinaguktok na Turingan recipe is very simple.
Ingredients: 4-6 servings
2 large yellowfins cut in quarters
1-2 stalks of pechay(bok choy)
2 elongated, sliced eggplants
1/2 medium, sliced onions
1 thumb size ginger, minced
1 large, sliced tomato
2 tbsp. vinegar(optional Calamansi juice)
2 cloves of minced garlic
salt & pepper to taste
2 fresh, ripened siling labuyo(Filipino chili peppers)
1 1/2 cups of grated coconut milk(optional 1 large can)
1/2 cup of water
Cooking Procedure:
- Clean and cut 2 large yellowfin tuna in 4 slices or quarters. Wash and separate stalks of pechay(bok choy) leaves from its root, cut them in halves. Wash and slice eggplants. Set them aside.
- On a large cooking pan, combine together tuna, coconut milk, water, vinegar, minced ginger and garlic, sliced onions and tomatoes. Apply salt and peppers to season.
- Set the stove to a medium heat and bring the mixture into a boil while stirring occasionally to prevent the coconut milk from curding. Apply a lid to cover the pan and allow the fish to stew for 15-25 minutes until tuna starts to cook.
- Remove the lid, add the sliced vegetables, gently stir to combine all ingredients, then bring back its lid to cover and continue to let it simmer for another 5-10 minutes until all ingredients are cooked and coconut milk is slightly thickened.
- Remove from heat immediately to avoid pechay from overcooking. Top Adobong Turingan with chili peppers, then serve it hot with steamed rice.
Tip: You can apply Calamansi juice as a substitute to vinegar. Others don’t mind mixing all ingredients together, prior to stewing Tinaguktok na Turingan. This saves time, but can overcook the vegetable ingredients, unless you don’t mind at all. The preparation is no difference if you choose chicken as its main ingredient. If so, no vegetable ingredient is usually involved with Chicken Adobado recipe, but then again, it’s your choice.