“Pangat” is a Filipino cooking method that involves boiling fish in vinegar and usually adding vegetables like tomatoes, onion, and chili peppers. It is a common way to prepare fish in Filipino cuisine, and it is often served with steamed rice. The dish is sometimes referred to as “paksiw na isda” or “sinigang sa sampalok,” depending on the region and variation of the recipe.
In Bicol, however, Pangat is referred to as Inun-un, and it differs from the Tagalog Pangat or Paksiw recipe in that the fish is wrapped in Kulis leaves before cooking, instead of banana leaves. Kulis is a unique ingredient that is only found in the Bicol region of the Philippines, and is not well-known worldwide. It is an ornamental plant that produces edible green to yellow leaves, and is also used for medicinal purposes. While Kulis can be found in some parts of Southeast Asia and also Australia, it remains a unique ingredient that is particularly associated with Bicolano cuisine. Serving Inunun recipe is quite simple, just as how Miles does it:
Ingredients: 4-8 servings
6-10 pieces of fish Mackerel (Galunggong)
10-20 pieces of Kulis leaves (depending on how much you use to wrap each fish)
1 medium sized ginger root, thinly sliced in pieces
6 cloves of garlic, minced
1 small, sliced red onions
3-4 pieces of dried bay leaves
2 pieces of green chili peppers
1 cup of coconut vinegar
1 cup of water
1-2 tbsp. of cooking oil
salt and peppers to taste
Instructions:
- Wash and clean fish mackerel, remove the inner parts of the fish. Wrap each piece with 1-2 pieces of the Kulis leaves. Set them aside.
- Clean and slice all other ingredients including onions, ginger and garlic.Arrange all the wrapped fish mackerel pieces into a deep cooking pan.
- Apply and mix all other ingredients (garlic, onions, ginger, green chilis, cooking oil, vinegar, water and spices.
- Apply salt and pepper, gently mix them together using your hands to incorporate all ingredients.Place the pan on the heated stove at low to medium heat.
- Place a lid on the the pan. Allow it to boil and simmer for 20-30 minutes, or until the fish is fully cooked.Remove the lid, add more salt and pepper if desired.
- Leave it to simmer for another minute until ready to serve with steamed rice. Enjoy your meal with our delicious Inunun recipe!
Tip: You can also add Kamias or Iba to add a unique sour taste to the dish.
Pangat or Inun-un Recipe Ingredients with Fish Mackerel as its Fish Ingredient
