_{Snapper Fish in Sour Miso Soup}

One of the things I love about living in Malolos is the wet market they call Bayan. Bayan is a Filipino word that actually translates to a number of English words. Its meaning may vary depending on how it is used. It may refer to a country, one's hometown, or a community. In Malolos, when you say Bayan, it may mean the busy market place that sits in the heart of the city.

I love going there as it offers food items at very affordable prices, primarily because it is where suppliers from different parts of the country go to sell commodities. Smaller merchants from different parts of Bulacan then get their items here before they resell it in their respective areas. In our language, we call such a place Bagsakan, which technically translates to a drop-off point.

Like many people, I usually go to the market early in the morning to make sure I get my hands on the freshest goods. This game plan has yet to fail me and when I went there this morning, I was able to buy everything I had on my list in premium quality.

Heads up! There are pictures below that some might find gory; ie. fresh fish meat.

I buy pork and beef in grocery stores but I buy fish in the wet market as they tend to be more fresh. I bought Daing na Bangus or Milkfish which is great for frying. I also bought Mayamaya or snapper fish, which is what I use as meat for the tamarind-based miso soup.

Ingredients
Mustard Leaves
Radish
Ginger
Onion
Garlic
Tomato
Miso
Snapper Fish
Tamarind-base powder
Fish Sauce
Salt

Step 1. Fry your fish and set aside.

Step 2. In a deep pan, saute garlic, onion, and ginger. Add tomatoes and miso. Season with fish sauce and salt. Add 2 cups of water and bring to a boil.

Step 3. Add radish and tamarind-base powder. Bring to a boil then add mustard leaves and green chillies.

I only add the fried fish to the soup when it's being served to prevent the fish from getting soggy. Enjoy while hot.

Sinigang sa Miso is one of the easiest soup to prepare but, for it to be really delicious, fresh ingredients are needed. I usually cook this right after I get home from the market and serve this for lunch.

Photos are mine taken using a Samsung S7 Edge camera phone