Paksiw na Bangus is one of the easiest and tastiest ways to cook milkfish! The fish is stewed in vinegar and spices and turns out super moist and flavorful. Pair it with steamed rice for a healthy, delicious, and budget-friendly meal to serve the whole family.
I love all types of fish and seafood dishes, but I've never really been fond of bangus paksiw. I like milkfish, but I never took a liking for the stew's sharp vinegary taste.
That was until a friend of mine taught me a simple trick that turned the dish into my favorite: a teaspoon or two of oil is added to the dish at the end of cooking. The addition of fat adds flavor and mellows out the mouth-puckering acidity.
To scale or not to scale
Cooking the bangus a la paksiw with scales or without is a matter of preference. I posted the video below on my Facebook page, and there was a whole lot of discussion; half of the viewers said descale the fish, and the other half said to keep them on.
So, yes, keep the scales, don't keep the scales. It's up to you. The dish will be delicious regardless.
Cooking tips
- The quality of the fish affects the quality of the dish. The fresher the bangus, the better the taste. Try to choose a "mataba" bangus with a thick band of stomach fat for best flavor.
- I like to add eggplant, but you can also use ampalaya or okra.
- For an adobong paksiw version, add ยผ cup soy sauce and decrease the amount of salt.
How to serve and store
- Enjoy paksiw na bangus as a main dish for lunch or dinner. It's traditionally served with steamed rice and fish sauce (with chopped chilies if you want a bit of heat) for dipping.
- The stewed fish keeps well for days due to the use of vinegar. Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- Reheat leftovers in a saucepan over medium heat or in the microwave at 2 to 3-minute intervals to an internal temperature of 165 F.
- You can also enjoy the leftovers as a whole "new" dish by draining the liquid and pan-frying the fish until crispy. It takes on a "daing na bangus" flavor and pairs well with sinangag for breakfast!
Ingredients
- 1 large milkfish
- 1 large eggplant, cut into 1-inch thick wedges
- 1 onion, peeled and sliced thinly
- 4 garlic, peeled and pounded
- 1 thumb-size ginger, sliced into thirds and pounded
- ยฝ cup vinegar
- 1 cup water
- 3 finger chili peppers
- 1 ยฝ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon peppercorns
- 1 teaspoon canola oil
Instructions
- Clean and gut the fish, leaving scales intact. Cut into serving parts.
- In a wide pot combine fish, eggplant, onion, garlic, ginger, vinegar, water, finger chili peppers, salt, and peppercorns.
- Cover and let simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes or until fish is cooked and liquid is reduced.
- Drizzle oil on top and stir gently to combine. Serve hot.
Notes
Video
Nutrition Information
โThis website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.โ
Lydia Lood says
Great to know.. and thank you
Melanie De Leon says
I used 1 tbsp oil, triple the ginger and double the garlic. Yum!
Lalaine Manalo says
Thanks for the 5 stars! I'm glad you were able to adjust the recipe to your liking!
Hazel says
The best tasting paksiw na bangus everrr!!! I like mine with lots of eggplant. โฅ๏ธ
Thank you Ms Lalaine! Life saver mga recipes mo lalo na ngayong pandemic ๐
Lalaine Manalo says
Salamat po ๐ I'm glad you're enjoying the recipes.
Catherine Hawck-Cooon says
Looks delicious! Iโll try your recipe and i will add a pc of bittermelon. Thanks for sharing!
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Catherine Hawck-Cooon says
Looks delicious! Iโll try your recipe and i will add a pc of bittermelon. Thanks for sharing!
Lalaine Manalo says
Ampalaya sounds delicious!