Corned Beef Sinigang

Corned Beef Sinigang is a delicious twist on the classic Filipino sinigang! This sour soup is hearty, tasty, and perfect with steamed rice with savory chunks of corned beef and a tangy tamarind broth.

Spam luncheon meat and corned beef are two pantry items I always keep a steady supply of at home. Ideally, we like to limit our use of processed foods, but sometimes, I need dinner in a hurry, and these canned goods are convenient and time-saving.

Along with the classic ginisa with potatoes and onions, I love to turn canned corned beef into filling frittatas as well as use in spaghetti sauce or in soups such as nilaga and this sinigang.

I know it's an unusual ingredient to incorporate in our traditional Filipino dishes, but I urge you to try it at least once! You'll be pleasantly surprised how the salty flavor of cured beef goes well with the sour notes of the tamarind broth.

And not only does the sinigang na corned beef hearty and tasty, but it's also quick and easy to make with no long simmering time required as with regular beef or pork cuts. It's the perfect dish for busy weeknights!

Ingredient notes

• This sinigang na corned beef is meant to be a quick recipe and uses canned corned beef. Feel free to swap corned beef brisket if you like. Cut the meat into 2-inch chunks, cover with water, and simmer for about 1 ½ to 2 hours or until fork-tender. Add the vegetables and flavor with tamarind according to taste.
• I used the vegetables I had on hand: bok choy and radish. Kangkong, yard beans, okra, gabi, and eggplant are also great additions to sinigang.
• To simplify the process, I also used a tamarind soup mix base. If you prefer fresh, boil the tamarind pods in about 1 cup of water until softened. Place in a colander set over a bowl and press the softened fruit with the back of a spoon to extract the pulp. Discard the seeds and skins and add the pulp to the soup.
• Want a hint of spice? Add a piece or two of finger chili peppers (siling haba).

Serving suggestions

This sinigang na corned beef makes a hearty main dish or side soup for lunch and dinner. Serve it on its own or with steamed rice and spiced fish sauce on the side for dipping.

Storing leftovers

• Allow leftovers to cool completely and transfer to a container with a tight-fitting lid. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheat in a saucepan over medium heat to 165 F.

Different kinds of sinigang

While Sampaloc is the most popular flavor base in sinigang, other souring agents such as green mango, calamansi, guava, kamias, and watermelon are also used for variety. Below is a list of the delicious variety of sour soups on the blog.

• Salmon Belly Sour Soup with Kamias
• Shrimp Sinigang with Calamansi
• Bulanglang na Bamgus at Hipon
• Sinigang na Hito sa Miso
• Sinigang na Baka sa Bayabas