A sour tamarind soup with pork and vegetables
Filipino Sinigang
Filipino Sinigang
1h 45mEasy
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
1 hr 30 min
Total Time
1 hr 45 min
Servings
6
6 servings
Difficulty
Easy
Cost
Budget
$
Filipino Sinigang
A sour tamarind soup with pork and vegetables
A beloved Filipino sour soup made with pork ribs, tamarind broth, tomatoes, and an abundance of vegetables like kangkong and radish.
15m
Prep Time
90m
Cook Time
105m
Total Time
6
Servings
Easy
Difficulty
Budget $
Cost
Sarah Chen
(Updated )
Sinigang is the quintessential Filipino comfort food — a sour, savory soup that is both brothy and deeply satisfying. The sourness traditionally comes from tamarind, though green mango and guava are also used. The soup is loaded with vegetables and built on pork ribs that give the broth body and richness.
Every Filipino family has their own version, but the constants are the sour broth, tender pork, and plenty of vegetables. It is the kind of dish that makes you want to eat an extra cup of rice.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs pork spare ribs, cut into pieces
- 2 tomatoes, quartered
- 1 onion, quartered
- 2 tbsp tamarind paste or 1 packet sinigang mix
- 1 large daikon radish, sliced
- 2 cups kangkong or spinach
- 2 long green peppers
- 1 eggplant, sliced
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 8 cups water
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- 1
Bring the water to a boil and add the pork ribs. Skim any scum that rises to the surface.
- 2
Add the onion and tomatoes and simmer for 60 to 75 minutes until the pork is tender.
- 3
Add the tamarind paste and fish sauce, stirring to dissolve.
- 4
Add the radish and eggplant and cook for 10 minutes until tender.
- 5
Add the green peppers and kangkong or spinach in the last 2 minutes.
- 6
Taste and adjust the sourness and salt. Serve hot over steamed rice.
Serving Suggestions
Ways to Serve This Dish
Serve over steamed jasmine or sticky rice
Pair with a side of pickled vegetables or kimchi
Add a drizzle of sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds for extra flavor
DepthPantry
Test Kitchen Pick
Fish Sauce
Helpful Pantry Staple
Why the fish sauce matters
This dish leans on fish sauce for a lot of its savory depth, so the bottle you use has more impact than most pantry upgrades.
This is one of the few ingredients here that noticeably changes the final dish.
- Builds the backbone of the sauce
- Useful well beyond this recipe
A better bottle makes a real difference here and pays off across Vietnamese and Thai cooking.
Shop fish sauce for this recipeTips & Storage
Pro Tips
Fresh tamarind pods give the most authentic flavor if you can find them.
The soup should be noticeably sour — do not be shy with the tamarind.
Shrimp or fish can replace the pork for a lighter version.
Storage
Refrigerate leftovers in airtight containers for up to 4 days.
Reheating
Reheat gently on the stovetop, in the oven, or in the microwave until hot.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving (1 bowl) · 6 servings
Calories320
LowModerateHigh
A moderate-calorie serving · based on a 2,000 cal daily diet
Protein24g
Carbohydrates14g
Fat18g
Fiber3g
Sugar6g
Sodium580mg
Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I make this ahead?
- Yes. The components or finished dish hold well if properly chilled and stored.
- Can I adjust the seasoning?
- Yes. Taste near the end and adjust salt, acid, or heat so it suits the way you like to cook and eat.
Explore More
About Sarah Chen
Sarah Chen is a professional recipe developer and food editor with over a decade of experience in test kitchens and food media. She trained at the Culinary Institute of America before spending six years developing and testing recipes for national food publications, where she honed her ability to translate restaurant techniques into approachable home cooking. At RecipePool, Sarah leads recipe development, ensuring every dish is tested at least three times for clarity, accuracy, and genuine deliciousness. When she is not in the kitchen, she is browsing farmers markets and collecting vintage cookbooks.
View all recipes →Some product links on this page may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate RecipePool earns from qualifying purchases.
You Might Also Like
Dairy-Free
Medium
Asian
Filipino Lumpia (Spring Rolls)
1h8 servings
View Recipe
Filipino Lumpia (Spring Rolls)
1h•Medium
Gluten-FreeDairy-Free
Easy
Mexican
Caribbean Coconut Curry Shrimp
35 min4 servings
View Recipe
Caribbean Coconut Curry Shrimp
35 min•Easy
Gluten-FreeDairy-Free
Easy
Italian
Mango Coconut Panna Cotta
25 min6 servings
View Recipe
Mango Coconut Panna Cotta
25 min•Easy
VegetarianVegan
Medium
Mexican
Trinidadian Doubles
1h4 servings
View Recipe
Trinidadian Doubles
1h•Medium
Dairy-Free
Medium
Mexican
Peruvian Lomo Saltado
35 min4 servings
View Recipe
Peruvian Lomo Saltado
35 min•Medium
Gluten-FreeDairy-Free
Medium
Mexican
Ceviche Mixto
30 min4 servings
View Recipe
Ceviche Mixto
30 min•Medium