Filipino Fish Stew (Paksiw na Bangus)

Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Servings: 6
Yield: 6 servings

Description

Filipino bangus, or milkfish, simmers in a tangy, sour broth with eggplant, ginger, green chiles, and bitter melon to create this fish stew.

Ingredients

3 1/4 pounds whole milkfish (bangus)
1 eggplant, cut into chunks
1 onion, diced
1 (2 inch) piece ginger, thinly sliced crosswise, or to taste
2 large green chile peppers, chopped
1 teaspoon salt to taste
1 cup water
3/4 cup vinegar
1 green bell pepper, cut into chunks
1 small bitter melon, cut into chunks

Directions

1 Remove scales, gills, and guts from the fish. Rinse and cut crosswise into 3 steak pieces. Pat dry.
2 Arrange eggplant, onion, and ginger in the bottom of a 1 1/2-quart pot. Place fish on top. Add green chiles and sprinkle with salt.
3 Pour water and vinegar into the pot with the fish. Bring to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes; reduce heat and simmer until fish flakes easily with a fork, about 20 minutes. Add green bell pepper and bitter melon. Cook until bitter melon is soft to the touch, about 10 minutes more.