This is my first time to buy, cooked and eat fish in my almost two years stay here in Korea. There are times I think it is very ironic because way back in my old town, I always eat fish  as we are surrounded by water (our province) and I always had a complaint “fish again” as fish is more cheaper than meat.  I think way back then I already cooked different menu for fish so it is not tiring to eat like fried, adobo, paksiw, pinangat, ginata, sinabawan, escabeche and etc., sardines is already included in the term fish huh?

When I went here in Korea I expected I am going to eat more sea foods because it is my favorite, shrimps, clams, squid and more but I am damn wrong, in my first year all I ate is instant food, noodles, instant burger patties, ottogi soup and other food that is unknown to me. Before I spend one year I am so glad that I was able to tasted fresh meat and cooked fresh food, because my previous months was really depressing maybe that’s the reason why I loss weight that time because I just ate noodles plus our rice is also instant, microwave oven was very helpful that time. My husband is even pissed off of me complaining “I have nothing to eat”.

By the way I bought this fish without permission yesterday, I just told him I am going to by beef for my source of iron but since it is kind of expensive I had these fishes which same price of it (lol). When I reached home I cooked it and he was annoyed because he said I told him I am not going to cook it but I am cooking it. He thought I am going to eat the fishes raw with vinegar, we didn’t understand each other when I told him I am going to cook it in vinegar. So he said if the apartment and his clothes stinks I am going to pay, gladly it didn’t not because I turn on the cooking fan and close the bathroom door and open the window as the fan tube or whatever term is passing through our bathroom.

My ingredients:

Fish, onion, garlic, vinegar, salt, water

Procedure:

• Wash and clean the fish, remove the intestines and gills
• Put it inside the pot, add vinegar, water and chopped onions and garlic
• Cooked it and add salt to taste
• Let it boil until it is cooked and done

In our town they called this recipe as “Pinangat” or “Pangat” which is kind of surprising to me because just add it with ginger we called this “Paksiw” in Tarlac. I think this is far different from the Pinangat of Bicol which is a nice blend of taro leaves, chili, meat and coconut milk wrapped in gabi leaves and tied securely with coconut leaf, commonly called “Laing”  in Manila.