Filipino Mudfish Stew (Pesang Dalag) Recipe

Serves/Makes: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 pound mudfish (dalag) fillets or steaks
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons cooking oil
• 1 piece fresh ginger root, peeled and sliced into julienne strips
• 1 small onion, quartered
• 3 cups water
• 10 peppercorns, crushed
• 1/2 cup leeks or scallions, sliced
• 1 cabbage, quartered
• 1 bunch Chinese lettuce, cut into 3-inch pieces
• Salt or patis (fish sauce) and freshly ground pepper to taste
• Misu-Tomato Sauce (see the recipe below)

How to cook Filipino Mudfish Stew (Pesang Dalag):

• Season the fish fillets with salt.
• In a medium saucepan, heat oil and saute ginger and onion.
• When onion turns transparent, add water and peppercorns. Bring to a boil. Add the fish.
• Bring to a quick second boil. Turn off heat.
• Add leeks or scallions, cabbage and Chinese lettuce.
• Season with patis or salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve the mudfish stew hot with misu-tomato sauce.

Misu-Tomato Sauce Recipe

Misu-Tomato Sauce Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon cooking oil
• 1 teaspoon finely minced garlic
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup finely minced ripe tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons salted bean paste (misu)
• 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

How to cook Misu-Tomato Sauce:

• In a small skillet, heat oil and saute garlic until light brown, then onion until transparent and tomatoes until soft.
• Add bean paste. Mix and mash the whole mixture with a fork.
• Add vinegar and pepper.
• Bring to a boil.

Hint:
Instead of dalag, you may choose tilapia or grouper for this recipe.

Comments:
The Filipino name for the Mudfish Stew is Pesang Dalag.
Mudfish (dalag) also known as: blackfish, grindle, cypress bass, or bowfin.

This recipe for Filipino Mudfish Stew (Pesang Dalag) serves/makes: 4

The Filipino Mudfish Stew (Pesang Dalag) recipe is adopted from The Philippine Cookbook by Reynaldo Alejandro.Main Ingredient: Mudfish/Dalag 
Preparation Method: Soup/Stew 
Cuisine: Filipino