Sinigang a Hito*

Hito: Catfish in Tagalog

1 large paltat or two small ones

3 cups water or rice washings

1 large ripe tomato or 3-4 green tamarind fruits

1 inch long fresh ginger (sliced thin)

3 green onions (cut up about 2 inches long)

Salt and MSG to taste

1 tbsp. bagoong (optional)

1 bunch sweet potato tips or watercress or swamp cabbage (kangkong)

2-3 hot green peppers (optional)

Directions:

1. Clean and remove intestines of fish. Cut in about one inch thick pieces. Head and tail included.

2. In medium size saucepan, put water, tomatoes, onions ginger and cook until water boils. Add salt and MSG to taste. Add bagoong if preferred.

3. Add fish to the boiling soup and cook until fish is done. Do not stir to prevent fish meat from breaking.

4. Add sweet potato tips for three minutes. Do not overcook vegetables.

5. Serve with hot rice:

   3 green cooking bananas may be used instead of the vegetables mentioned above.

   Peel bananas off green skin and slice in about 1/2 inch thick.

   Add to soup same time when fish is added. Cook until bananas are tender.