Sinigang na Hipon
Sinigang na Hipon
Learn how to make sinigang na hipon with head-on shrimp, tamarind, gabi, eggplant, sitaw, kangkong, and chili—a classic Filipino sour soup.
Serves 6 · 50m total
The Story
Sinigang na hipon is the seafood answer to sinigang na baboy. The broth should be properly sour and steaming hot, with shrimp that still look proud—heads on, shells pink, and meat sweet from the quick simmer.
A loaded home bowl is never shy with vegetables: gabi for body, eggplant and sitaw for texture, kangkong stirred in at the end, and siling haba for gentle heat. Tamarind gives that reddish-brown sour broth Filipinos reach for when the weather turns or when rice needs a partner.
The rule with hipon sinigang is patience with vegetables, speed with shrimp. Let gabi and eggplant soften first, add shrimp only when the pot is ready, and pull the heat as soon as they turn orange-pink so they stay tender—not rubbery.
Best paired with
Steamed rice on banana leaf, patis with calamansi, and fried fish on the side.
Use it in these KusinaPH recipes
Lola's Tips
- ✦Keep shrimp heads on for a sweeter, fuller broth—strain if you prefer a clearer soup.
- ✦Cook gabi first; it takes the longest to soften and thickens the broth slightly.
- ✦Add shrimp last and simmer just until pink—about 3 to 4 minutes.
- ✦Stir kangkong in off heat so the leaves stay bright green.
Substitutions
- fresh tamarind → sinigang sa sampalok mix or tamarind paste
- gabi (taro) → radish (labanos) for a lighter broth
- kangkong → spinach or mustard leaves
Ingredients
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Instructions
- 1
Bring water to a boil with onion and tomato. Simmer 5 minutes until tomatoes soften.
- 2
Add tamarind or sinigang mix and gabi. Cook 10 to 12 minutes until gabi is tender.
- 3
Add eggplant and sitaw. Simmer 5 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
- 4
Stir in fish sauce and siling haba. Taste broth and adjust sourness.
- 5
Add head-on shrimp. Cook 3 to 4 minutes until shells turn orange-pink and meat is opaque.
- 6
Turn off heat and stir in kangkong until wilted. Serve immediately in deep bowls with rice.
Kitchen Timer · 20 min prep first
30:00
