Tulingan bistek is a scrumptious technique to benefit from the daring taste of bullet tuna cooked within the basic bistek model. This dish combines fried fish with a savory sauce product of soy sauce, calamansi, and onions, leading to an ideal pairing for heat steamed rice.
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Tulingan bistek is one among my fish model of bistek tagalog. The mixture of fried tulingan and a savory braising sauce creates a wealthy and satisfying meal. I’ve all the time loved the way in which the onions add sweetness and steadiness to the fish, whereas calamansi juice brings brightness to each chunk. That is a type of dishes that immediately jogs my memory of the Philippines.

What’s Tulingan Bistek?
Tulingan bistek is a Filipino dish that swaps beef for tulingan, or bullet tuna, whereas maintaining the identical soy sauce, calamansi, and onion flavors that outline conventional bistek. The fish is fried first to develop a wealthy texture and taste, then simmered within the savory sauce so it absorbs all of the seasonings. This makes it a lighter but equally satisfying different to the meat model.
Elements for Tulingan Bistek
- Tulingan – meaty bullet tuna that holds its texture effectively when fried and simmered
- Calamansi – gives a vibrant and tangy taste that balances the richness of the fish
- Garlic – provides depth and a aromatic aroma to the dish
- Ginger – provides a heat, barely spicy be aware that enhances the fish
- Onion – sliced into rings so as to add sweetness and texture
- Soy sauce – the salty, umami base of the bistek sauce
- Sugar – balances the saltiness and acidity
- Maggi Magic Sarap – enhances the general taste with a well-rounded seasoning
- Floor black pepper – provides delicate warmth and spice
- Water – for simmering and mixing flavors
- Cooking oil – used for frying the fish and sautéing the aromatics
How you can Prepare dinner Tulingan Bistek
- Marinate the fish
Mix tulingan, calamansi juice, soy sauce, and garlic in a bowl. Combine effectively and let it marinate for half-hour. - Fry the tulingan
Warmth oil in a pan. Fry the marinated tulingan slices till golden brown. Take away from the pan and put aside. - Sauté the aromatics
Discard extra oil, leaving about 3 tablespoons within the pan. Sauté the remaining garlic till golden brown, then add ginger and onion. Prepare dinner till the onion turns into barely gentle. - Begin the sauce
Pour the remaining marinade into the pan. Add water and convey to a boil. - Simmer the fish
Add the fried tulingan into the pan. Decrease the warmth and simmer for half-hour, including water as wanted. - Season and end
Stir in sugar, floor black pepper, and Maggi Magic Sarap. Add the onions and cook dinner for an additional 5 minutes earlier than serving.
Suggestions in Cooking Tulingan Bistek
- Marinate the fish simply lengthy sufficient for taste to penetrate with out overpowering the tulingan’s pure style.
- Frying earlier than simmering retains the fish intact and enhances its taste.
- Add onions close to the top for a recent crunch and pure sweetness.
- Cut back the sauce barely earlier than including the fish for a richer, extra concentrated taste.


Finest Methods to Take pleasure in Tulingan Bistek
Serve tulingan bistek sizzling with freshly cooked white rice. The sauce is savory, barely tangy, and ideal for spooning over rice. For selection, pair it with stir-fried greens or a crisp facet salad to steadiness the richness of the fish.
What Makes This Tulingan Bistek Stand Out
What makes this tulingan bistek particular is its steadiness of flavors and textures. The fish’s agency meat holds up effectively to frying and simmering, whereas the calamansi and soy sauce create a tangy-savory sauce. The contact of Maggi Magic Sarap ties all the things collectively for a well-rounded style.
What to Have with It
- Shrimp Fried Rice with Sausage (Vietnamese Fried Rice Recipe) – a flavorful rice dish with shrimp and sausage that pairs completely with bistek sauce
- Fried Pork Stomach – crispy and savory, a superb facet to steadiness the tangy fish
- Bicol Categorical – creamy and spicy pork dish for a richer, bolder meal mixture


Continuously Requested Questions
Can I take advantage of different sorts of fish for bistek?
Sure. You’ll be able to substitute tulingan with bangus, tilapia, or galunggong, although cooking instances might fluctuate.
What’s one of the best ways to scale back the sturdy fishy odor of tulingan?
Marinating in calamansi juice and frying earlier than simmering, together with sauteeing in ginger helps cut back the odor whereas enhancing taste.
Can I make this dish forward of time?
Sure. Actually, letting it sit for a couple of hours or in a single day may help the flavors develop additional.
Do I must take away the top and tail of the tulingan?
That is optionally available and based mostly on desire. Some want to maintain them for added taste throughout simmering. Some folks pull the tails off to take away the toxins from the fish blood. You can even simply break the tail to let the blood drip.


This tulingan bistek is a type of recipes that makes you wish to attain for a second serving of rice. I hope you give it a attempt at dwelling and luxuriate in the identical comforting flavors which have made it a household favourite in my kitchen for years.
Watch How To Prepare dinner Tulingan Bistek
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Tulingan Bistek (Braised Bullet Tuna in Soy Sauce and Onion)
Agency and flavorful tulingan slices marinated in soy sauce and calamansi, fried till golden, and simmered with onions and seasonings for a tangy and savory Filipino basic.
Directions
Mix tulingan, calamansi juice, soy sauce, and three cloves minced garlic in a bowl. Combine and marinate for half-hour.
2 lbs tulingan, 5 items calamansi, ½ cup soy sauce, 6 cloves garlic
Warmth oil in a pan. Fry the tulingan slices till golden brown. Take away from the pan.
¼ cup cooking oil, 2 lbs tulingan
Discard extra oil, leaving about 3 tablespoons. Sauté the remaining garlic till golden brown. Add ginger and onion. Prepare dinner till the onion turns barely gentle.
6 cloves garlic, 2 thumbs ginger, 2 items onions
Pour the remaining marinade into the pan. Add water. Convey to a boil.
1 cup water
Add the fried tulingan into the pan. Decrease the warmth and simmer for half-hour. Be aware: add water as wanted.
Season with sugar, floor black pepper, and Maggi Magic Sarap.
½ teaspoon sugar, 4 grams Maggi Magic Sarap, ¼ teaspoon floor black pepper
Add the onions and inexperienced onions. Prepare dinner for five minutes.
1 stalk inexperienced onion
Switch to a serving plate. Serve sizzling with rice.
Vitamin Info
Energy: 370kcal (19%) Carbohydrates: 4g (1%) Protein: 49g (98%) Fats: 18g (28%) Saturated Fats: 2g (10%) Polyunsaturated Fats: 5g Monounsaturated Fats: 10g Trans Fats: 0.1g Ldl cholesterol: 113mg (38%) Sodium: 1742mg (73%) Potassium: 778mg (22%) Fiber: 0.5g (2%) Sugar: 1g (1%) Vitamin A: 32IU (1%) Vitamin C: 2mg (2%) Calcium: 42mg (4%) Iron: 2mg (11%)