Marketman’s Favorite Soups Revisited

This post was first written in October of 2006 and I have since featured perhaps one or two dozen more soups… so it is a bit dated in the blog sense. But looking through my Top 20 list, I realize they are definitely the soups that we do over and over again in our household. And since its been raining quite a bit all across the Philippine archipelago, you might want to check out one of these recipes for a comforting rainy day meal… Enjoy!

Here we go again…another super typhoon bearing straight down on Metro Manila. As if we needed yet another howler to take off our roofs, wreak havoc with the electric lines, destroy our just replaced capiz garden lights, outdoor Christmas decor, replanted garden, re-stocked freezers, etc. I already had to cancel a planned Christmas office dinner with my team flying in from Cebu, still wondering if I can paksiw an entire 20 kilo lechon ordered for the event, worried about supplies for the next week or two… Hmmm, so at the risk of going off-line for several days with a blackout, I am writing this post now on the Top 20 Soup recipes I have featured in this blog over the past two years. Please click the links to get to the original posts and recipes. I hope all of you based in Luzon and especially those in the path of the storm code named “Durian” of all fruits, remain safe and out of harm’s way in the next day or two…

Without question, the sour soups or sinigangs are definitely my favorites:

1. Sinigang na Bangus a la Marketman – a heady broth of unripe guavas with fish and vegetables…an all-star creation, fantastic. First photo up top.
2. Sinigang na Sugpo – sour broth of unripe tamarind made from scratch with large prawns…so simple, so easy to make, and so incredibly delicious.
3. Sinigang na Baboy – Pinoys and baboy (pork) are made for each other. This rich soup is tasty and cholesterol-laden…pop a Crestor and enjoy it nonetheless.
4. Sinigang na Hipon at Kamias – A variation on the prawn soup, but this one made with Kamias or Iba, a sour fruit.
5. Sinampalukang Manok – Not strictly a sinigang unless I titled it Sinagang na Manok! – yet the concept is the same a soured broth of tamarind fruit and/or tamarind leaves with chicken
6. Tinowa a la Cebu – Not sure where to put this, as Cebuano soups are generally not sour, but this is the staple soup where my grandparents came from (two versions presented here)…

Are your lips puckering yet and salivary glands going on overdrive???

Chicken broth/soups are a universal soother and Filipino soups are no exception…here are my favorites (I could have easily put Sinampalukang Manok in this grouping as well) with a few foreign ones thrown into the grouping as well…

7. Tinolang Manok – A simple but always satisfying chicken Soup. A Classic any Filipino could probably name from its smell and taste, even if blindfolded.
8. Binakol na Manok – A slightly more complex version of tinola but with young coconut added and perhpas some lemongrass. I love this soup as well.
9. Ham & Chicken Soup a la Marketman – An invented soup, inspired by a Pinikpikan, this is my all-time favorite self-invented soup. Utterly satisfying, surprisingly easy. If you haven’t tried this soup, make this first out of all of my recipes. Trust me, you will like it.
10. Pesang Manok – Another simple and satisfying version, here with some potatoes.
11. Pospas/Arroz Caldo – A hybrid soup of Chinese origin, a favorite for those down with a cold or the flu. I like mine well-flavored with patis (fish sauce) and lots of ginger.
12. Indonesian Soto Ayam – The flavors of turmeric/galangal are just terrific and this was my default soup when I worked in Jakarta.
13. Chicken Sotanghon – another hybrid, the mouthfeel of the sotanghon and the comforting chicken broth is always welcome.

Ham broth plays a big role in soups in our home. It is flavorful, tastes like it took hours when it didn’t and is very economical. When in doubt, I throw in a ham bone for flavor and complexity. I could have included my version of pinikpikan here as well…

14. Sabaw na Kundol, Hamon at Sugpo – a version of a Chinese soup that I made one day and is a house favorite.
15. Ham Broth with Sotanghon & Chicken Balls – A variation on a theme.
16. Split Pea & Ham Soup – Easy, nutritious and stores well in the freezer.

And let’s not forget the boiled meats:

17. Nilagang Baka – Beef broth with chunks of beef.
18. Puchero/Cocido – Another top placer in the Marketman household. Involved, time-consuming, lots of ingredients but totally worth it when you have a crowd over for dinner. A totally festive Sunday or clan gathering soup/meal.

Last, but not least, two Italian inspired favorites that are utterly brilliant as well:

19. Pasta e fagioli – Pasta and noodles in a nice tomatoey broth…great for cold or stormy days.
20. Cioppino a la Marketman – The pinnacle of chi-chi soupdom, with outrageously extravagant ingredients… a show stopper and conversation piece soup. Second photo up top.