Sisig: awaken your taste buds with this umami explosion

Where Can I Get it? | How Can I Make It?

What is sisig?

Sisig is a flavorful Filipino dish traditionally made of chopped pig parts marinated in a sour liquid mixture (e.g. lemon/lime juice or vinegar), grilled, then served on a sizzling plate. There are many variations of sisig in which the pig is substituted by chicken, ostrich, seafood, mussels (tahong), milkfish (bangus), tofu, frog and even crocodile. Oftentimes, sisig is topped with an egg making it quite the photogenic dish. Plus, since it primarily consists of protein and fats, it’s a great dish for anyone on the paleo diet.

In June 2017, chef and TV personality Anthony Bourdain dubbed Filipino food as the next big food trend in the US, specifically citing sisig as the “gateway drug.” This spicy hash with bold flavors is the next dish ever-evolving American palates have been in search for.

Where can I get it?

You can find sisig at many Filipino restaurants. Here are a handful of places where you can try this sizzling flavor-packed dish yourself.

Los Angeles, CA (Panorama City): [email protected]

sisig los angeles paramount city — photo: [email protected] on Facebook

San Francisco, CA (Daly City): Chibog

sisig in san francisco daly city california — photo: Chibog on Facebook

San Diego, CA (National City): Tita’s Kitchenette

sisig san diego national city — photo: Tita’s Kitchenette on Facebook

Washington D.C.: Bad Saint

sisig washington d.c. — photo: Bad Saint on Facebook

Looking for more places that serve sisig? You can find them on Glutto right here.

How can I make it?

There are many methods to making sisig, especially since pretty much any type of protein can be used. Here is a flexible recipe that you can use for whatever protein strikes your fancy.

Special Tools

rice cooker (optional)
large pot
frying pan

Ingredients

2 lbs. red meat (pig’s head – for the most traditional version) or poultry (chicken, ostrich, etc.),
or 1 lb. seafood or tofu
¼ cup white vinegar
1 pack Ginisa Flavor mix or Mama Sita’s Sisig mix
1 teaspoon siling labuyo (or habanero), minced
1/2 onion, diced
1 tablespoon calamansi (or key lime) juice
salt to taste
egg (optional)
oil (for tofu)
2 cups white or brown rice (optional side)

Directions

First, if you’d like a side of rice, prepare your rice in a rice cooker as directed so it cooks while you make your sisig.
Then place the meat in boiling pot of water until slightly tender and drain completely. (Skip this step if using seafood or tofu.)
Broil meat/seafood until cooked and cut up into small pieces. (If using tofu, cut into cubes and deep fry in oil until crispy. Drain.)
Place meat/seafood/tofu in a heated pan. Fully mix in Ginisa Flavor or Mama Sita’s Sisig seasoning, vinegar, siling labuyo and diced onion. Keep on heat until sizzling.
Top with egg and mix into ingredients while still hot. (optional)
Squeeze calamansi juice and salt to taste.
Serve with rice and enjoy!

Kristina Reynolds is the Founder & CEO of Glutto and an alumna of the University of California, San Diego. She writes articles & posts for Glutto Digest with insights from fellow industry experts. Furthermore, she is the author of The Fittest Food Lovers: How EVERY BODY Can be Incredibly Fit and Still Enjoy Food, a collaborative philanthropic book with proceeds going to charities that fight world hunger.