Bring the vibrant flavors of Filipino celebrations to your table with this irresistible Escabecheng Isda recipe - a golden fried fish smothered in a glossy sweet-sour sauce that's absolutely perfect with steaming hot rice!
Why This Dish Steals the Show:
✨ Restaurant-quality at home - impress your guests!
✨ Perfect flavor balance - not too sweet, not too sour
✨ Versatile - works with lapu-lapu, tilapia, or any firm fish
✨ Fiesta-worthy yet easy enough for weeknight dinners
Serving Suggestions:
🍚 With a mountain of rice - the sauce is liquid gold!
🥗 Pair with atchara - the pickled tang cuts through the richness
🍋 Garnish with calamansi wedges - for that extra zing
Fun Fact: This Spanish-influenced dish got its name from "escabeche" (pickled), but Filipinos made it their own with that signature sweet-sour twist!
One bite and you'll understand why this is a party staple across the Philippines! 😋🐟
For more recipes feel free to browse our recipe archive. This dish has a cooking guide. To view the video, please click: Escabecheng Isda Recipe.
Escabeche is a meal made with fish or meat that has been marinated and/or cooked with vinegar and spices. It is common to use tilapia for Escabeche, but you can actually use any fish you have on hand. Escabeche is a delicious dish that will please everyone. It will surely be a family's favorite meal for lunch or dinner.
Clean the fish, remove the fins, scales, and internal organs. Slice to have slits on both sides of the fish.
Season with salt and ground black pepper.
Fry the fish on low-medium heat, then set it aside.
In another pot, pre-heat 2 tbsp. cooking oil. Sauté sliced onion and minced garlic.
Add sliced ginger and sliced carrot, sauté for a few seconds, then add soy sauce. Mix well.
Add white vinegar, water and sugar, then mix well. Cook for a few minutes.
Add sliced red and green bell peppers, a pinch of ground black pepper, and salt. Adjust the taste according to your desired result.
Add the cornstarch mixture, a combination of 1 tbsp. cornstarch and 2 tbsp. water. Stir and simmer for a few minutes until it becomes a medium thick gravy.
Add the fried fish, continue cooking for a while. Fish Escabeche is ready to served.
Servings 4
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.