What You’ll Find Here?
We once had leftover fried milkfish from our last night’s meal, so I thought of a dish on how to recook them.
Instead of just reheating, I decided to try something different.
I used to cook sarciadong bangus with our leftover milkfish, but then, while searching through our pantry for ingredients, I found the tausi.
Then I remembered the bangus with tausi dish that I ordered from our local carinderia last time.
That gave me the idea to recreate it at home, and it turned out to be a delicious twist on our usual leftovers.
What is Tausi?
Tausi, also known as salted black beans or fermented black beans, are a popular ingredient in Filipino and other Asian cuisines.
They are made from soybeans that have been fermented and preserved with salt.
Tausi have a strong, savory, and slightly salty flavor, which makes them a great addition to dishes, especially those with fish or pork.
They add depth and umami to recipes like Bangus with Tausi, enhancing the overall taste of the dish.
Bangus with Tausi Ingredients
Cooking Oil and Bangus (Milkfish): Use enough cooking oil to fry the bangus until it turns crispy and golden brown. This gives your dish a nice texture and flavor base. You can use fresh bangus or even leftover fried bangus, both work great.
Ginger, Garlic, and Onion: These three are sautéed together to build that warm, aromatic base that makes the dish smell and taste amazing.
Tomatoes and Tausi (Fermented Black Beans): The tomatoes add a slight tang while the tausi brings in that deep, savory taste that makes this dish stand out.
Water, Fish Sauce, Brown Sugar, and Black Pepper: These create the flavorful sauce with saltiness from the fish sauce, a hint of sweetness from the brown sugar, and a touch of spice from the black pepper.
Green Chilies: Add sliced green chilies for a mild kick that blends perfectly with the savory sauce.
How To Cook Bangus with Tausi
1. Fry the Milkfish
Make sure your bangus (milkfish) is cleaned and patted dry with paper towels. Heat some cooking oil in a pan, then fry the fish until golden brown on both sides. Once done, remove from the pan and set aside.
2. Sauté the Aromatics
In the same pan, add a bit more oil if needed. Sauté the ginger until fragrant. Add the garlic and onion, and cook until the onion turns soft and slightly translucent.
3. Add the Tomatoes and Tausi
Stir in the chopped tomatoes and cook until they soften. Then add the rinsed tausi (salted black beans). Let everything cook together for 1 to 2 minutes so the flavors can come together.
4. Make the Sauce
Pour in the fish sauce and sprinkle in some black pepper. Stir to combine. Add water and bring it to a simmer. Add a bit of brown sugar and let the sauce simmer for about 5 minutes to build flavor.
5. Add the Fried Fish
Carefully place the fried bangus into the pan with the sauce. Spoon the sauce over the fish and let it simmer for another 3 to 5 minutes. You can also add sliced green chilies on top for some heat.
6. Adjust and Serve
Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if needed. Add more fish sauce or sugar depending on your preference. Once the flavor is just right, transfer to a serving dish and enjoy with a generous serving of steamed rice.
Tips for Cooking Bangus with Tausi
1. Pat the Fish Dry
Before frying, make sure to pat the bangus dry with paper towels. This helps it get crispy and prevents too much oil splatter.
2. Adjust the Tausi
Tausi (salted black beans) can be really salty, so rinse them well. If you want a milder flavor, soak them in water for a few minutes before using.
3. Add Veggies
Want more color and texture? Try adding sliced bell peppers or eggplant. They go really well with the sauce and boost the nutrition.
4. Go Easy on the Fish Sauce
Start with a small amount of fish sauce and adjust as you go. It’s easier to add more than to fix it if it gets too salty.
5. Simmer Slowly
Let the bangus simmer gently in the sauce over low heat. This way, it soaks up all the flavors without falling apart.
More Milkfish Recipes To Try
If you enjoyed Bangus with Tausi, here are more delicious bangus recipes to add to your menu:
Daing na Bangus – Marinated milkfish that’s crispy and full of garlicky flavor
Paksiw na Bangus Recipe – Simmered in vinegar with eggplant and bitter melon
Sarciadong Bangus – Fried bangus simmered in a tomato and egg sauce
Frequently Asked Question
Yes, you can substitute bangus with other white fish like tilapia or cod, but the flavor may differ slightly.
If you don’t have tausi, you can try using a bit of soy sauce and some finely chopped black olives for a different but still savory twist.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, and reheat gently to avoid drying out the fish.
The green chilies add a mild heat, but you can adjust the spice level by adding more or less depending on your preference.
Bangus with Tausi
Ingredients
For Frying:
- 1 cup Cooking Oil
- 1 piece Milkfish / Bangus (clean and fried)
For Sauteing:
- 2 tbsp Cooking Oil
- 1 piece Ginger thumb-sized (julienne)
- 4 cloves Garlic (minced)
- 1 piece Onion (sliced)
- 2 pcs Tomatoes (chopped)
- 4 tbsp Tausi / Fermented Black Beans (rinsed)
- 1 cup Water
- 1 tsp Fish Sauce
- 1 tbsp Brown Sugar
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper (ground)
- 2 pcs Green Chilies (sliced)
Instructions
- Clean the milkfish and pat it dry with paper towels. Fry the milkfish until golden brown. Set aside.
- In a pan, heat a little oil over medium heat. Add the ginger and sauté until fragrant. Add the garlic and onion, and sauté until the onion becomes translucent.
- Add the chopped tomatoes and cook until softened.
- Stir in the rinsed tausi and cook for another 1-2 minutes, allowing the flavors to blend.
- Add the fish sauce and black pepper. Stir well.
- Pour in the water and bring it to a simmer then add the brown sugar. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes to allow the flavors to develop.
- Carefully add the fried bangus to the sauce, spooning the mixture over the fish. Let it simmer for another 3-5 minutes, allowing the fish to absorb the flavors. Top with sliced green chilies for a bit of heat.
- Adjust the seasoning if needed, adding more fish sauce or sugar to taste.
- Transfer to a serving platter and enjoy your Bangus with Tausi with steamed rice.
Watch this!
Notes
- You can also add deep fried or air fried tofu to this dish. Cut the tofu into cubes or strips and fry until golden brown on all sides.
- Add the tofu to the dish towards the end of cooking to prevent it from becoming too soft or breaking apart. This also allows it to soak up the sauce without losing its texture.
