"Pangat na Salay-salay sa Sampalok" (Smooth-tailed Trevally Poached in Tamarind Fruit)

Smooth-tailed Trevally is a member of the fish family Carangidae. Selaroides leptolepis is the scientific name. The color of its body is a metallic bluish-silver, has a broad yellow stripe that runs from the upper margin of the eye to the caudal peduncle. It can grow up to 20 cm long.

It is known to occur throughout the waters of the Indo-western Pacific region, the Persian Gulf , the Arafura Sea, Japan and Philippines, also included the north part of Australia.

It can be found in inshore shallow estuaries and bays, as well as, on deep-water reefs to depths of 50 meters. It can also tolerate freshwater and brackish estuaries. It is usually seen in large schools.


Good for 4 servings.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups rice wash
• 150-180 grams tamarind fruit (sampalok)
• 1 large plump tomato, quartered
• 1 medium red onion, quartered
• 1/2 kilo of smooth-tailed trevally (salay-salay)
• 2 pcs finger chilis
• 2 tsps iodized coarse salt

Procedure:

In a claypot or earthpot, put the 2/3 of rice wash, tamarind fruit, tomato and onion. Cover. Place over medium-high fire. Bring to boil. Lower heat to medium and bubble away for 15 minutes.

Increase fire to medium-heat, gently put the fish one by one, arrange it properly. Add the chilis and salt. Put the rest of the rice wash. Swirl and shake the pot carefully to blend fully all the ingredients. Put the lid on. Bring to boil. Then, let it boil for a minute.

Serve hot and with warm cooked rice and fish sauce, for your dip.