Why do Filipinos enjoy eating dried fish and shrimp?
August 28, 2024

When it comes to a daily food that is affordable, storable, and portable, Filipinos always choose tuyo, (dried fish) as their dish. Due to its low cost this Filipino cuisine was once thought to be a poverty food. As time went on individuals of all social classes began to enjoy eating dried fish as well. It is a dish that plays a significant role in Filipino culture as a comfort food.

 

This dried fish, known for its stinky strong fish smell, is usually dipped in vinegar and eaten with fried or plain rice. Sometimes paired with champorado (chocolate rice) on special occasions. It can also be used as an ingredient in other dishes, like stewed vegetables. Tuyo was named after its appearance after the sun-dried process. Fish prepared as tuyo are usually salted liberally and then sun- and air-dried. Because of its salty flavor, it became a savers dish since even a small piece of it can flavor one tablespoon of rice. Although eating dried fish doesn’t require using utensils since Filipinos are known for eating with their hands straight off the plate, dried fish is also easy to eat using hands only.

 

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Shrimp is another dried delicacy usually used as an ingredient for Filipino fried rice during breakfast as they add to the aroma and taste of the rice. There are different types of tuyo in the Philippines, such as ponyfish, anchovies, danggit, sweet pusit, etc. The sweet pusit is one of the most expensive dried fish in the Philippines, with a starting price of about $2.00 plus per 100 grams (about four ounces).

 

Dried fish in my province is called Uga, which is a hiligaynon term for Tuyo, a tagalog term for dried. The preservation process makes it dry; it is hung directly in the sun and air dried. It can be bought by pack or by weight. Since dried fish is usually paired with vinegar, as mentioned, it can also be paired with some fresh tomatoes and onions as an umay remover.

 

Every time Filipinos living in other countries come back to visit their hometowns, they are always found looking for a bounty of dried fish available in their local markets.

 

 

Dried fish is a flexible dish; it can be eaten as a snack (anchovies/ sweet pusit) or with rice, and it can also be used as an ingredient in other dishes as it is a flavorful food. It is also a marked Filipino taste, a great dish, and a good way to save money for Filipino families with their daily meal expenses. As a Filipino citizen, I am tangled with dried fish. My year is not complete without having dried fish in my mouth for a long period of time. Even though I go to other countries, I always look forward to eating dried fish when I come back home.

 

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