Rellenong Bangus

Rellenong Bangus (Stuffed Milkfish)

Serves 4-6
Preparation time: 1 hour
Cooking time: 40-50 mins 
 
 
Ingredients:

1 bangus (milkfish), about 700 g (1 1/3 lb)
4 calamansi
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons oil for sautéeing
½ medium onion, finely chopped
3-4 cloves garlic, peeled and diced
1 small potato, peeled, cubed small and fried to light brown
100 g (½ cup) green peas
90 g (½ cup) raisins
Worcestershire sauce
Salt and pepper
1 egg, lightly beaten
Cornstarch, for dredging
125 ml (½ cup) oil for deep-frying

>> Slit the fish and clean thoroughly. Scoop out the flesh, being careful not to tear the skin. Pick off all the bones from the bangus flesh. Set flesh aside. Marinate skin in juice of 3 of the calamansi and soy sauce. Set aside.
>> In a frying-pan, heat 2 tablespoons oil and sauté onion until soft. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant. Stir in bangus flesh and sauté until bangus is fully cooked. Add diced potato, peas and raisins. Season with a dash of Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper and juice of remaining 1 calamansi. Stir well to mix. Remove from heat and mix in the egg.
>> Remove fish skin from marinade. Spoon the flesh mixture back into the skin but do not overstuff. Set aside any of the stuffings that won’t fit into the bangus - this can be served separately. Sew the fish with a needle and thread to seal the stuffing in, then dredge bangus in cornstarch.
>> Heat the 125 ml oil in a wok or frying-pan. Fry the whole milkfish in hot oil until golden brown.