Cansi is a delicious Filipino soup dish that hails from the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. It’s known for its rich and sour flavor, similar to sinigang. Cansi traditionally uses batuan fruit, but tamarind can be a suitable substitute. Here’s a recipe for cansi:
1 kg (2.2 lbs) beef shank, bone-in, cut into serving pieces
300 grams jackfruit, peeled and cut into chunks
2 liters (8 cups) water
2-3 pieces batuan fruit (or 2-3 tablespoons tamarind paste)
2 medium-sized onions, peeled and sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons cooking oil
Salt and pepper to taste
2 stalks lemongrass, pounded and tied into a knot
2 pieces siling haba (green chili peppers)
Fish sauce (patis) to taste
If using batuan, crack the batuan fruit open and extract the sour pulp. Discard the seeds and set aside the pulp. If using tamarind paste, dissolve it in a cup of warm water and set aside.
In a large pot, heat the cooking oil over medium heat. Sauté the minced garlic until fragrant, then add the sliced onions. Cook until the onions are soft and translucent. Add the beef shank pieces to the pot. Sauté them until they turn brown.
Pour the water into the pot. Bring it to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Let the beef cook until tender. This may take 1.5 to 2 hours or more, depending on the toughness of the meat. You can use a pressure cooker to shorten the cooking time.
Once the beef is tender, add the chunks of unripe jackfruit to the pot. Continue to simmer until the jackfruit is soft and the soup becomes slightly creamy.
Add the lemongrass and green chili peppers to the soup for flavor. Season the soup with fish sauce (patis) to taste. Adjust the seasoning as needed. If using batuan pulp, add it to the soup. If using tamarind paste, add the tamarind mixture to achieve the desired sourness. Adjust the level of sourness to your preference.
Let the soup simmer for another 10-15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
Cansi with unripe jackfruit is traditionally served hot with steamed rice. Remove the lemongrass knot and chili peppers before serving.
Enjoy your homemade cansi! It’s a flavorful and sour soup that’s perfect for any occasion.
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