The Fish and Squid Vendors in Our Neighborhood

Every morning from around 6AM to 7AM you will hear the distinguishable sounds of the fish vendors screaming Isda....Isda..Isda....(fish). So if you have no time to go the public market you can save jeepney or tricycle money if you purchase your fish from the vendors. The only disadvantage is that you will have no selection of what specie of fish to buy. The vendors 99% of the time sells only the small fish called lagidlid and galonggong by the natives. Macrine and I do not eat the two above fish.

Occasionally, the vendors would offer squid ( pusit) ranging from the baby ones to the monster squid (0.5 kg). I love the baby squid and the medium size because it is tender ( no need to pressure cook) and has a more tasty squid flavor. Today we have adobo baby squid(200 pesos per kilo) and grilled eggplant omelet ( with small shrimps, tomatoes and onions) for lunch.


The recipe that our cook use for the squid adobo is very similar to the following published by panlasangpinoy.com

Ingredients

2.5 lbs medium-sized squid, cleaned and ink separated
1 piece large onion, diced
2 pieces medium sized tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup vinegar
1 cup water
5 cloves crushed garlic
1 teaspoon sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tbsp cooking oil

Cooking Procedure

1. Heat a wok or cooking pot them pour-in soy sauce, vinegar, and water then bring to a boil.
2. Add the squid and wait for the liquid to re-boil. Simmer for 5 minutes.
3. Turn off the heat then separate the squid from the liquid. Set aside.
4. Pour-in cooking oil on a separate wok of cooking pot then apply heat.
5. When the oil is hot enough, sauté the garlic, onions, and tomatoes.
6. Put-in the squid then cook for a few seconds.
7. Pour-in the soy sauce-vinegar-water mixture that was used to cook the squid a back. . 8.Bring to a boil and simmer for 3 minutes.
9. Add the ink, salt, ground black pepper, and sugar then stir. Simmer for 3 minutes.
10.Transfer to a serving bowl then serve.

At today's lunch here in Amoingon, we have also eggplant omelet ( torta) and stem rice along with the squid adobo. For dessert we have fresh mangoes.