Bangus, the (unofficial) national fish of the Philippines, is called ‘milkfish’ in English. Milkfish has a distinct flavor; its not a neutral bland white fish. It’s natural flavor is mild enough that it can be cooked in the manner of white fish but it tastes best when its flavor is selectively paired with complimentary ingredients and cooking methods.
Milkfish is usually cooked in soups, fried, grilled, barbecued, stuffed or stewed in various spices, ginger and vinegar. Although milkfish is one of the bonier fish species, its a good source of protein and is rich in omega 3 fatty acids so it shouldn’t be missed.
Brion & I had never tried this kind of fish before so we picked some up that were smoked. The flavor was real nice and paired well with this simple veg mac & cheese meal. Its always great to try something different.
Servings |
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- 250 gm elbow macaroni, uncooked
- 1 large leek, trimmed, washed & sliced (both white & green parts)
- 200 gm mixed broccoli & cauliflower florets
- 2 Tbsp butter,
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 Tbsp whole grain, Dijon mustard
- 100 gm old cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 large fresh Roma tomato, diced
- salt & pepper to taste
- 250 gm smoked milkfish, boned & broke into pieces
- 1 Tbsp Parmesan cheese, grated
Ingredients
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- In a pot of salted boiling water, cook macaroni until tender. Drain & rinse; set aside in a dish.
- In a saucepan, sauté leek until tender. In the microwave, cook broccoli & cauliflower for about 1 1/2 minutes, or tender crisp.
- In the cooking pot, melt 2 Tbsp butter. Add flour; stirring until flour is cooked & slightly browned. Slowly whisk in chicken broth & mustard. Stir in about a third of the cheddar cheese & season with salt & pepper. Carefully fold in macaroni, veggies & milkfish.
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Spoon mixture into a baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining cheddar cheese. Arrange diced tomatoes on top & lastly sprinkle with the tablespoon of parmesan cheese.
- Bake until hot & bubbly & cheese is melted, about 30 minutes.