How to Bake Bangus

Bangus, also known as milkfish, is considered to be the national fish of the Philippines. Although cooked bangus has many needle-like bones, you can use it to prepare a tasty and healthful meal for you and your family or friends. One 3-oz. serving of bangus provides 116 percent of your daily recommended intake of the vitamin B12, 44 percent of your daily recommended intake of niacin and 24 percent of your daily recommended intake of the vitamin B6. If you cook it properly, milkfish will make a flavorful meal enjoyed by everyone.

A close-up of stuffed milkfish. (Image: Mario Ragma/Hemera/Getty Images)

Step 1

Remove the scales and gills of the bangus, cut open its belly, remove everything inside and wash it thoroughly. Pat dry with a paper towel. Mix the tomato, onion and 1/3 of the ginger in a bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste and mix well. Fill the inside of the milkfish with this mixture.

Step 2

Mix the soy sauce, the remaining 2/3 of the ginger, the garlic and the calamansi juice in another bowl. Line a roasting pan with enough aluminum foil to cover the fish when folded. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 3

Place the bangus on the middle of the pan and add the soy sauce and calamansi mixture over it. Fold the aluminum foil tightly, seal all of its ends and place the pan in the oven. Bake the milkfish for 60 minutes; take it out of the aluminum foil. Place on a serving plate and serve it hot with ketchup and vegetables.

Things You'll Need

• 1 (3.3-lb.) bangus

• 1 tomato, diced

• 1 onion, medium

• 1 thumb-size ginger, sliced

• Salt to taste

• Pepper to taste

• 1/2 cup soy sauce

• 2 cloves garlic

• 4 calamansi, juiced