NutriAsia’s cooking show, “Masarap at Masayang Kwentuhan with NutriAsia,” put the spotlight on empowered women as host Romer Tesado welcomed a special guest, Mrs. Grand Universe 2023 Yvonne Inventor Taneza, to share her comforting and flavorful Paksiw na Isda recipe.
Romer kicked off the episode by highlighting how the kitchen isn’t just a place for cooking—it’s a space where love and traditions are passed down. Yvonne, a beauty queen, wife, and career woman, expressed how cooking has always been close to her heart.
Without further ado, Yvonne introduced the ingredients for her Paksiw na Isda recipe, which included two pieces of cleaned fish, one knob of ginger, six cloves of garlic, one medium onion, three pieces of finger chili, salt, pepper, and water. But the key to achieving the perfect balance of sour and savory flavors? The right blend of Datu Puti Vinegar, Datu Puti Soy Sauce, and Datu Puti Fish Sauce.
“Ang key ingredient dito ay ang Datu Puti vinegar. Ito ang nagpapalabs ng distinct flavor ng paksiw. Dapat tama ang timpla para hindi overpowering ang asim,” Yvonne explained.
To start, they placed the fish in a pot and added the garlic, ginger, and onion. Next, they poured in the Datu Puti Vinegar, Datu Puti Soy Sauce, and Datu Puti Fish Sauce, along with one cup of water. The dish was left to simmer for 10 minutes over medium heat without stirring—an important step to ensure the vinegar’s acidity mellows into the dish.
As they waited, Romer and Yvonne engaged in an inspiring conversation about women empowerment. Yvonne shared her advocacy as a beauty pageant. She said, “My advocacy centers on creating opportunities for less privileged children in my hometown, Sultan Kudarat. I’ve been doing this for the past 10 years, and it’s very fulfilling.”
She also shared that she started from humble beginnings. “If there’s one thing that I want you to highlight is actually the time na I had to cross two rivers on foot just to go to school,” she shared, reminiscing her high school days. “There are times na walang pamasahe, so kailangan naming mag-cross ng two rivers. Kasama ko yung kuya ko.”
“Yun talaga yung motivation ko na magpursige, and it made me stronger, so I’m really blessed,” she added.
Yvonne also has a message to all the women watching her. “It doesn’t mean na may asawa ka na and at the same time, you’re also working for a living, it doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything else,” she said. “You can do a lot more,” she added.
Back to cooking, Yvonne added salt and pepper and finger chili for a bit of spice before covering the pot for another five minutes. The aroma of the dish filled the kitchen, making Romer even more excited to taste the final product. “Excited na akong matikman ‘yan,” Romer exclaimed.
Finally, the Paksiw na Isda was ready. As they plated the dish, Romer admired its rich and appetizing look. He eagerly took a bite and immediately praised the perfect blend of flavors.
“Mmm! Ang sarap! Sabaw pa lang, yung asim at saka yung alat, nagko-complement with each other. Tapos medyo maanghang pa dahil sa sili natin,” he exclaimed.
“Saktong-sakto yung timpla natin,” Yvonne added.
As the show wrapped up, Romer encouraged everyone to try the recipe. “Napakadali lang gawin. Siguradong magugustuhan ng buong pamilya,” he said. He also thanked Yvonne for the recipe that she taught him.
“Tama yan! Kaya sa susunod na episode, samahan niyo ulit kami for more masarap at masayang kwentuhan!” Romer added, closing another delightful cooking session with NutriAsia.
With NutriAsia, cooking isn’t just about making meals—it’s about creating moments of love, strength, and connection. Just like Yvonne, every woman in the kitchen has the power to nourish not just the body but also the heart.
