In a Filipino home, nothing answers a rainy day craving quite like a steaming bowl of Sinigang na Hipon. The sharp, bright tang of sour kamias instantly cuts through the day’s fatigue, while the rich, sweet umami extracted from fresh shrimp heads warms you straight to the bone.Â
As the soup simmers and builds a familiar aroma filled with eggplant, vibrant greens, and perfectly cooked shrimp, it carries more than just flavor. It brings the pure, soothing comfort of home right when you need it most.
Ingredients

Set A : SauteingÂ
- Oil for sauteingÂ
- ½ cup Onion, chopped
- 3 pcs Fresh Tomatoes, chopped
- 1 thumb Ginger, sliced
- 2 cloves Garlic, crushed
- 2 cups Kamias, chopped
- 5 cups Water
- Salt, to taste

Set B: Mashing
- 1 cup Shrimp Heads, mashed
- ¼ cup Water
- Salt, to taste
Set C: SimmeringÂ
- 1 sachet Magic Sarap
- ½ kg Shrimp
- 2 pcs Eggplant, sliced
- 1 bunch Okra, sliced
- 1 bunch Talbos ng Kamote
- 2 tbsp Sinigang Mix (optional)Â
- Fish Sauce, to taste
Procedure
Set A:Â
Heat oil in a pot, add oil and sauté onion, ginger, garlic and tomatoes until soft and fragrant. Season with salt, mix and add chopped kamias, stir and cook for 2–3 minutes to release its juices.Pour in 5 cups of water, bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for 8–10 minutes. Season lightly with salt.
Set B:
Combine mashed shrimp heads and ¼ cup water in a bowl. Squeeze thoroughly then strain well, discard solid parts.Pour the extracted shrimp juice into the simmering broth. Let boil gently for another 3–5 minutes.
Set C:
Add the maggi magic sarap, shrimp, okra, eggplant, green chili and cook for only 5 minutes. Add fish sauce and maggi sinigang mix, let it simmer. Finally, add the talbos ng kamote, turn off the heat, and let the residual heat cook the leaves for 1–2 minutes. Serve hot.

COOKING NOTES:
- For this recipe you don’t need to peel or remove shrimp heads and shells, this is where the natural sweetness and umami of the broth come from.
- Using kamias gives a brighter, cleaner tang than tamarind, mash it gently to control how sour your soup gets.
- Always add harder vegetables first, and leafy greens last, this keeps them crisp and colorful, not mushy.
- Shrimp cooks in just 2–3 minutes, overcooking makes them rubbery because their proteins tighten fast in heat.
- Turn off the heat before adding kangkong, residual heat is all you need to wilt it perfectly while locking in nutrients.
Transforming everyday ingredients into an extraordinary home-cooked meal shouldn’t feel like a chore.Â
With the guidance of Simpol Kitchen and the savory boost of MAGGI Magic Sarap, a familiar, humble dish like Sinigang na Hipon effortlessly elevates into something truly unforgettable. Making every rainy-day meal feel like a warm, effortless embrace.
Check the full recipe video here.Â
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