Cansi facts for kids
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| Course | Main course |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Philippines |
| Region or state | Western Visayas |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
Cansí (pronounced "kan-SEE") is a delicious and unique beef soup from the Philippines. It's especially popular in the Western Visayas region, but it first came from the city of Bacolod. This special soup is known for its slightly sour taste, which makes it different from other beef soups. It's often served hot, perfect for a comforting meal.
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Discover Cansí: A Filipino Soup
Cansí is a type of Filipino soup that combines rich beef flavors with a refreshing sourness. It's a favorite dish for many, especially in its home region. People often enjoy Cansí as a main course, meaning it's the star of the meal.
What Makes Cansí Unique?
Cansí is made with two main beef ingredients: beef shank and bone marrow. These are boiled for a long time until they become very tender. This long cooking process also makes the soup rich and slightly thick.
The Special Sour Taste
What really sets Cansí apart is its unique sour flavor. This isn't from vinegar or lemon, but from special fruits! The most common fruits used are batuan or bilimbi. These fruits give the soup a natural and tangy taste that's both surprising and delicious.
Other Important Ingredients
Besides beef and souring fruits, Cansí usually includes other tasty ingredients. These can be unripe breadfruit or jackfruit, lemongrass, tomatoes, garlic, and onions. Fish sauce is also added for a savory flavor. For a little kick, siling haba or labuyo peppers are often included.
Why is Cansí Orange?
You might notice that Cansí often has a bright orange color. This comes from annatto seeds, also known as atsuete. These seeds are natural food colorings that give the soup its warm, inviting hue.
Cansí's Nickname
In some parts of the Philippines, especially in Tagalog-speaking areas, Cansí is sometimes called "sinigang na bulalo". This is because it shares similarities with two other popular Filipino soups: sinigang (a sour soup) and bulalo (a beef marrow soup). Cansí truly combines the best of both worlds!
