And not just any tuna. It has to be canned tuna flakes in vegetable oil. And it has to be cooked a particular way and served a particular way too. When Sinigang na Baboy or pepperoni pizza, my two other comfort foods, are too complicated to prepare or will take too long to arrive, I turn to my bowl of tuna.
The comfort ritual starts when I saute one chopped onion in oil. While waiting for the onions to turn transparent, I set out my plate, spoon and fork, and a bowl of hot rice on the dining table. When the gorgeous smell of almost caramelized onions fills the air, I slide in a can of those tuna flakes. I stir it a little, then let it simmer for 5 minutes. This allows for the sweetness of the onions to mingle with the delicious flavor of the tuna. I do a little dance as part of the ritual.
I serve the tuna in a bowl as well, accompanied by a smaller bowl with patis (fish sauce) and the juice of one calamansi.
Another part of the ritual begins. I put a heaping serving of white rice on my plate, get spoonfuls of the sauteed tuna and shower it with a little of the patis mix. The climax of the ritual is the first spoonful in my mouth — waves of comfort cascade through me and I feel all my problems go away.
Comfort is a bowl of tuna flakes cooked this way, served with rice and patis. Best eaten with your legs crossed Indian-style, while watching TV.
What would your quick-fix comfort food be?
Hi! I'm Toni Tiu,
and I've been blogging at
at Wifely Steps since 2003. This started as a blog to help newly weds adjust to married life. It has evolved into a home and parenting blog. I write about things close to my heart -- good eats, good reads, family, marriage, and the little things that make everyday happy.
ruth
October 30, 2007 at 1:15 pm (17 years ago)my quickest upper: philadelphia on skyflakes (tamad ako magluto eh, hehe).
jojo
October 30, 2007 at 2:47 pm (17 years ago)naaaliw ako…patis…napaka-unhealthy. hahahaha.pero truly, masarap ang patis with certain foods. parang kulang ang kain pag walang patis sa nilaga or sa sinigang.
my comfort food has to be mcdonald’s–either the mcchicken or double cheeseburger. YUMMMM
Tina
October 30, 2007 at 3:16 pm (17 years ago)Yummy.
I’d like the same thing, only with hot and spicy tuna. Yum yum yum. 😀
Mine’s got to be classic – ice cream. Or some Holy Kettle Corn.
Or totally unhealthy — ice cold Coke and the red Chippy. Yum :9
Ay last na. Haha. Hot and spicy pancit canton, bread and Coke. =D
Haha now I’m hungry.
ibyang
October 30, 2007 at 4:48 pm (17 years ago)my comfort food is a strawberry ice cream straight from the tub…or sometimes on my way home i stop by the supermarket to buy Lindt White chocolate (it has to be white hehehe).
Em Dy
October 30, 2007 at 7:51 pm (17 years ago)It used to be a bag of chips and Coke Light but I’ve been coke free since August this year. Now, comfort food is whatever my heart and mind crave.
denden
October 30, 2007 at 10:10 pm (17 years ago)hi toni! i can live on tuna in sunflower oil. ako naman i vary it. i sometimes put garlic (loads of them) and onion, or just plain onions, or garlic, onion and tomatoes. yum!!
Kay
October 30, 2007 at 11:21 pm (17 years ago)fried chicken … so not complicated …. very comforting …
kayni
October 30, 2007 at 11:36 pm (17 years ago)Now I’m hungry. My comfort food is “sinigang” but for quick fix, “fried rice with lots of garlic and I top it with over easy eggs, then smother it with ketchup.”
Marvin
October 30, 2007 at 11:38 pm (17 years ago)Hi Toni,
I forget that sometimes the easiest meals to prepare can also be the most comforting. Very nice post, we should all do a little dance when fixin somethin to eat;)
ajay
October 31, 2007 at 9:05 am (17 years ago)I love the new canned tuna sisig!
(be wary of the mercury content though.)
kaoko
October 31, 2007 at 9:09 am (17 years ago)Parang I want to try that soon. Complete with dance even.
For fast comfort food, I like tossing some diced tomatoes in a tsp or two of olive oil, add chili flakes and whatever else I fancy— ground chicken, tuyo, sundried tomatoes. Toss in pasta (cooked) and be ready to eat. Basta basic yung tomato and chili flakes. It’s spicy-warm and definitely fills my tummy with warm, warm joy. Eto isang maarteng version pero it all boils down to the basic tomato and chili flakes.
For even faster comfort food, Lucky Me Chilimansi instant pancit canton (Has to be chilimansi!) or a can of Clam Chowder—just open and reheat!
ladycess
October 31, 2007 at 9:43 am (17 years ago)ok…im not really into tuna, unless it’s the afritada or kaldereta tuna or tuna sashimi.
but after reading your post, i now want to go to the grocery and get a can of regular tuna, and cook it the way you say i should. 😀
Leah
October 31, 2007 at 10:55 am (17 years ago)You make Tuna sound so yummy. I’ve always thought it as a boring ulam. I would usually slap it on a bread, and walah, tuna sandwich. Or top my salad with tuna, ; tuna salad!
but I like your dramtic version better. I’ll try that!
My comfort food is sinigang and rice with lots of sabaw and patis on the side.
jeff
November 1, 2007 at 12:32 am (17 years ago)egg and cheese sanwich.. toasted
Meeya
November 1, 2007 at 2:42 am (17 years ago)omg, toni, i totally forgot i still owe you an assignment about my comfort food. will work on that soon!
ako naman, ligo sardines sauteed in garlic and onions ang aking canned good fix. lovelier with sinangag plus toyo on the side.
sha
November 1, 2007 at 9:48 am (17 years ago)quick one .. either boiled eggs and hot rice or fillet of tuna in olive oil and rice..
jey
November 1, 2007 at 7:08 pm (17 years ago)coke light! super, it makes me really feel better =)
Dr Emer
November 2, 2007 at 3:52 am (17 years ago)salmon and ikura sashimi, solved na ako!
bh
November 2, 2007 at 12:39 pm (17 years ago)grilled cheese sandwich
lace
November 2, 2007 at 4:18 pm (17 years ago)whenever i need comfort food, i go to Jollibee and order chicken with spaghetti meal with extra gravy
if jollibee is closed, i cook my own spaghetti ^^
MarysMom
November 5, 2007 at 1:58 am (17 years ago)open a can of corned beef, spoon some cooked white rice in a bowl, some corned beef on top, pop into the microwave, heat and then, hoisin sauce on top. Mix altogether, then don’t let your Kano husband and Tisay daughter see.
Irene
November 7, 2007 at 4:23 am (16 years ago)Pho – Vietnamese Noodle Soup. Oh my I could eat this daily!