Palauan Fish Tinola

Name: Palauan Fish Tinola
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Palau
Ingredients: 1 lb reef fish, cut into pieces; 1 small piece fresh ginger, sliced; 1 onion, sliced; 4 cups water or fish stock; 1 small green papaya, sliced; 2 cups spinach or moringa leaves; Fish sauce, to taste

4 servings15 min prep25 min cookEasy Palau

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Palauan Fish Tinola

Story updated September 17, 2026

Fish tinola in Palau reflects the strong influence of the Filipino community on the islands, since tinola, a ginger-based clear soup, is a classic Filipino dish. Palau's large Filipino workforce has shaped much of the country's food scene, and this adapted soup is a direct product of that exchange.

Ingredients

Scale:· 4 servings

1 lb reef fish, cut into pieces
1 small piece fresh ginger, sliced
1 onion, sliced
4 cups water or fish stock
1 small green papaya, sliced
2 cups spinach or moringa leaves
Fish sauce, to taste

Instructions

1Sauté the ginger and onion in a pot with a little oil until fragrant.
2Pour in the water or stock and bring to a boil.
3Add the green papaya and simmer for 8-10 minutes until slightly softened.
4Gently add the fish pieces and simmer for another 8-10 minutes until just cooked through.
5Stir in the spinach or moringa leaves and cook for 2 minutes more until wilted.
6Season with fish sauce to taste and serve hot as a light soup.

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