Tinolang Manok (Chicken Tinola)

Chicken Tinola

February 4: Homemade Soup Day

Chicken soup is often served to sick people. This comfort food helps to clear up congestion, soothes a sore throat and warms up those who have the chills.

When Islander has a cold or the flu, her parents would feed her a Filipino-style chicken soup called tinolang manok (chicken tinola). The ingredients are a healthy combination of chicken, green papayas, ginger and malunggay leaves (also known as moringa, malunggay is used as herbal medicine in the Philippines).

We make tinolang manok in the winter time to warm us up. But Islander also likes to cook tinola whenever she has nostalgic cravings for her parents’ homemade soup. For a Filipino twist to chicken soup, try tinolang manok on Homemade Soup Day.

Recipe

(From Daddy)

Ingredients

  • 2 small chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1-inch piece of ginger, sliced
  • 2 cloves of garlic, sliced
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable or canola oil
  • 1 green papaya, peeled and cubed
  • 3-4 cups water or chicken broth
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup malunggay leaves (optional)

Directions

Wash and peel the green papaya. Cut into cubes. Wash the malunggay leaves and separate them from the stems. Set aside.

Chicken Tinola

Saute the ginger and garlic slices in oil until fragrant (about a minute). Add the chicken pieces and brown slightly. Add the green papaya. Pour enough water or broth to cover the chicken. Simmer for 15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Add the papaya about 10 minutes later and cook until softened. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the malunggay leaves and heat until slightly wilted. Ladle into soup bowls and serve hot with rice.

Chicken Tinola

Notes

  • If green papaya and malunggay leaves are not available, omit them. Boil the chicken with the ginger and garlic in water or broth, season with salt and pepper and garnish with a tablespoon of chopped cilantro. Serve this simple ginger-chicken soup while it is hot with rice (optional).
  • Spinach may be substituted for the malunggay leaves.
  • Maraming salamat (thank you very much in Tagalog Pilipino) to Islander’s Daddy for being the guest chef for this blog recipe post.
  • Search our blog for more soup recipes.