Sinabawang Manok Recipe: A Simple and Healthy Filipino Chicken Soup

Preparing the Chicken

• 🍗 Chicken pieces are seasoned with fish sauce (patis) and ground black pepper, then allowed to marinate for at least 15 minutes to absorb flavors.
• ⏱️ If short on time, the marinating step can be skipped, but ensuring the fish sauce is well-mixed is key.

Vegetable Preparation

• 🥕 A variety of vegetables are prepared, including pechay, Baguio beans (bitsuelas), sayote, and potatoes.
• 🔪 Vegetables are washed thoroughly before preparation. Sayote is cut into wedges and then diced, while potatoes are quartered and then cut smaller.
• 💧 Potatoes are soaked in water after cutting to prevent oxidation and browning.
• 🌶️ Aromatics like ginger (crushed for better flavor), garlic (regularly chopped), onion (yellow or white), and tomatoes (preferably ripe) are prepared.

Cooking Process

• 🍳 Onions and ginger are sautéed in oil until the onion layers separate, followed by garlic until fragrant.
• ♨️ Chicken pieces are then added and browned on all sides to prevent the skin from tearing during boiling.
• 🍅 Ripe tomatoes are added to the pan with the chicken, and then water is added to create the broth.
• 🥄 Once boiling, scums and impurities are skimmed off the surface to ensure a clear soup.
• 🍲 The chicken is simmered for about 20 minutes until tender, then chicken powder is added for extra flavor.

Adding Vegetables and Seasoning

• 🥔 Sayote and potatoes are added first as they take longer to cook, simmered for 5-6 minutes on low heat.
• 🌿 Baguio beans and additional black pepper are added next.
• 🧂 The soup is seasoned with salt or fish sauce to taste, ensuring a balance of flavors.
• 🥬 Finally, pechay is added and cooked for about 2 minutes until wilted.

Serving and Enjoyment

• 🥣 The finished Sinabawang Manok is best served hot, especially on cold days.
• 🌶️ A spicy dipping sauce made with minced chili, lime or calamansi, and fish sauce is recommended as an accompaniment.
• 💬 Viewers are encouraged to share their own vegetable additions and cooking methods in the comments.