Chicken Tinola Recipe (Tinolang Manok with Chayote) - Filipino Chicken Soup (2024)

Now that cold weather is upon us, this Filipino Chicken Soup recipe should be in your dinner plans for tonight. This Philippine Chicken Tinola soup is made with chayote (a type of gourd, see photo below) and cooked with aromatics like ginger, garlic, and onion, and flavored withfish sauce. My favorite is serving this tasty and comforting soup with steamed rice or quinoa. It's tasty, healthy, delicious, and very simple to make. In under an hour you can enjoy this ginger-flavored broth. Talk about one heck of comfort food, you got it right here.

What is Chicken Tinola

Tinola is one of the most popular Filipino chicken soups. I'd say this is one of our favorites in our household, especially come wintertime. Our other favorites areSinigangandNilaga.

This Chicken Tinola Soup is synonymous to"make me feel better soup."I swear every time anyone is feeling a bit under the weather, this is something I always make. There's nothing as comforting as having a bowl of this soup. The aromas of ginger, garlic, onion....there's just something so medicinal about that.

Tinola is typically made with chicken and vegetables like chayote, green papaya, and green leaves like chili leaves or malunggay leaves. However, cooking here in America, I've learned to improvise many of my favorite Filipino dishes. So with this chicken tinola recipe, I've used ingredients that are readily available - potatoes instead of papaya and spinach instead of malunggay pepper leaves.

I did, however, find Chayote squash at my local grocery store so I was very happy about that. Scroll down so you can see how I cut up the chayote.

The secret ingredient in making this Chicken Tinola Soup recipe is myHomemade Chicken Stock. Nothing can compare to using homemade stock for its flavors and nutrient value. The Tinola is a comforting dish and when you use homemade stock, then you're in heaven! I just love knowing that I am getting a wholesome dish, don't you?

What does Chicken Tinola taste like?

Soothing! Imagine the flavor combination of ginger, onions, and garlic lightly sautéed while being infused in the oil as you add the chicken and the broth, seasoned with spices, and finished with the addition of vegetables.....whatever is ailing you will soon be gone!

Chicken Tinola Ingredients and Substitutions

• Chicken - a mix of white or dark cut-up chicken pieces like chicken breast, and chicken thighs would give you a great flavor. Cut them all into equal pieces so they all cook evenly.
• Aromatics: Garlic, Onion, and Ginger. When you sauté ginger garlic and onions, the smell alone will surely cure any ailments. Ginger has medicinal properties which help in fighting off infections. Check out thissource for the health benefits of ginger.
• vegetables: Potatoes, Spinach, and Chayote. Other alternatives can be any leafy greens like baby bok choy, kale, wedges of green papaya, or lemon grass.
• Chicken Broth - any of your favorite brands work, but I prefer myHomemade Chicken Stock.
• Red Pepper Flakes and/or Chili Peppers - If you don't like spicy, omit this. If you want more spice consider using any hot pepper like banana pepper or serrano pepper. If you have a cold, the spiciness will help soothe your sore throat.
• Fish Sauce - a great complement to this dish as it helps to bring the umami in otherwise, very light broth. My favorite brand is calledRed Boat. You can also use just plain salt and black pepper to taste. A side of soy sauce will also make a great condiment.

For exact measurements for Chicken Tinola ingredients, please refer to recipe card below.

What is Chayote

Chayote is pronounced with a "ch" as in "chair" or "ch" like an "s" sayote.

It belongs to the gourd family and is technically considered a squash or a fruit because it has a seed in the middle, which is also edible. It's used in many Mexican and Asian dishes.

How to Cut Chayote

STEP 1: Cut the chayote in half.

STEP 2: Cut in quarters then wedges or desired size for the dish.

Note: the chayote seed is soft so it can be cooked and eaten with the chayote flesh.

How to Prepare Chayote

If you're not familiar with chayote, you should give this vegetable a try since it is so versatile and you can prepare it in many different ways.

1) Stir-fry: Slice the chayote thinly and lightly fry in a skillet using a little bit of oil.
2) Sauté: With the light crispness of the chayote it's a great substitute for summer squash.
3) Raw: Slice and dice to add texture to your salads.
4) Pickled: Use vinegar and some pickling spices.
5) Simple with Salt + Sugar: A great side dish or by itself by seasoning it with 2 parts sugar and 1 part salt for one chayote.

I found some Chayote in my local grocery store and it inspired me to make this Chicken Tinola Soup. I love that it adds great color and texture to this dish, not to mention Chayote offers many health benefits.

How To Cook Chicken Tinola

Step 1: Sauté onions, garlic, and ginger.

Step 2: Sear the chicken on both sides and add fish sauce.

Step 3: Add chicken broth and potatoes.

Step 4: Add the chayote, spinach and chili pepper

For more specific instructions on how to cook Chicken Tinola, please scroll down and read or print the recipe card for your convenience.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Recipe Card