Chicken with Green Papaya aka Tinolang Manok

green papaya peeled and sliced

Japanese long squash for substitute

green papayas

basic ingredients

Let's kaukau mangan tayon!!

Ingredients:

1 whole 3-4 lb fryer Chicken chopped into 1-2 inch bit sized chunks, remove skin if you want it less fatty
2-3 Tbsp Cooking oil
1 large White or yellow onion, chopped fine
3-6 Garlic cloves, chopped and minced fine
3-4 inch fresh Ginger root knuckle, sliced into coins and crushed
2-4 bay leaves laurel ripped into 1/4 pieces to release aromatics
2 Tbsp Fish sauce, patis, or nam pla or nuoc mam.
4-6 Cups of water to cover chicken
Fresh cracked black pepper to taste
4 Cups peeled and cubed unripened green papaya or you may substitute with peeled and cubed chayote or Japanese long squash (upo).
2 C fresh marunggay (horse radish tree) leaves or ampalaya (bittermelon) leaves
2-4 sweet sili or chili peppers or 1-2 serrano chili peppers(if you like it hot)

Cooking Instructions:

1. Heat the oil over medium heat in a large pot. 
2. Add the onions and saute until transparent, about 3-4 minutes. 
3. Add the garlic and ginger and saute another 2-3 minutes. 
4. Add bay leaves and coninue to saute.
5. Add the chicken pieces and saute another 5 minutes to partially cook and lightly brown. 
6. Add water to cover the chicken and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 25-30 minutes, stirring and skimming off fat and scum occasionally. 
7. Add the fish sauce and stir well.
8. Add cubed papaya and sili peppers and simmer another 5-10 minutes until papaya is tender. 
9. Add black pepper to taste and stir in the marunggay leaves. 
10. Taste sabaw or broth and add ore patis for additional saltiness if needed.
11. Remove from heat as you don't want to overcook your papaya and get it smashed and mushy.  Unless you like it that way. :)

This is a great dish for when you have a cold or flu.  Nice hot and rich savory sabaw or broth flavored with a strong bold ginger flavor.  And if you love ginger you can eat the slices too! I do! :)  Eat and serve with hot steamed white rice for a dish that reminds you of growing up in Hawaii or in the Philippines.  Enjoy!

Let's kaukau!!  :D