Filipino Chicken Tinola
A light, aromatic Filipino chicken soup with ginger, garlic, and leafy greens. Quick to make, deeply comforting, and perfect for any night of the week.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Servings
- 4
- Calories
- 280
- Protein
- 38g
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 3 tbsp, minced fresh ginger
- 4 cloves, minced garlic cloves
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 whole labuyo or small hot chili (optional)
- 3 cups fresh spinach or malunggay leaves, chopped
Instructions
- 1
Cut each chicken thigh into bite-size pieces about 1.5 inches across by slicing them in half, then in half again.
- 2
Peel the ginger with a small spoon (it's easier than a knife), then mince it finely until the pieces are smaller than a grain of rice.
- 3
Mince the garlic until the pieces are pencil-tip size, about the size of sesame seeds.
- 4
Chop the spinach or malunggay into 1-inch-wide strips and set it aside in a small bowl.
- 5
Pour 6 cups of chicken broth into a large pot and bring it to a boil over high heat, about 5 minutes, until you see large bubbles breaking the surface.
- 6
Add the minced ginger and minced garlic to the boiling broth, stir well, and let them cook for 1 minute until the kitchen smells strongly fragrant.
- 7
Add the chicken pieces and the whole chili (if using) to the pot, stir once, and lower the heat to medium.
- 8
Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until the chicken is cooked through and no pink remains inside.
- 9
Add the chopped spinach or malunggay leaves to the pot and stir gently until they wilt, about 1 minute, then taste the broth and add salt and pepper as needed.
- 10
Ladle the soup into bowls, making sure each bowl has chicken, broth, and greens, and serve immediately while hot.
Tools you’ll need
- large pot (at least 4-quart capacity)
- cutting board
- chef's knife or utility knife
- spoon
- wooden spoon or ladle
- small bowl
- soup bowls (4)
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