Tinola - Chicken Ginger Stew with Green Papayas

Copyright 2011 LtDan'sKitchen blogs

When I think of chicken soup, the first thing that comes to mind is Tinola. This simple dish is definitely one of the staples in every Filipino household. It requires minimal ingredients and the flavor is very simple but it definitely warms you up. The broth from this dish is what makes it one of the most requested soup whenever someone in the family is under the weather, like me, right now. I'm having my seasonal allergies and I have been coughing due to the particulates in the air. I've tried every home remedy to make it all go away, I say it is time to bring in the big guns! Time for Tinola.

Tinola - Chicken Ginger Stew with Green Papayas

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1 medium onion, diced

1 inch ginger root, sliced in wedges

1 stalk lemon grass

2-3 lbs cut up chicken

6 cups hot water

salt and pepper

2-3 tsp fish sauce (optional)

2-3 tbsp olive oil

1-2 cups of spinach leaves

1 lb green papaya (or 3-4 chayotes), peeled, cored and sliced into big   chunks

1. In a large pot, heat the oil at medium heat. Add the garlic, onions,  
    ginger and lemon grass and saute for about two minutes until fragrant.

2. Add the chicken pieces and season with salt and pepper. Cook them 
    until slightly browned.

3. Add the hot water and bring to a boil. Simmer for 30-40 minutes or  
    until the chicken is tender. Add the papaya and simmer for 15  
    minutes more or until the papaya is fork tender.

4. Adjust the flavor with salt and fish sauce (if using) and add the  
    spinach leaves. Cook for about a minute to wilt the leaves.

5. Serve hot.

Copyright 2011 LtDan'sKitchen blogs

Back home, this dish is always cooked with lemon grass so if you find one in your grocery stores, use one stalk and twist it around to form a little bundle of lemon grass. If you can't find one, no need to panic. The dish will stand on its own without it. Also, pepper leaves were used to finish off the dish but since those are hard to find here as well, spinach leaves come close. But use fresh spinach and not the frozen one.