However, that is not only the reason why Tinolang Manok is popular. It is a healthy and hearty soup that is boiled with chicken, green papaya and spinach or water cress leaves. You may substitute the papaya with chayote or zucchini and the soup will taste just as good.
Ingredients:
8 oz papaya, peeled and cut into chunks
6 oz spinach or water cress leaves
4 cloves thickly sliced garlic
2 inches ginger, thickly sliced
1 small sliced onion
4 cups of water
2 Tbsp fish sauce
1 Tbsp salt
1½ Tbsp cooking oil
Preparation:
Heat the oil in a soup pot. Fry the ginger and garlic until they are both slightly brown and fragrant. Add the chicken pieces and fry until they too turn slightly brown. Add the water, cover the pot and simmer for an hour.
Add the papaya, spinach and fish sauce. Allow the soup to simmer for another 45 minutes. Add the salt and stir well. Serve with rice and other main course dishes. Enjoy this famous and yet easy to make soup!