Chicken Tinola Recipe (Filipino Tinolang Manok)

Tinolang manok is a staple in Filipino homes and reflects the country’s love for simple, nourishing food. It relies on affordable ingredients yet delivers deep comfort in every spoonful. Follow this chicken tinola recipe to prepare a warm, nourishing meal your family will love.

30 MINS

Cooking Time
Easy

Difficulty
20 MINS

Prep Time
4 People

Serves

1 tablespoon cooking oil
1 piece small onion (chopped)
2 cloves garlic (chopped)
1 piece ginger (cut into strips)
500 grams chicken (cut into 8 pieces)
4 cups water
2 pieces Knorr Chicken Cubes
1 piece sayote or small green papaya (sliced)
2 stalks malunggay (leaves picked)

Sauté the Aromatics Time: 5 minutes Heat a pot over medium heat, then add oil. Add onions, garlic, and ginger. Sauté for about 2 minutes or until fragrant and slightly softened.
Brown the Chicken Time: 8 minutes Add chicken pieces to the pot and sear on all sides until the skin is lightly browned. Work in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding.
Simmer the Broth Time: 25 minutes Pour in the water and add the Knorr Chicken Broth cubes. Stir to dissolve, then bring to a gentle simmer until the chicken becomes tender and fully cooked. Tip: Skim off any foam that rises to the surface to keep the broth clear.
Cook the Vegetables Time: 10 minutes Add the sayote or green papaya and cook until tender but not mushy. Tip: The vegetables are ready when you can easily pierce them with a fork.
Finish with the Greens Time: 2 minutes Add the malunggay leaves and simmer for 1 minute or just until wilted. Serve hot. Tip: Malunggay is rich in vitamins and minerals and is often enjoyed by nursing moms and children; you can also use dahon ng sili as an alternative.

Amount per Serving

Nutritional values	Amount per Serving
Energy (kcal)	310010.45 kcal
Protein (g)	25000.23 g
Sugar (g)	0.14 g
Fat (g)	22600.31 g
Fibre (g)	0.18 g

What Is Chicken Tinola?

Chicken tinola is a comforting Filipino chicken soup prepared with green papaya and malunggay. Tinola is a Tagalog word that means “to cook in broth,” which suggests how the dish gently simmers chicken in a fragrant ginger broth.

Key Ingredients of Chicken Tinola

Tinolang manok typically uses simple ingredients to create that characteristic clean, comforting flavor. Cooks simmer chicken with fresh ginger, green papaya or sayote, and dahon ng sili or malunggay leaves, often adding Knorr Chicken Cubes to build a consistently flavorful broth. While some regions add other vegetables or proteins, the clear ginger broth remains its defining element.

Should You Use Green Papaya or Sayote for Tinola?

Both green papaya and sayote work well in chicken tinola, and the choice often depends on availability. Green papaya softens and lightly thickens the broth as it cooks, giving a subtle sweetness. Sayote stays firmer and milder, which makes it a practical and affordable alternative.

What Is the Difference Between Tinola and Binakol?

Chicken tinola cooks in a clear ginger broth seasoned with fish sauce and finished with leafy greens. Chicken binakol uses young coconut water and grated coconut, which gives the soup a lightly sweet and richer flavor.

How to Serve Chicken Tinola

Serve chicken tinola hot while the broth is still steaming. Spoon the ginger broth over freshly cooked white rice to absorb the flavor. Some families enjoy it with a side of fish sauce or calamansi for added flavor.