Hello, everyone! 😊
Today, I’m sharing a dish that came from what we have. We still had plenty of kalabasa (squash) left from our last meal, and I really didn’t want it to go bad or end up in the trash.
So I thought, what better way to use it?
That’s when Chicken Tinola with Kalabasa, came into my mind.
To those who do not know, tinola is one of those classic Filipino dishes.
It’s simple to make, packed with flavor, and perfect for any time of the day.
And the secret to making it taste just right? It's ginger and fish sauce. Those two ingredients give tinola its delicious taste.
So, let me walk you through exactly how I made this version, so you can try it too.
Ingredients:
• 700 grams chicken
• 2 cups kalabasa (squash)
• 2 tablespoons luya (ginger)
• 1 medium onion
• 1 piece siling haba (green chili)
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 4-5 cups water
• salt and pepper
• a little cooking oil
Step-by-step procedure:
I started by heating a little oil in our pot. Once it was warm enough, I put in the sliced ginger and chopped onion. I stirred them for a while until the onion became soft and clear, and the ginger released its nice smell.
Next, I added all the chicken pieces into the pot. I mixed them around and cooked them until the meat turned light brown.
Then came the fish sauce. I poured it in and let it simmer for just a minute or so.
Right after that, I put in a little bit of crushed black pepper and a pinch of salt too. Then gave it a good mix so all those nice flavors would soak right into the meat.
After that, I poured in the water and waited for it to boil. Once it started bubbling, I turned the fire down low, covered the pot, and just let it cook slowly. I left it like that for about 15 to 20 minutes, until I could tell the chicken was getting tender and soft.
When the chicken was almost done, I put in the chunks of kalabasa. I also gave it a stir, covered the pot again, and let it cook for another 10 to 12 minutes.
I checked it after a while, and the squash was already soft and easy to break apart. I also tasted the flavor and added a bit more fish sauce.
If you have chili leaves or malunggay, you can also add them before turning off the fire. Since my hubby didn't get any malunggay, I didn’t put any other leaves or veggies anymore. It was just chicken and kalabasa.
This recipe is healthy, budget-friendly, and completely delicious.
You can serve this hot with steamed rice, and get satisfied with your whole family. Enjoy!
Until my next ideas...
Thanks for the visit! Have a lovely day. Buh-bye. 💗🌸
All images used in this post are my own unless stated otherwise.
