TINOLANG MANOK (with dark broth)

11 ingredients•Prep: 15 mins•Cook: 50 mins

Tita Becky •

October 13, 2025

We all have that one dish that tastes like "home". For me, it's my mom's "TINOLANG MANOK" or Filipino Chicken Ginger Soup. My mom's version was the basic way to make it: bone-in chicken simmered in a clear, light broth along with aromatics like ginger, garlic, and onion. It was clean, simple, and delicious. But as I've spent more time cooking, I've found myself chasing a version that has more depth - a broth with more muscle and a flavor profile that lingers a little longer on the palate.

Traditional Tinola is known for its pale, almost clear soup. My twist? "sankutsa". Instead of a quick toss in the pot, I take time to deeply saute the meat with aromatics and add seasonings like salt, black pepper and fish sauce. Sauté until the meat is slightly browned and the fat is rendered. As a result, you get a darker broth that's richer and more robust. It's still as delicious as my mom's Tinola, but with an added layer of "oomph".

Ingredients (11)

Chicken thighs and legs(3 lb, bone-in)
Garlic(4 cloves, minced)
Ginger(1, minced)
1 large thumb of ginger
Yellow onion(½ small, diced)
Salt(¼ tsp)
Fish sauce(2 Tbsp)
1 tbsp to season chicken and 1 tbsp to season the broth. Add more if needed.
Water(5–6 cups)
Green papaya(½ medium, sliced into thick chunks)
You can also use sayote (chayote) or potatoes

Instructions

Preheat a large soup pot or wok over medium-high heat. Add cooking oil. Add garlic (4 cloves), onions (½ small), and ginger (1) and saute until fragrant.
Add chicken (3 lb). Season with salt, black pepper, and fish sauce, then sauté (sankutsa) until slightly browned and the fat renders
Santuksa or saute may take 10-15 minutes.
Add water (5–6 cups). Cover and bring to a boil then reduce heat to low, and let it simmer for 25 minutes
Add sliced papaya and season broth with fish sauce. Cover and continue to cook until the green papaya is tender.
Add malunggay leaves and stir. Turn off the heat. Taste the broth and more fish sauce if needed. If everything is to your liking, then it's ready to serve.