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Home > Filipino Recipes

Sinampalukang Manok (Chicken in Tamarind Soup)

BY :Bebs | Published: 01/24/ 2019 | Updated:10/27/ 2019 | 4 Comments

RECIPE VIDEO PRINT
5 from 2 votes
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Simple Sinampalukang Manok Recipe

I have Sinampalukang Manok in my recipes-to-do list for the longest time. But somehow I keep on procrastinating.

I can count in one hand the times I've sampled this soup and the last time was more than a decade ago. I don't even remember my Mama cooking it for us.

But seeing the tamarind trees growing around our place having bright green young leaves the last days, I just knew that it was time to get reacquainted with this Filipino dish.

So I made my first ever Sinampalukang Manok yesterday and I still get all dreamy thinking about the thick savory sour soup. I just cannot get over this simple yet very tasty dish. To think that I have left it so long before trying to make it on my own.

Now, I believe that the dish simply lacks the fame and recognition that it truly deserves. I actually find it a bit sad that it is one of the most under-rated Filipino dishes.

A delicious bowl of Sinampalukang Manik

  • What is Sinampalukang Manok
  • Sinampalukang Manok Ingredients
  • How to Cook with Tamarind Leaves for Sinampalukang Manok
  • How to cook Sinampalukang Manok
  • Other Sour Soup To Try
  • Printable Recipe
  • Sinampalukang Manok

What is Sinampalukang Manok

It is a Filipino chicken soup with a sour broth. It is similar to Sinigang that they are both sour soups. But unlike it, where different souring agents can be used, only tamarind can be used to sour the soup and the meat can only be chicken. As the name itself means chicken (manok)  mixed or infused with tamarind (sampalok). The other difference is the way they are cooked. Sinampalukang Manok involves sauteeing the meat first in oil and spices before adding the liquid to make soup. While Sinigang only entails boiling/simmering the ingredients in water.

It is not a common dish to find in Filipino restaurant menus. Nor in 'Carinderias' and even in home cooking. But why, when it is so good, right?!

The only reason that I can think of is that young tamarind leaves are not that easy to get by. Young tamarind leaves are seasonal and are not commonly sold in the market. So, next time you have the chance to get hold of young tamarind leaves, I urge you to try this recipe.

Although I found a possible alternative to fresh young tamarind leaves in Amazon. That is the pickled one.

Armin, who is not a big fan of Sinigang (which I think he only eats when there is nothing else to eat) even said that this is the only 'Sinigang' that he really liked.  So there you have it!

How to make Sinampalukang Manok

Sinampalukang Manok Ingredients

Different recipes presented this dish with varying ingredients. I choose to stick to the basic and focus on the main ingredients.

  • Chicken - using various parts like the legs, wings, and breast. You may also use a whole chicken.
  • Unripe tamarind pods
  • Young tamarind leaves
  • Garlic, onion, and ginger for sauteeing
  • Fish sauce for seasoning
  • Long green chili for a mild spiciness
  • Yardlong beans - totally optional but good for adding texture but will not affect the taste
  • Water

That is basically all that you need to make a great Sinampalukang Manok.

How to Cook with Tamarind Leaves for Sinampalukang Manok

First, make sure that you strip the leaves from stems that are already hard. The tips, with still soft stems, can be used directly.

You may either just add the washed tamarind leaves to the pot.

However, to enjoy its full flavor, give them a light pounding using a mortar and pestle or the back of your knife before adding it to the pot.

How to cook Sinampalukang Manok

Again, like with many other dishes, there are different ways to prepare it. But I like to use the most simple and faster way.

  1. Saute garlic, onion, and ginger in oil in a pot.
  2. Add chicken and fish sauce and cook to render the fat for several minutes.
  3. Add water and unripe tamarind pods and bring to boil.
  4. Remove pods and extract the juices.
  5. Add the tamarind juice to the pot along with the long green chili, yardlong beans, and young tamarind leaves. Let simmer until chicken is tender.
Sinampalukang Manok Recipe
Sinampalukang Manok

Other Sour Soup To Try

  • Sinigang na Hipon
  • Sinigang na Salmon
  • Miso Soup 

Printable Recipe

Simple Sinampalukang Manok Recipe
Print Review

Sinampalukang Manok

5 from 2 votes
So easy and simple Sinampalukang Manok recipe makes this Filipino hearty, sour chicken soup made with bone-in pieces of chicken and young pods and leaves of tamarind.
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 30 minutes mins
Total Time: 40 minutes mins
Course :Main Course, Soup
Servings =4
Print Recipe Rate this Recipe

Ingredients
 

  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 2 cloves garlic - minced
  • 1 medium red onion - chopped
  • 1 thumb ginger - cut into thin slices
  • 2 pounds chicken - assorted parts, cut into serving pieces
  • 3 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 3 cups water
  • 8-10 pieces unripe tamarind fruit pods
  • 1 cup young tamarind leaves
  • 1 cup yardlong beans (sitaw) - cut into 2-inch strips
  • 3 pieces long green chili
  • salt - as needed

Instructions
 

  • Heat oil in a pot over medium heat. Saute garlic, onions, and ginger. Add chicken trimmings if any. (See Note 1). Cook until garlic and onions are limp and the fat from the chicken trimmings are rendered or extracted.
  • Add the chicken pieces to the pot. Sear for a minute while mixing the content several times in between to turn the pieces around. Season with fish sauce. 
  • Cover the pot with lid and let it cook and render for 5 minutes. Open and mix the content once or twice in between to avoid burnt chicken side.
  • Add water and unripe tamarind. Cover pot and bring water to boil. Cook for 5 minutes or until tamarind has softened and the shells crack.
  • Remove the tamarind pods from the soup using a slotted spoon and transfer to a sieve over a bowl. Mash it using the back of a spoon to extract the juices. Pour some of the broth or water over it to separate the juice from the seeds and shells.
  • Add back the extracted tamarind juice to the boiling pot. Add the tamarind leaves, long green chili and yard long beans. Season with salt if needed. Let it simmer for another 5 minutes or until the beans are cooked and the chicken is tender.
  • Serve with rice.

Notes

Note 1 - These are the fat and excess skin trimmings that you can remove from the chicken when cutting them into smaller serving sizes. They are usually found around the cavities. Normally thrown away since they are not that much appealing to eat especially in soups as they tend to be chewy and fatty. But these are full of flavors and are great for rendering the fats. 
Note 2 -Although I highly suggest using fresh unripe tamarind pods, tamarind powder or unsweetened tamarind pulp can also be used in its absence.  

Nutrition

Calories: 620kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 47gFat: 39gSaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 170mgSodium: 1233mgPotassium: 574mgFiber: 0gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 515IUVitamin C: 12.2mgCalcium: 117mgIron: 2.5mg
Have you tried this recipe?Mention @foxyfolksy or tag #FoxyFolksyRecipes!

 

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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  1. Maribel says

    October 22, 2021 at 5:31 am

    So far the best recipe I found! Thanks for sharing! More power to you!

    Reply
    • Bebs says

      March 03, 2022 at 12:13 am

      Thank you Maribel, Happy that you like it.

      Reply
  2. ronny says

    April 22, 2019 at 9:56 pm

    Hi Foxy

    Instead of tamarind fruit and leaves can I use tamarind paste for
    the Sinampalukang Manok recipe

    Reply
    • Bebs says

      April 23, 2019 at 11:00 am

      Sure you can, Ronny.

      Reply

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