Pro Tips
**Chef's Tips & Troubleshooting:**
- Baste chicken with butter or oil halfway through roasting to prevent the breast from drying out.
- Start cooking chicken thighs and legs before adding breast pieces since dark meat takes longer.
- Brown the chicken skin-side down first over medium-high heat until golden and crisp.
- For chicken soup, add the vegetables in the last 10 minutes so they stay firm and bright.
Cooking Tips
For maximum flavor, season the chicken at least 30 minutes before cooking — ideally overnight in the refrigerator. This allows the marinade to penetrate beyond the surface. Use a meat thermometer to check doneness: 165°F (74°C) at the thickest part of the breast, away from the bone. Have all your ingredients prepped and measured before you start cooking — quick dishes leave no time for chopping mid-recipe.
Ingredient Substitutions
No soy sauce? Use tamari (gluten-free), coconut aminos (paleo-friendly), or a mix of fish sauce and water for a different but delicious umami profile. For a low-sodium version, use light soy sauce or dilute regular soy sauce with a splash of water or broth. Chicken alternatives: Pork shoulder or boneless thigh meat can substitute for chicken in stews. For lighter fare, extra-firm tofu or seitan works in stir-fries and braises. Short on time? A pressure cooker (Instant Pot) can reduce cooking time by roughly half for most braised and stewed Filipino dishes. Reduce liquid slightly since less evaporates.
Storage & Reheating
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. The flavors often deepen overnight, making leftovers even more delicious. Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water or broth if the sauce has thickened during storage. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each.
Chicken Pandan
Chicken Pandan — a Filipino chicken dish with local spices and herbs. A comforting meal passed down through generations.
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, ground black pepper, garlic, ginger, and lemon juice. Mix well.
- Put-in the chicken pieces in the bowl with the mixture and marinade for at least 3 hours. I always marinade meat overnight to absorb the flavors better. When marinating overnight, make sure to cover the bowl and refrigerate it to avoid contamination.
- Wrap the chicken with Pandan leaves. This is done by taking a long leaf and start wrapping about 3 inches down the leaf until the chicken piece is covered. Wrap back from where you started and tie one end of the leaf to the other end until a knot is formed.
- Heat a cooking pot and pour-in cooking oil.
- When the oil is hot enough, deep fry the chicken until the color turns golden brown. You may also grill the chicken instead of frying it.
- Turn-off heat and transfer the chicken to a serving plate.
- Serve.
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Pro Tips & Troubleshooting
- Baste chicken with butter or oil halfway through roasting to prevent the breast from drying out.
- Start cooking chicken thighs and legs before adding breast pieces since dark meat takes longer.
- Brown the chicken skin-side down first over medium-high heat until golden and crisp.
- For chicken soup, add the vegetables in the last 10 minutes so they stay firm and bright.
Cooking Tips
Use a meat thermometer to check doneness: 165°F (74°C) at the thickest part of the breast, away from the bone.
Have all your ingredients prepped and measured before you start cooking — quick dishes leave no time for chopping mid-recipe.
Substitutions
For a low-sodium version, use light soy sauce or dilute regular soy sauce with a splash of water or broth.
Chicken alternatives: Pork shoulder or boneless thigh meat can substitute for chicken in stews. For lighter fare, extra-firm tofu or seitan works in stir-fries and braises.
Short on time? A pressure cooker (Instant Pot) can reduce cooking time by roughly half for most braised and stewed Filipino dishes. Reduce liquid slightly since less evaporates.
Storage & Reheating
Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water or broth if the sauce has thickened during storage. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each.
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