Pro Tips
**Chef's Tips & Troubleshooting:**
- Make sure the pan and oil are hot before adding ingredients for the best sear.
- Fry in batches to avoid overcrowding — lowering the temperature makes food greasy.
- For fried chicken, let the coated pieces rest for 10 minutes before frying so the breading adheres better.
- Cook chicken until the internal temperature reaches 165°F at the thickest part of the breast.
Cooking Tips
Pat the meat completely dry with paper towels before frying — moisture is the enemy of crispiness. Use a thermometer to maintain oil temperature at 350–375°F (175–190°C). If the oil is too cool, the food absorbs grease; too hot and it burns on the outside before cooking through. Check liquid levels halfway through cooking and add hot water or broth if needed. Long-cooked dishes can dry out or burn if left unattended.
Ingredient Substitutions
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. Crispy dishes are best enjoyed fresh — they lose their crunch when stored. If you must store leftovers, reheat in an air fryer or oven at 375°F (190°C) for 5–7 minutes to restore crispiness. Avoid microwaving crispy dishes — the steam makes the coating soggy. Use a toaster oven or stovetop skillet instead. 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.
Max's style Fried Chicken
Max's style Fried Chicken — a Filipino chicken dish with local spices and herbs. A comforting meal passed down through generations.
Instructions
- In a steamer, pour the water and bring to a boil.
- Incorporate the dried bay leaves and chopped cilantro in the boiling water
- Steam the chicken for 45 minutes
- Remove the chicken from the steamer and allow the excess liquid to drip. Let the chicken cool down.
- Rub salt and pepper all over the chicken.
- In a deep-fryer or tall pot, pour the cooking oil and apply heat.
- When the cooking oil is hot enough, deep-fry the chicken for about 12 minutes. (If the chicken is not entirely immersed in oil, flip the chicken to fry the other side for another 12 minutes or until color turns golden brown)
- Remove the chicken from the fryer and allow oil to drip.
- Serve hot with fried kamote (fried sweet potato)
Kitchen Tools We Recommend
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Pro Tips & Troubleshooting
- Make sure the pan and oil are hot before adding ingredients for the best sear.
- Fry in batches to avoid overcrowding — lowering the temperature makes food greasy.
- For fried chicken, let the coated pieces rest for 10 minutes before frying so the breading adheres better.
- Cook chicken until the internal temperature reaches 165°F at the thickest part of the breast.
Cooking Tips
Use a thermometer to maintain oil temperature at 350–375°F (175–190°C). If the oil is too cool, the food absorbs grease; too hot and it burns on the outside before cooking through.
Check liquid levels halfway through cooking and add hot water or broth if needed. Long-cooked dishes can dry out or burn if left unattended.
Substitutions
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
Crispy dishes are best enjoyed fresh — they lose their crunch when stored. If you must store leftovers, reheat in an air fryer or oven at 375°F (190°C) for 5–7 minutes to restore crispiness.
Avoid microwaving crispy dishes — the steam makes the coating soggy. Use a toaster oven or stovetop skillet instead.
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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