Easter Sunday Tagalog Tinola

Ang Parabula ng Tinola.
Isang araw nagtanong ang 40 years old na bata sa kanyang inay kung bakit masarap ang Tinola. Tanong ng bata: Inay, inay, bakit ho ga pagkasarap ng tinola? Sagot naman ng Inay, “Sapagkat ito ay ulam ng pagmamahal. Ang lahat ng sangkap nito ay galing sa palibot-libot ng bahay. Pinagkapilipiling dumalaga na iaalay at ititinola. Bawang para sa tibok ng iyong puso. Sibuyas para sa anumang sakit ay di ka agad tablan. Luya para bumalik ang iyong sigla. Papaya para sa kutis. Dahon ng sili para sa sakit ng iyong katawan. At ang tubig na galing sa bukal- buhay na isinasalin sa atin.” Ah ganun po, iniisip ko pa laang ay tunay na masarap na. At sabi ng ina, habang isinusubo ang ang isang sansing sabaw sa kanyang anak: “Higupin mo, at sa bawat higop mo, nakauwi ka na. ”
-JSMataro. 3.27.2016Batangas

English Translation:
The Parable of the Chicken Soup called Tinola
One day a 40-year old kid asks her mom why Tinola taste so good. Her mother answered: It is because it is a food of love and offering. Then her mother continues: All the ingredients of this soup is just right around our backyard. The best fat spring chicken offered for the dish. Garlic for the beating heart. Onion for your immunity. Ginger for your vitality. Green Papaya to smooth your skin. Capsicum leaves to ease your body pains. And the water from the spring- which lends us life. Then the kid agreed with sparkling eyes. – “Ooh yes! I can taste it already”. Then the mother extends her hand, giving a spoonful of simmering soup to her kid saying: “Take a sip… and in every sip you take, you are here. You are Home.”

How.

1. On a wok, stir fry first chicken neck and chicken fat to create flavor.

2. After achieving enough browning of chicken neck and fat, add the next ingredients in the following order: Ginger. Onion. Garlic.

3. Add the rest of the chicken.  Give it a dash of fish sauce and a sprinkle of ground black pepper.

4. Keep on the stir-fry and let the chicken render oil.

5. After rendering most of the chicken’s fat, pour water to the wok , just enough to cover all the ingredients.

6. Prepare the green papayas.

7. Pour the green papayas, only when the chicken is tender.

8. Prepare the chicken liver.

9. Add the chicken liver to the wok only when the green papayas are cooked.

10. Prepare the capsicum green leaves.

11. Add the capsicum leaves a few minutes when you are about to serve it.

12. You now have your Tagalog Tinola.

Enjoy!