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Calderetang Manok

What’s your favorite version of this popular tomato-based stew? Calderetang Manok is a favorite option at my home, and my children enjoy seeing it at supper. My personal favorite is beef-based, which you can learn to make here. But I also see the benefits of this white meat variety. The texture of the chicken pairs perfectly with the potatoes and carrots. Plus, this meat has a neutral flavor that complements our thick stew well.

What is the Calderetang Manok Recipe?

 Manok

But this is my own variation of the recipe! For this, we use as many ingredients as necessary to create our stew wonderfully thick and tasty. If this is your first time trying caldereta, here is some background information. This orange stew is made slightly savory using a combination of herbs and ingredients such as liver spread, soy sauce, garlic, and, of course, tomato sauce. It’s a popular dish among Filipino families due to its warmth and hearty nature!

Calderetang Manok Recipe with Gata?

Filipinos love creamy stews, as seen by the abundance of ginataan recipes. It’s only natural for us to attempt making our caldereta a little milkier by adding coconut milk flavor and texture. Try Panlasang Pinoy’s recipe for Pork Kaldereta Sa Gata to experience it for yourself! If you prefer chicken in your stew, you can also replace it for the red meat.

But, returning to the classics, let’s go over the ingredients for Calderetang manok.

Calderetang Manok Ingredients

First, cut 3 pounds of chicken into serving pieces.After, dice one potato and two carrots.Mince 1 onion, 4 garlic cloves, and grate 1 ounce of cheese.Next, add 8 ounces tomato sauce, 3 ounces liver spread, 4 teaspoons soy sauce, and 1 ½ cups water.

We need 1 lime, 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder, and 1/2 cup cooking oil in the kitchen. Finally, keep fish sauce and ground black pepper on available. You can add as much of this as you like.

How to Make Calderetang Manok

Marinating our chicken

Get a container and set the chicken inside. Combine the soy sauce, garlic powder, and ground black pepper. Squeeze in the juice of one lime before leaving everything to marinade for at least an hour. If you don’t have a lime, you can use two slices of calamansi instead.

Frying the potatoes and carrots

Grab your potatoes and cook them in some oil for 3 to 5 minutes over medium heat. When the exterior turns light brown, you’ll know it’s ready to use. Then cook your carrots for 2 to 3 minutes. To absorb any extra oil, place the fried potatoes and carrots in a basin with paper towels.

Sautéing the onion, garlic, and chicken

Place approximately 3 tablespoons of cooking oil in a cooking saucepan. Then, toss in the onion and garlic. We’ll sauté these two and let the onions soften before adding the marinated chicken.

Sauté the chicken until it is medium brown. Take note that we don’t add the tomato sauce and water until after this step to get that wonderful, slightly browned exterior!

Letting the stew boil

It’s time to put the tomato sauce and water in the saucepan, too! Simply cover the pot and continue cooking until the liquid reaches boiling temperature. Now you may reduce the heat to a simmer. Continue cooking for 40 more minutes.

Integrating some seasonings and vegetables

Add the liver spread and whisk it into the mixture. Great! We may now add our lovely vegetables, such as bell peppers, potatoes, and carrots, which we fried earlier. Pour in your fish sauce and season with ground black pepper. Then, for added flavor, add some shredded cheese

How to Serve Calderetang Manok

 Manok

Are you ready to eat spoonfuls of scrumptious caldereta? We’re almost there. Simply move your Calderetang Manok to your preferred serving plate, or eat it directly from the pot. It truly is up to you! However, I am confident that this would be delicious with warm rice.

How to Store Calderetang Manok

Simply place your caldereta in an airtight container for leftovers. And before we cover and refrigerate it, make sure it is at room temperature. Then store it in the refrigerator for three days.

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs chicken cut into serving pieces
  • 2 bell peppers (see notes)
  • 1 potato diced
  • 2 carrots diced
  • 8 ounces tomato sauce
  • 3 ounces liver spread (see notes)
  • 4 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1 onion minced
  • 5 cloves garlic
  • 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 ounce cheese (see notes)
  • ½ cup cooking oil
  • 1 lime (see notes)
  • Fish sauce and ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Marinate chicken in soy sauce, 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 lime for at least 1 hour.
    3 lbs chicken, 4 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder, 1 lime
  • Fry the potatoes and carrots. Set aside.
    1 potato, 2 carrots
  • Using around 3 tablespoons of cooking oil, sauté the onion and 4 cloves of minced garlic.
    1 onion, ½ cup cooking oil, 5 cloves garlic
  • Add the marinated chicken once the onion softens. Sauté the chicken until it turns medium brown in color.
    3 lbs chicken
  • Pour the tomato sauce and water into the cooking pot. Cover and let it boil and then adjust the heat to a simmer. Continue cooking for 40 minutes.
    8 ounces tomato sauce, 1 1/2 cups water
  • Add the liver spread. Stir and add the bell peppers, potato, and carrots.
    2 bell peppers, 1 potato, 3 ounces liver spread, 2 carrots
  • Season with fish sauce and ground black pepper.
    Fish sauce and ground black pepper to taste
  • Add the grated cheese.
    1 ounce cheese
  • Serve warm with rice. Share and enjoy!

Notes

Bell pepper: I highly recommend using capsicum for this recipe as it provides a sweet and delightful flavor to the dish. You may use just once color depending on your preference.Liver spread: Caldereta versions in the Philippines vary per region. This version represent the most commonly made in Metro Manila. If liver spread is not available, feel free to use liver pate. You can also use peanut butter as an alternative. This will then represent a version from another region.Cheese: I like using Filipino cheese for this recipe. It can be as sharp as extra sharp cheddar although it can melt quickly (which is the reason why I use it). Veleeta (original) is somewhat similar to it.Lime: Use either lime (1 piece), or 2 pieces of calamansi (calamondin), or a quarter piece of lemon.

FAQ

What is Calderetang Manok?
Calderetang Manok is a Filipino chicken stew, a variation of the traditional “caldereta,” which is typically made with beef or goat. This dish features tender chicken pieces simmered in a rich tomato-based sauce with potatoes, carrots, bell peppers, and sometimes olives, liver spread, or cheese for extra depth of flavor.

What is the key to making Calderetang Manok flavorful?
The secret to a flavorful Calderetang Manok lies in marinating the chicken before cooking. Use soy sauce, vinegar, and garlic for marinating. The liver spread or pâté also adds richness and a unique taste to the dish. Cooking the sauce low and slow helps meld the flavors together beautifully.

Can I use other meats instead of chicken?
Yes, Caldereta is versatile, and you can make it with beef, pork, or goat instead of chicken. Each meat requires a different cooking time—beef and goat take longer to tenderize, whereas chicken and pork cook faster.

Can I make Calderetang Manok without liver spread?
While liver spread is traditional and adds depth to the sauce, you can omit it if you’re not a fan. For a similar rich flavor, you can substitute it with mashed canned pâté or add cheese to the sauce for creaminess.

What sides go well with Calderetang Manok?
Calderetang Manok pairs perfectly with steamed white rice, which absorbs the flavorful sauce. You can also serve it with bread or warm tortillas for sopping up the rich sauce, and a side salad or sautéed greens for added freshness.

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