I cooked another traditional Filipino dish—Chicken Afritada! It’s simple to make and a new recipe to introduce to my Puerto Rican husband. I’m excited to see if he’ll like it. Interestingly, I discovered that Chicken Afritada was actually introduced to the Philippines by the Spaniards, which surprised me since I had always thought it was a traditional Filipino recipe.
The Chicken Afritada is a popular Filipino dish that has its roots in Spanish cuisine. The word “afritada” comes from the Spanish word “fritada,” which means “fried”. The dish was introduced by Spanish colonizers in the 16th century.
The process of making this beloved traditional Filipino dish is simple. The Chicken Afritada recipe ingredients are extremely accessible and easy to prepare. Follow along and make sure to leave a comment if you have any questions.
Table of contents
Ingredients:
- 1 kg chicken meat
- 2 pcs medium potatoes cut into cubes
- 1 pc large carrots cut into cubes
- 1 medium bell pepper
- 1 can tomato sauce
- 1 pc medium onion
- 2 gloves of garlic
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Cooking oil
- 1 cup of water or as needed or as your liking on how much sauce you want.
Procedure:
- Pour cooking oil into a pan. When heated, put onion (I do onion first because garlic gets easily burned). When the onion gets caramelized, add the garlic. Stir until it turns brown.
- Add the chicken seasoned with pepper and salt. Cover the lid until the chicken is cooked.
- Add tomato sauce and water. Add more pepper or salt to get your desired taste. Let it boil to continue cooking your Chicken Afritada recipe.
- When the chicken is tender enough, add the potato and carrots. Let them cook.
- When the potato and carrots are squishy, add the bell pepper. Let it boil once then it is ready to serve.
Similar dishes:
There are other Spanish-inspired dishes in Southeast Asia that are very similar to our beloved Chicken Afritada such as the Indonesian Ayam Masak Merah (Red Chicken) and Malaysian Ayam Masak Tomato (Tomato Chicken).
While the Chicken Afritada is a simple delicious dish to cook, it is more than that. The origins reflect the cultural heritage of the Philippines, shaped by Spanish colonialism. The Chicken Afritada recipe remains one of the most beloved Filipino dishes.
Recommendations:
Filipino-style sopas recipe: a hearty and delicious soup.
Pork Adobo recipe – One of Filipino’s pride dishes.
Arroz Caldo recipe – A classic Nanay’s breakfast delicacy.
Authentic chicken afritada recipe: a classic Filipino dish.
Maja Blanca recipe – A delicious desert similar to the Tembleque (Puerto Rican coconut dessert).
