Filipino Chicken Afritada Recipe

Chicken Afritada is one of those special, Spanish-inspired Filipino dishes that are most common during “fiestas”, birthday celebrations, and other special occasions. Just like the mechado and caldereta, this popular Filipino dish is a tomato sauce-based chicken stew dressed with bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, and potatoes. The word “afritada” is actually a Spanish word which means fried. Don’t get the wrong idea, but you don’t actually just fry the chicken and call it Chicken Afritada. Frying the chicken until it’s medium brown is only the first part of the whole Chicken Afritada process.

For this Afritada Recipe, I will use chicken thighs and legs (my favorite chicken part). For the bell peppers, use both red and green bell peppers. I have one secret ingredient though that you will seldom find in other Chicken Afritada Recipes. I always put evaporated milk (I use Carnation Evaporated Milk) when I cook this famous Filipino stew. There are some variations of this recipe like if you prefer to use pork instead of chicken. Either way, the cooking process remains the same.

Here is my Chicken Afritada Recipe. Enjoy cooking!

Ingredients:

• 1 kilo chicken thighs and drumsticks cut into pieces
• 5 pcs potatoes- peeled and halved
• 1 red onion, diced
• 1 head garlic, minced
• 1 green bell pepper, sliced into strips
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced into strips
• 2 cups pork or chicken stock (broth)
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 2 tbsp of patis (fish sauce) or soy sauce
• 3 tbsp of cooking oil
•   1 small can evaporated milk
•   salt, sugar, black pepper

Cooking Procedure:

• Sauté garlic and onions in hot oil in a saucepan or pot.
• Add chicken and fry a little bit until light brown.
• Pour the tomato sauce and stock. Bring to a boil and allow to simmer for 20 minutes or until the chicken is almost tender.
• Add potatoes and continue to cook for 10 minutes or until the potatoes are cooked.
• Add the green & red bell peppers, evaporated milk. Simmer for an additional 2 minutes.
• Salt, sugar, pepper to taste

Hot Tip:

• Try to add evaporated milk. It will make your chicken afritada super delicious!
• You can also semi-fry the potatoes before adding them. 

SEE MORE FILIPINO CHICKEN RECIPES!

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