CHICKEN AFRITADA

Afritada - also known as apritada or apritadang - is an easy to make, homestle dish that shows the strong influence of the Philippines' Spanish colonial history. SAvory chicken and the bright flavors of fresh vegetales are bathed in a garlicky tomato sauce over hot rice.

Estimated Cooking Time  : 45-60 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs chicken -sliced in small bite pieces (whatever part u prefered the most)
• 1 tbspn Olive oil
• 1/4 cup minced garlic
• 1/4 cup onion, sliced
• 1 medium tomato, sliced
• 1 cup tomato sauce or 1/2 tomato paste (just add more water)
• 2 tbsp Fish sauce
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp ground pepper
• 1 cup water or chicken stock (just use 1/2 cup if you're using tomato sauce)
• 1/2 cup green peppers, sliced in strips
• 1 medium carrot, sliced or cubed if desired
• Cubed potatoes - 1 1/2 inch wide by 1 inch is fine Sweet dill pickles (small) Sliced in half diagonally

Cooking Procedure :

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil and saute garlic, onion, tomatoes. Add chicken until cooked. Add patis, sautee for a couple of minutes then add tomato sauce/paste and water. Cover and simmer for about 20-25 minutes in medium fire. Add green peppers, sweet dill pickles, carrots and fried potatoes if desired. Remove cover and simmer for another 15 minutes until sauce thickens or add water if necessary.

Cooking Tips :

• If there is no canned tomato sauce/tomato paste - lots of fresh tomatoes is okay, much better and healthier.
• The longer you simmer in slow fire the better, so that all the sauce will incorporate really well with the meat and the rest of the ingredients. This also improves the color which looks more appetizing.
• When peeling potatoes, leave some skin out. The nutrient potassium is actually in the skin. Either you can fry it or you can bake(20-25mins) then broil(8-10mins) it in your toaster, much easier.