Filipino pineapple chicken recipe (Creamy pininyahang manok)
Pineapple is an underrated tropical fruit when it comes to using it for a savory meal. In fact, many people don’t like it when putting them on pizza because it gives a sweet taste.
But in this chicken recipe, pineapple redeems itself because you’ll be missing something if you don’t add it to the dish!
Christmas (Check our top 15 Filipino recipes for Christmas and New Year) is in the air, and one of the favorite Filipino dishes during this season is the pineapple chicken recipe.
The adults will absolutely adore this dish, as well as the kids. It’s very rich in flavor since it has a lot of ingredients, which makes this dish a must-have at the dining table come Christmas time!
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Filipino pineapple chicken recipe (creamy pininyahang manok)
Ingredients
- 1 kg chicken
- 1 can pineapple tidbits (432 g)
- 2 medium carrots (sliced 1 inch thick)
- 4 medium potatoes quartered
- 2 small bell peppers (red and green) cut into wedges
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 3 tbsp fish sauce or patis
- 1 tbsp sugar
- ⅓ cup water
- 1 small can evaporated milk/coconut milk
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Saute the garlic and onion.
- Add the chicken pieces and cook until slightly brown.
- Stir in the fish sauce, sugar, and the syrup from pineapple tidbits.
- Add the potatoes, carrots, and water, and cook for 10 minutes.
- Mix in the bell peppers, milk, and pineapple tidbits, and simmer until the chicken and potatoes are tender, and the sauce has thickened, for about 15-20 minutes.
- Season with some salt and pepper, and adjust according to taste.
- Serve with hot rice.
Check out this video by YouTube user Simpol on making creamy pininyahang manok:
Cooking tips
I know, I shouldn’t tell you this, but I want to give you the best pininyahang manok ever, especially now that “Ber” months are coming near.
So here are some great tips:
Fresh milk may be hard to find, and most Filipino moms are really into evaporated milk. In that case, I highly suggest you use Nestle’s all-purpose cream for this dish; it’s the best in town!
Don’t limit yourself to the ingredients presented here. You can be your own chef and apply your own cooking style.
The secret lies in the pineapple, of course, so make sure it’s not heavy in syrup, but in pineapple juice.
- To really match the chicken with the pineapple flavor, you can choose to marinate it together with some seasonings for 15 to 30 minutes before cooking.
In this recipe, you can choose between evaporated or coconut milk. Whichever you prefer, it’ll give this dish that creaminess that’s one of the trademarks of this recipe!
However, there are slight cooking differences depending on whether you use evaporated milk or coconut milk. Evaporated milk should be added when you’re about to turn off the stove, while if you’re using coconut milk, you have to add it from the start so that it’ll be well-cooked.
If you’re going to buy different colored bell peppers, this dish will not only be very tasty, but colorful as well. And don’t forget the hot dogs and carrots too!
The potatoes will add to the creamy taste of the dish. Except for the potatoes, the vegetables shouldn’t be overcooked, as they’ll be more enticing to the palate.
You can add other ingredients if you want them to be more special.
Substitutes and variations
If you don’t have all the ingredients above, don’t fret! You can still have your well-deserved pininyahang manok using some of these substitutes.
Using pork instead of chicken
I know this is almost impossible because you can literally buy chicken meat at any Asian store. But still, using pork instead of meat is welcome. So, that’s good news!
Using any milk cream brand
If you don’t have the preferred Nestle milk available, you’re welcome to use any as long as it’s not non-fat or skimmed (for best results).
Omitting carrots and potatoes
If you’re on a tight budget, you can take out the carrots and potatoes from your recipe. Some Filipino moms only rely on the whole pineapple tidbits to do its magic and it still tastes good.
But as for myself, having them all is better.
What is creamy pininyahang manok?
Pininyahang manok is a popular Filipino dish that’s basically a combination of chicken meat, pineapple tidbits, and all-purpose cream. It’s a flavorful chicken stew with mouthwatering ingredients that can be enjoyed at any meal with the whole Filipino family.
Pininyahang manok origin
“Pininyahang manok” literally translates to “pineapple chicken”, and it’s thought to have originated in Batangas. Batangueño cooks love to experiment with unusual ingredients and cooking methods to create delectable dishes.
So it’s not surprising that Batangas has found its way into producing such a delicious dish that’s now well-loved and served by the whole country.
The province is also famed for its plantations of coconut, sugar, and pineapples. Given that, it’s clear to see where pininyahang manok marks its origin.
How to serve and eat
You don’t need to have a soda, wine, or beer to partner with this dish because you can savor it better if there’s water on the side. This is how delicious it can get!
This recipe isn’t just about being delicious and the answer to a hungry tummy because it’s also packed with a good amount of vitamins and minerals like vitamins A and C, protein, iron, and calcium.
So what else can you ask for? It’s like having the best of both worlds, don’t you think?
It’s best to pair this with hot steamed rice to your delight.
Filipinos love rice like sinangag and it’s always what they prefer to fully enjoy a savory meal like this pineapple chicken recipe.
Similar dishes
What if we want something similar to pininyahang manok, but a bit different?
Well, I’ve got you! Let’s explore some similar dishes to our creamy pininyahang manok.
Pineapple chicken afritada
A delightful variation on a traditional Filipino stew is pineapple chicken afritada. With the flavorful mixture of potatoes, carrots, bell peppers, some tomato sauce, and a hint of sweetness from pineapples, it’s sweet and filling, as well as delicious, similar to that of pininyahang manok.
Pininyahang baboy (using pork instead of chicken meat)
This is the closest recipe to pininyahang manok, but instead of using chicken, we’re going to use pork. The same cooking procedure applies, and the 2 recipes will almost taste the same.
Pata hamonado
In Filipino cuisine, pata hamonado is prepared with pineapple that’s used to marinade or cook the pork. Fatty pieces of pig, chicken, or beef are first lightly fried in hot oil, then simmered in pineapple juice with soy sauce, brown sugar, and flavor-balancing aromatics such as onions, garlic, and peppercorns.
This variation of cooking with pineapple should be added to your list of favorites!
Humba
In preparing humba, pork belly is slow-cooked in a blend of vinegar, soy sauce, and pineapple juice, all mixed together with flavors including garlic, bay leaves, peppercorns, and onions.
FAQs
I know you’re eager to cook your own pininyahang manok now, but what good is cooking if you still have unanswered questions lingering at the back of your mind, right?
So let me answer some of your questions now. Trust me, it’ll be quick.
What does pineapple do for chicken?
The group of enzymes found in fresh pineapple, known as bromelain, is particularly effective at dissolving the connective tissues in thick, fibrous chicken breasts. Grated pineapple radically transforms the texture of the breast meat in this straightforward marinade, giving it a texture akin to rich dark meat.
How many calories does pininyahang manok contain?
The calories per serving (kcal) of pininyahang manok is 379.8.
What is the meaning of manok?
Manok simply translates to “chicken.”
Serve up some pininahang manok
Pininyahang manok is no doubt the best Filipino-style chicken stew, and it just shows why many Filipinos love the dish so much. Although you’re unlikely to see it in many other countries, the flavorful combination of chicken, pineapple tidbits, and cream has just proved its worth to satisfy every hungry tummy.
Now that you know how to cook the most delicious pineapple chicken recipe, there will be no reason for you not to ace it the next time!
‘Til next time!
Got some pininyahang manok cooking tips that you’d like to share with us? Leave a comment below.
Don’t forget to share this article with your Filipino dish-cooking enthusiast friends and family!
Check out our new cookbook
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Joost Nusselder, the founder of Bite My Bun is a content marketer, dad and loves trying out new food with Japanese food at the heart of his passion, and together with his team he's been creating in-depth blog articles since 2016 to help loyal readers with recipes and cooking tips.