Tinolang Manok
Here’s an old culinary question, matatawag mo bang Tinola kung walang papaya? (Can you consider it a Tinola if there’s no papaya?) Some people say it is, some says it’s not. Well as for me it’s still Tinola as long as the basics are there and alternatives are available. Like papaya can be substituted with sayote (chayote) and dahon ng sili (chili leaves) with malunggay (moringa) leaves. Here in the Middle East dahon ng sili and malunggay are scarce and it’s not available in the market. Sometimes we go malunggay leaves picking on vacant and abandoned lots and the funny thing is those other nationalities who saw us are asking what it is for. I always told them it’s for medicinal purposes (hahaha) to cure my palate. A vast majority of expats in the Emirates loves chili on their food especially Indians, Pakistanis and some Arabs but ironically chili leaves are off their list. I remember planting one our balcony but it was ruined by insects before harvesting its first talbos (young tender leaves). No chili leaves or malunggay picking this time. Call it a Tinola or not, I don’t care mmm sarap naman eh!
