Chicken Afritada

Chicken Afritada

   When you work in Makati City, you wouldn't avoid eating in one of the many "carinderias" available. Especially those located in Washington street. Chicken Afritada is one of the many dishes that you may find there. There are different versions though. I would always prefer the one that has no tomato sauce. For me it is more appealing and tastier. The taste of the chicken and that aroma of patis is not overpowered by the tomato sauce. My mother-in-law's version is similar to this recipe. This is the version that the person I usually cook for would prefer.... that person is my wife.


Ingredients:

1 kilo chicken (cut into parts)
 2 medium potatoes (peeled and cubed)
 2 medium carrots (peeled and cubed)
 1 small head of garlic (minced)
 1 big onion (diced)
 3 medium sized tomatoes
 1 red bell pepper (sliced)
 1 green bell pepper (sliced)
 2 cups water or chicken stock
1/2 cup patis
 ½ cup breadcrumbs
 Pinch of salt & pepper
 Oil

Procedure:
-Marinate chicken in 3 tbsp patis for 5 mins.
-In a large wok or pot, brown both sides of chicken in oil  then set aside.
-Sauté garlic, onion, tomatoes and half of the bell peppers.
-Put back the chicken. Pour in the 1/2 cup patis and ground black pepper.
-Lower the heat, mix then cover and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes. Add the stock or water then bring to a boil.
-Add in the potatoes and carrots then cover and wait for it to be cooked.
-Add half of the bell peppers. Add in the breadcrumbs to thicken the sauce.
Serve hot.