Binagoongang Manok with Malunggay Leaves

This dish is similar to Tinolang Manok but with the replacement and addition of some ingredients. I believed it was originated somewhere in North Luzon where Bagoong is widely used as a condiment. When you’re already board of the traditional Tinolang Manok try Binagoongang Manok with Malunggay Leaves.

Thanks to my sister Brenda, she was the first one to cook me this dish. If your a fan of salty chicken flavored soup, here are the ingredients:

Binagoongang Manok with Malunggay Leaves Ingredients

• • 1/2 kilo chicken (tinola cut)
  • 50grams ginger
  • 10 cloves of garlic
  • 1 clove onion
  • Fish Bagoong
  • Papaya or Sayote
  • Malunggay Leaves
  • 1.5 liters of water

How to Cook Binagoongang Manok with Malunggay Leaves?

1. 1. Sautee garlic, onion, ginger respectively
   2. Add the cut chicken when garlic turns into brown color.
   3. Add about 4 tablespoons of Fish Bagoong
   4. Sautee until the chicken is cooked.
   5. Add papaya or sayote
   6. Stir-fry for 5 minutes
   7. Add water, simmer for 10 minutes or until the water boils.
   8. Check if the papaya or sayote is already tender.
   9. Add Malunggay Leaves
   10. Taste for saltiness, add salt (not Fish Bagoong) if necessary or until you achieved the saltiness you wanted.

The Malunggay Leaves (Drumstick Tree)

The Malunggay leaves is the game changer in this Binagoongang Manok with malunggay leaves recipe. It balance the taste and adds additional nutrients.

Malunggay (Moringa Oleifera), is a popular plant known for high nutritional value as well as an herbal medicine. Malunggay is a plant that grows in the tropical climates such as the Philippines, India and Africa. Malunggay is widely used as vegetable ingredient in cooking, as herbal medicine for a number of illness and other practical uses.

The Malunggay plant can grow to as high as 9 meters with erect white trunks. The compound leaf has about 3 to 9 leaflets. Malunggay has white fragrant flowers that produces long pods with 3-angled winged seeds.

Malunggay Leaves

Malunggay may be propagated by planting its seeds about an inch in the ground or matured malunggay stem cuttings of about 3 feet in length may also be planted into the ground. Planted malunggay cuttings grows faster compared to planted seeds.

Malunggay (Moringa Oleifera) has been used as herbal medicine in many cultures for hundreds of years, Malunggay is known as a very nutritious plant where it is used to combat malnutrition in third world countries especially for infants and nursing mothers.

Malunggay Pod

The malunggay pods are the most valued and widely used part of the plant. Malunggay pods contains essential amino acids, vitamins and other nutrients. Malunggay pods may be eaten raw or may be prepared or cooked. Malunggay pods may be fried and may produce a clear, odorless and sweet oil mostly called – Ben Oil.

Malunggay leaves may be eaten as greens, in salads and as vegetable ingredients for soups and other tropical viands. Malunggay flowers are cooked and eaten either mixed with other foods or fried in batter. (Source: Medical Health Guide)