Chicken Ampalaya

Chicken with ampalaya in oyster sauce is a quick and easy dish that you can make for lunch or dinner. Whether you are cooking just for yourself or for the whole family, this dish will surely be a hit. Aside from being easy, Chicken with Ampalaya is also healthy because it is rich in protein and other nutrients.

Not everyone here might like Ampalaya. I get it. The bitter taste of this healthy vegetable makes it less appetizing. However, you can always try to do something to make it taste less bitter – like rubbing salt on it to let the bitter juices go out, perhaps. You can also try to have it regularly so that you will get used to the taste. In my opinion, the health benefits of Ampalaya will outweigh its bitter taste.

I enjoy this dish with a cup of warm brown rice. Sometimes, I also have this with Ensaladang Talbos ng Kamote.


Try this Chicken with Ampalaya Recipe. Let me know what you think.

Recipe 1: Chicken Ampalaya in Black Bean Sauce

Ingredients:

1/2 lb boneless chicken, julienne
1 lb ampalaya, julienne
1 thumb size ginger, sliced thin
3 pieces garlic cloves, minced
1 medium size onion, sliced thin
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
2 tablespoon black bean sauce
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 cup water
2 tablespoon canola oil

Direction:

Saute ginger, onion and garlic in cooking oil till caramelized.
Add slices of chicken till chicken turns golden brown.
Season with ground pepper, hoisin sauce and black bean sauce. Stir for few minutes.
Pour in 1 cup of water. Season with more salt and ground pepper if needed.
Reduce heat in medium low and simmer till chicken is fully cooked and sauce reduced to half.
Add the ampalaya and simmer for few more minutes uncovered.
Remove the dish from heat, transfer to a serving dish and serve with steam rice.


Recipe 2: CHICKEN AND AMPALAYA WITH OYSTER SAUCE

Ingredients:

1 kilo chicken tights, deboned, sliced into strips
1-2 large size, ampalaya, split in halves de-seeded, sliced crosswise
1 medium size onion, chopped
1/2 head garlic, chopped
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup oyster sauce
1/4 cup cornstarch
salt and pepper
cooking oil

Instructions:

Marinate chicken strips in soy sauce, cornstarch and a dash of salt and pepper for 10 to 15 minutes.
In a wok, heat cooking oil and stir fry the chicken in batches until color changes to brown and start to sizzle, set aside. 
Using the same wok sauté garlic and onion until fragrant. Add in the ampalaya and stir cook for 1 to 2 minutes then add in 1/4 to 1/3 cup of water. 
Continue to cook another 2 to 3 minutes or until the ampalaya is just cooked. 
Add in the chicken and oyster sauce and stir cook for another 1 to 3 minutes. 
Thicken sauce with cornstarch diluted in 1/4 cup of water, cook for anther half a minute until sauce thickens. 
Correct saltines if required. 

Serve hot with a lot of rice.