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Chicken Mechedo Recipe-30kb (1)
Maisie Rowan

Easy Chicken Mechado Recipe

Chicken mechado is a hearty Filipino chicken stew made with tender chicken, potatoes, tomato sauce, soy sauce, citrus, garlic, and onions. The combination creates a savory, slightly tangy, and mildly sweet sauce that pairs beautifully with steamed white rice.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 5 People
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Calories: 420
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lb chicken cut into serving pieces
  • 2 medium potatoes peeled and cut into chunks
  • 8 oz tomato sauce
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 bell pepper sliced
  • 2 –3 bay leaves
  • 1 cup water or chicken broth
  • Juice of 1 lemon or calamansi to taste
  • 3 tbsp cooking oil
  • ½ tsp sugar
  • Ground black pepper to taste
  • Salt as needed

Method
 

  1. Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat.
  2. Fry the potatoes until lightly golden, then remove and set aside.
  3. Sauté the onion until softened.
  4. Add garlic and cook until fragrant.
  5. Add the chicken and brown the pieces lightly.
  6. Pour in the soy sauce and stir to coat the chicken.
  7. Add tomato sauce and water or broth.
  8. Add bay leaves and black pepper.
  9. Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat.
  10. Cover and simmer until the chicken is tender.
  11. Add bell pepper and lemon or calamansi juice.
  12. Return the potatoes to the pan.
  13. Add a small amount of sugar to balance the acidity.
  14. Continue cooking until the potatoes are tender and the sauce reaches your preferred consistency.
  15. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, citrus, or sweetness as needed.
  16. Remove the bay leaves and serve hot with steamed rice.

Notes

For a truly satisfying pot of chicken mechado, don't rush the process. Brown the potatoes, sauté the aromatics, give the chicken some color, and let the tomato sauce simmer gently.
The key is balance. Soy sauce brings salt and umami, tomato provides body and acidity, citrus adds brightness, and a little sugar smooths everything out. Once those flavors come together, the result is a comforting Filipino stew with plenty of sauce for spooning over rice