Have you picked up yourself an Instant Pot yet? Once you get the hang of it without getting the dreaded BURN indicator, converting regular recipes into Instant Pot recipes isn’t too hard to do. Invariably, I have mastered the chicken aka poultry button. When my family gets tired of chicken adobo, I like to make chicken afritada. I’ve tried my best to use measurements in my recipes but know that I don’t use them…like a Filipino nanay (mom).
Instant Pot Chicken Afritada
Chicken afritada is a Filipino dish made with chicken in a tomato base which include carrots, bell peppers, peas and potatoes.
Ingredients
- 10-12 pieces chicken drumsticks and thighs
- 3 tbsp garlic, minced
- 1 onion, sliced
- 1 can tomato paste
- 2 cups chicken broth (or water)
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup fish sauce (Pufina patis) if no fish sauce, use 1-2 tbsp salt
- 2-4 dried bay leaves
- 3 cups carrots I use baby carrots
- 1-2 potatoes, diced similar size as carrots
- 1/2 bell pepper, sliced
- 3/4 cup frozen peas
- 1-2 tbsp cornstarch (mixed with cold water) optional to thicken sauce
Instructions
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Turn on Instant Pot to SAUTE and brown the chicken in oil for a few minutes (it doesn't have to be fully cooked). Add onion and garlic.
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Remove the chicken from the pot.
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Add 2 cups chicken broth (or water) and deglaze the pot. Deglazing the pot is when you add liquid to the pot and the "good bits" lift off the bottom when you stir.
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Add soy sauce, fish sauce, bay leaves, and tomato paste to the pot. Mix well. Return the browned chicken to the pot.
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Close the Instant Pot lid and turn the knob on the lid to seal.
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Cook on POULTRY function, 10 minutes.
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Quick release (QR) knob to vent steam until pin drops. This takes 3-4 minutes.
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Open the lid, add the carrots, potatoes, bell pepper, and peas to the pot. Set to MANUAL function, 1 minute.
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Quick release (QR) knob to vent steam until pin drops.
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Season with more fish sauce or salt. Serve immediately over fresh white rice.
Recipe Notes
- I hate adding the vegetables once the dish is basically done but I don't like it overcooked if I were to throw it in with the chicken initially. I have tried it both ways and trust me, the extra few minutes for the vegetables to cook is worth it.
- In lieu of cornstarch, you can always add a few more potato pieces and smash in the liquid at the end to thicken up the sauce.
- Traditional chicken afritada includes hot dogs. Feel free to add (when you throw in the vegetables).
*This post contains affiliate links so I can continue to feed my army.*
What if it is boneless thighs? Is cook time the same?
10 mins cooking, then 10 mins natural pressure realease.
Hi,
did you use 10 oz can tomato paste or 6 oz?
thanks for the recipe. i just got my instant pot and this is the first recipe i’ll try đŸ™‚
Hi! 6oz can.
I want to give this a try. Frozen drumsticks? Is the cook time the same?
Hi Rey! Yes, it’ll just take longer to come to pressure.
Are the measurements for soy sauce and fish sauce correct? It seems like a lot?
For the size of the pot, yes. I honestly don’t measure but please use less and you can always add more.