Chicken Pastil: The Underrated Filipino Street Food You Need to Try!

Hello, my dear readers! I hope you're having a great day. Today, I prepared delightful Filipino dish that I personally find incredibly delicious. So, in this blog, let's take a closer look at one of the most famous street foods in my country. You can find many vendors selling this delicious dish outside schools and in night markets.

Who doesn’t love food? We all enjoy eating a variety of dishes, and our preferences vary from person to person. Many countries take pride in their unique delicacies, which reflect their cultures and traditions.

Today, I am excited to introduce you to a well-loved Filipino dish called Chicken Pastil. This dish can last for up to a week, depending on how it is cooked and stored.

If you're interested in learning how to make this simple yet flavorful dish, keep reading!

Ingredients:
• 1 kg chicken breast
• Garlic
• Onion
• Ground pepper
• Salt
• Oil
• Water
• 2 tablespoons vinegar (for preservation)
• Soy sauce (to taste)
• 2 tablespoons butter (for added flavor)
• Annatto powder (optional, for color)
• Chili (optional, for spice)

Cooking Instructions:

In a deep pan, add water, chicken breast, pepper, salt, and onion. Ensure that the chicken is fully submerged in water. Boil for about 25 minutes.

Once cooked, remove the chicken from the pot and let it cool before shredding. This prevents burns on your hands.

When the chicken has cooled down, shred it into small pieces. If you have a food shredder, it will make the process much easier and faster.

In a clean pan, heat a generous amount of oil. Saute the garlic and onion. Add the shredded chicken breast and mix well.

Pour in 2 tablespoons of vinegar, which acts as a natural preservative to extend the dish’s shelf life.

Add soy sauce according to your taste. Do a taste test and adjust as needed.

Add 2 teaspoons of ground pepper.
Add 1-2 tablespoons of butter to enhance the taste and richness of the dish.

Stir everything well until the chicken absorbs the flavors

If desired, mix in annatto powder for color and chili for extra spice.

How to Serve Chicken Pastil
Now that our Chicken Pastil is ready, let’s talk about how it is traditionally packed and served.
This dish is typically wrapped in banana leaves, which not only make it portable but also add a distinct aroma to the rice, making it even more appetizing. I will show you how to wrap it in banana leaves, just like how it is sold in our local markets. Though I haven't perfected the wrapping technique yet, but this is how it generally looks.

In this part, I added stir-fried chilis since I forgot to include them while cooking.

Trust me, you’ll end up eating a lot of rice with this dish because it’s just that delicious! So, what are you waiting for? Try making your own Chicken Pastil today and enjoy a taste of Filipino street food at home!