Citric Acid Free Ginger Coconut Tinola
This Filipino-inspired broth-based soup is warming, deeply savory, and built on layers of aromatic ginger, garlic, and golden turmeric — the kind of bowl that feels restorative from the very first spoonful. Traditional tinola recipes can sometimes call for ingredients that sneak in hidden acids, but every component here is naturally free of citric acid, from the coconut aminos standing in for soy sauce to the bone broth base that brings rich, clean depth. Green papaya softens into tender, almost silky chunks as it simmers, while moringa leaves wilt in at the very end to keep their bright color and gentle earthiness intact. The bone-in chicken thighs and drumsticks do the heavy lifting on flavor, releasing collagen into the broth as they cook until the meat is practically falling off the bone. Coconut oil and coconut aminos keep the whole thing cohesive and subtly sweet without any of the acidic additives that can make store-bought sauces a problem. It is a genuinely satisfying one-pot meal that comes together with straightforward technique and no specialty equipment beyond a good Dutch oven. Serve it with steamed rice to soak up every drop of that golden, ginger-forward broth.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
Soup
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 small onion, thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and cut into thin coins
- 2 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and drumsticks
- 1 tbsp coconut aminos
- 4 cups bone broth
- 2 cups water
- ½ small green papaya (about 12 oz), peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch chunks
- 2 cups fresh moringa leaves (or chayote shoots), stems removed
- 1 tsp salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
Instructions
- 1
Heat the coconut oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, about 4–5 minutes.
- 2
Add the garlic and ginger coins and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Watch closely so the garlic does not brown.
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