Instant Pot Chicken Papaya Recipe (2024)

Instant Pot chicken papaya is a classic Filipino soup popular in Hawai’i. Tender chunks of chicken and papaya in an umami packed broth with marungay leaves. The perfect comfort food recipe to share with your family and friends.

When the Filipinos immigrated to Hawai’i to work on the sugar and pineapple plantations they brought along with them many yummy dishes. Chicken papaya or tinola manok is one of them.

This is a classic dish is often made over the stove top, however I have converted it to an Instant Pot recipe cutting the cooking time down without sacrificing on the flavor.

If you are looking for an Instant Pot this is the one that I have.

Some of my other popular Instant Pot recipes:

• Corned beef and cabbage
• Kulolo
• Hurricane popcorn
• Shoyu pork
• Luau stew

Ingredients for Instant Pot chicken papaya

• cooking oil of choice
• 1 teaspoon garlic, diced
• 1 inch ginger, diced
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 pounds chicken thighs, cubed
• salt and pepper to taste
• 3 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 2 cups water
• 2 tablespoon patis
• 2 tablespoon shoyu
• 1 green papaya, cubed
• 1 bunch marungay leaves, stems removed

You can replace the green papaya with the squash of your choice. A popular alternative is chayote squash.

You can also use any cut of chicken for this recipe. I enjoy thighs, however breasts, drumsticks, etc will also work.

What is shoyu?

Shoyu is a Japanese style soy sauce. It can be found in the Asian aisle at most grocery stores. If you are looking for a gluten free option you can use Tamari.

What is patis?

Patis is fish sauce that is popular in many Filipino dishes. This also can be found in the Asian aisle at most grocery stores.

How to clean a green papaya?

In this recipe the green papaya is treated like a squash. Cut the papaya in half, scoop out the seeds, peel off the outer skin, and cube up.

What are marungay leaves?

Marungay leaves come from the marungay tree also known as the drumstick tree or horseradish tree. The roots of this tree taste like horseradish, however it is not an actual horseradish tree.

How to clean marungay leaves?

Be sure to wash the leaves well. You will want to remove the leaves from the stems and discard the stems. I find the easiest way to do this is to hold the stem of the leaves and run your fingers in a pinched position down the stem to remove the leaves.

Where can I find marungay leaves?

In Hawai’i, marungay leaves can be found in the produce section of most grocery stores or at the farmers market. If you reside on the mainland you may be able to find these at your Asian or Filipino stores.

How to store chicken papaya?

Once the soup has cooled you can place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months. When ready to eat you can reheat over the stove top, in the Instant Pot, or in the microwave.

How to make Instant Pot chicken papaya?

Set Instant Pot to saute mode. Add oil, garlic, ginger, and onion. Cook until fragrant and the onions begin turning translucent.

Then add chicken, salt, and pepper. Cook until lightly browned on each side.

Next add chicken broth, water, patis, and shoyu.

Place the lid on the Instant Pot and set to sealing. Press the cancel button to stop saute mode. Then cook on high pressure for 10 minutes.

Once completed open the vent by turning to venting and allow the Instant Pot to depressurize. Once the metal pin has dropped you can open the lid.

Then add the green papaya cubes, replace the lid, and set to sealing. Cook on manual high pressure for 1 minute. Once cooking has completed, release the pressure as you did in the stop above.

Remove lid and add marungay leaves. You can place the lid back on the Instant Pot for a few minutes without turning it back on and the residual heat will wilt the leaves.

ENJOY!

This recipe can be made on the stove top as well. Heat oil in a large pot over medium high heat. Add garlic, ginger, and onions and cook until fragrant and translucent. Add chicken and brown on both sides. Then add chicken broth, water, patis, and shoyu and boil chicken until tender, about 1 hour. In the last 10 minutes add the papaya cubes. Once cooking has completed toss in marungay leaves and heat through until wilted.

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