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cooked chicken tapa on a white serving platter with sliced tomatoes.
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3.75 from 24 votes

Chicken Tapa

Chicken Tapa is a Filipino all-day breakfast meal served with garlic fried rice and sunny-side-up eggs. It's super easy to make and loaded with tangy and savory flavors the whole family will love.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Marinating8 hours
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: Filipino
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories: 306kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thigh or leg meat
  • ½ cup soy sauce
  • ¼ cup lemon juice
  • 1 head garlic, peeled and minced
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper

Instructions

  • In a non-reactive bowl, combine soy sauce, lemon juice, garlic, sugar, salt, and pepper. Stir until sugar and salt are dissolved.
  • Add chicken and massage to fully coat with marinade. Keep overnight in the refrigerator to cure. Drain meat from marinade.
  • In a wide pan over medium heat, heat about 2 tablespoons oil. Add chicken in a single layer and cook, turning on sides as needed, until meat is lightly browned and cooked through.
  • Remove from pan and cut into serving portions. Serve hot.

Notes

  • Due to the acids in the marinade, it's best to use non-reactive material for marinating, such as a plastic, stainless steel, or glass bowl.
  • Do not marinate too long, as the acids in the lemon juice will denature the meat, making it mushy. An average of 4 to 6 hours (or overnight at best) is enough to impart desired flavors.
  • If you want to freeze the tapa for future use, drain the chicken from the liquid and store it in resealable bags or airtight containers.

Nutrition

Calories: 306kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 215mg | Sodium: 1478mg | Potassium: 626mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 54IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 2mg