Tiyula Itum: Tausug Black Chicken Soup

Name: Tiyula Itum: Tausug Black Chicken Soup
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 75 min
Yield: 6 portions
Cuisine: Filipino · Tausug
Ingredients: 1¼ kg · 2½ lb chicken, cut in pieces; 200 g · 2 cups grated coconut, charred until black; 40 g · 3 tbsp ginger, sliced; 20 g · 1 thumb turmeric, fresh, sliced; 60 g · 2 stalks lemongrass, bruised; 24 g · 6 cloves garlic; 80 g · 4 shallots shallots; 6 g · 3 chilies bird's eye chilies; 2 l · 8½ cups water; 10 g · 2 tsp salt

🍽 Serves 6⏱ Prep 30 min🔥 Cook 75 min🌍 Filipino · Tausug

A dark, aromatic Tausug soup of beef or chicken coloured black with charred coconut and spiced with turmeric, ginger and lemongrass.

📍 Sulu · Philippines

The story of the dish

Tiyula itum is the signature dish of the Tausug people of Sulu in the southern Philippines, often served at weddings and celebrations; the burnt coconut (pamapa itum) gives its colour.

The name: Tiyula itum means 'black soup' in Tausug.

Ingredients

Ingredient	EUg · ml	UScups · spoons
chicken cut in pieces	≈ 1¼ kg	≈ 2½ lb
grated coconut charred until black	≈ 200 g	≈ 2 cups
ginger sliced	≈ 40 g	≈ 3 tbsp
turmeric fresh, sliced	≈ 20 g	≈ 1 thumb
lemongrass bruised	≈ 60 g	≈ 2 stalks
garlic	≈ 24 g	≈ 6 cloves
shallots	≈ 80 g	≈ 4 shallots
bird's eye chilies	≈ 6 g	≈ 3 chilies
water	≈ 2 l	≈ 8½ cups
salt	≈ 10 g	≈ 2 tsp

≈ amount suggested from similar recipes

Tools & equipment

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Also used: mortar and pestle or blender · frying pan

Method

Toast the grated coconut in a dry pan until completely black, then pound or blend it to a paste.
Pound the ginger, turmeric, garlic and shallots.
Sauté the spice paste briefly, add the chicken and brown it.
Add the water, lemongrass, chilies and the charred coconut paste.
Simmer about 1 hour until the chicken is tender and the broth is dark.
Season with salt and serve hot with rice.

👨‍🍳 Chef’s tips

Char the coconut evenly and fully black, but not to ash: that is the soup's flavour and colour.

📱 Scan to watch me cook ityoutu.be/zGuu4cqhE0QEvery step on video, and new recipes every week: subscribe on YouTube.

Nutrition per portion estimate · 1 of 6

480kcal

36 gprotein

10 gcarbs

34 gfat

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▶ Watch me cook it: youtu.be/zGuu4cqhE0Q

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