Chicken Adobo
This Chicken Adobo is a simple, yet incredibly tasty stove-top quick and easy recipe. This is the most popular dishes in Filipino repertoire.
Chicken Adobo is a classic filipino favourite and one of the most popular dishes in the Filipino repertoire. The classic sauce is a simple mixture of soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, bay leaves, peppercorns and caramelized onions.
The vinegar gives the dish a bit of a tangy. Bay leaves gives the aromatic smell. Peppercorn gives that minty flavour and brown sugar for some sweetness. This Chicken Adobo is simple, yet tasty stove-top quick and easy recipe.
Origin
Chicken Adobo is sometimes called the unofficial national dish in the Philippines. It has been around for hundreds of year. The use of vinegar in the cooking process was initially a way of keeping dishes from becoming perishable.
When the Spaniards initially arrived on the islands they observed the Filipino cooking process with vinegar and compared it to their own due to the similarity with their own Adobo dish. However, the cooking process and ingredients are very different. Where the Spanish Adobo may be spicier, the Filipino version is more sweet, salty and tangy. The Filipino style of cooking shown by this recipe is native to the Philippines.
What you need for this recipe
Importantly though, the secret ingredients for this recipe are the right balance of soy sauce, vinegar and brown sugar to create that sticky glaze.
- Chicken - I suggest to use chicken thighs with skin and bone for extra flavour.
- Brown Sugar - this is where the sweetness comes from.
- Soy Sauce - I used sliver swan (filipino brand) but you can use any soy sauce from you pantry.
- Vinegar - this gives the tangy flavour. I used the cane vinegar ( datu-puti filipino brand) but regular white vinegar will work.
- Bay Leaves - dried bay leaves will give that aromatic smell.
- Peppercorns - will give the mint taste.
- Onion and Garlic
- Scallions - garnish (optional)
What can you serve with this recipe
This dish is so versatile, you can serve it with plain rice, brown rice, cauliflower rice or even mashed potatoes. You can also add vegetables on side for a healthy balance.
Recipe
Chicken Adobo
Ingredients
MARINADE THE CHICKEN
- 1.72 lb chicken thighs 6 pieces
- 2 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon vinegar
- 3 gloves garlic minced
- peppercorn
- bay leaves
FOR COOKING
- 1 tablespoon butter or vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon vinegar
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 medium onion thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 3 pieces bay leaves
- peppercorn
- ½ cup water
Instructions
MARINADE PREPARATION
- In a large bowl, combine the soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, bay leaves, and peppercorns. Add chicken thighs and mix well. Marinate for 20 minutes or overnight.
SEAR THE CHICKEN
- In a large pan, add butter. Remove the marinated chicken, place in the pan and cook for 6 minutes per side on medium heat until brown. Set aside the cooked chicken.
BRAISED THE CHICKEN
- On the same pan, add onion and cook until the onions has softened for about 3-5 minutes. Add minced garlic for extra garlicky sauce. Add cooked chicken thighs right over the caramelized onion and garlic. Add ½ cup of water. Bring it to boil then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pan and simmer for 25 minutes or until the sauce has started to reduce and thicken.
Best chicken Adobo