Easy Chicken Adobo Recipe (Ah-doe-boh) is an ulam (“ooh-lum”) or home cooked entrée found in every Filipino Kitchen. Since the country consists of multiple regions of islands, Adobo appears to also have numerous varieties depending on which region it is cooked in.
“We’ve just got to stop hating on each other’s Adobo.” These words spoken by Paolo Espanola of The Errant Diner speak volumes about today’s Filipino Food World. I’ve seen more critics than supporters when a chef or home cook tries their hand at a Filipino recipe or when restaurants try to serve a new style of Filipino Food specially when it is Adobo.
As king and queens of our household, I say no. There is no one true Adobo to rule them all.
Cook it the way you like it as long as the main ingredients are present – meat, soy sauce, garlic, vinegar, bay leaves, salt and pepper. That’s it.
There’s even Adobo without the soy sauce called white adobo. Also, a version of yellow adobo with turmeric. Yum. I think I’ll try and cook all the versions of Adobo I can find.
Let this Easy Chicken Adobo Recipe be your guide. Then, when you’ve cooked the recipe once, make notes on what you would modify to better suit you and your family’s preference.
What kind of soy sauce and vinegar to use for Easy Chicken Adobo Recipe:
I’ve used several brands and kinds of soy sauce and vinegar when cooking adobo. In our kitchen, we use a Japanese brand of soy sauce and our vinegar is usually Apple Cider Vinegar.
If you want an authentic Filipino Adobo, simply use Filipino brands. Soy sauce from the Philippines is darker and lends a deeper caramel color to the meat and sauce. A Filipino brand white vinegar is usually more acidic with a sharp-tart flavor.
Some ingredients and flavors that go well with Adobo:
- Coconut Milk
- Onions
- Oregano
- Sugar
- Pineapple
Other techniques when cooking Adobo:
- Marinate meat in soy sauce and vinegar for at least 30 minutes
- Brown by searing the marinated meat prior to adding soy sauce-vinger marinade and other ingredients
- Add 1 cup coconut milk during the last 15 minutes of cooking adobo
Easy Chicken Adobo Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 teaspoon oil
- 6-8 skinless chicken thighs
- 3 medium bay leaves
- 8 large smashed garlic cloves
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Add oil to a large sauté pan or skillet
- Line pan with chicken
- Add all ingredients
- Bring to a boil then lower to a gentle simmer
- Cover and cook for 15 minutes
- Turn or move chicken pieces carefully around pan with tongs
- Cover and simmer for 20 minutes
- Turn or move chicken pieces carefully around pan with tongs
- Continue cooking, slightly uncovered for 15-20 minutes or until chicken is cooked
- To reduce sauce, uncover and increase heat to medium low
- Bring to gentle boil/fast simmer for 10 minutes to reduce sauce to desired amount/consistency
- Serve over rice or with a side of steamed vegetables
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