Adobo (Authentic Filipino Adobo Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (2024)

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Adobo- a Filipino stew or simmer of meat and vegetables cooked with vinegar. This delicious and easy recipe uses both chicken and pork.

Adobo (Authentic Filipino Adobo Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (1)

Adobo (Authentic Filipino Adobo Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (2)

Table of Contents

What is Adobo?

Filipino adobo is a delicious stew or a simmer of meat and vegetables cooked with vinegar.

The most common versions use chicken or pork or even both, with soy sauce to flavour. Additionally, bay leaf, black pepper, and garlic are used as the pillars of adobo.

That being said, we also have versions using squid (adobong pusit), long beans (adobong sitaw), and water spinach (adobong kang kong). I have seen people use everything from baby back ribs to catfish in adobo.

I don’t think there is, or will ever be, a truly definitive recipe for Filipino adobo.

Ingredients for Adobo

  • White cane vinegar
  • Toyo
  • Chicken (legs, drumsticks, thighs)
  • Pork belly
  • Black peppercorns
  • Laurel leaves

I like my adobo dark, which is why I use soy sauce. Additionally, I like to mix pork and chicken, despite arguments to the contrary.

I may make adobo using only pork, but I will hardly ever make it using only chicken. The pork makes the whole dish, especially the sauce, more robust so I consider having to fish out of the chicken mid-way a step well worth it.

Cooking Tips

  • Use pork belly that still has the bones attached and skin on – then make your butcher cut it into nice chunks (I like biggish pork chunks in my adobo).
  • The bones and skin will work wonders towards giving your sauce more body. Frying the chicken and pork after they’ve been cooked is a messy affair, but it really does make a difference. The caramelized bits of fatty pork and chicken skin will make cleaning an oil spattered kitchen seem like a small price to pay.
  • One of the oldest adobo adages is not to stir the sauce until the vinegar burns off most of its “acid”. Another bit of advice I’ve heard is to always leave the garlic skin on.

Optional Tips

  • Pop one star anise into the pot to give it a brilliant fragrance and a Chinese flavor.
  • If you would like, add a peeled hardboiled egg towards the end of cooking.
  • Add one peeled sweet potato to add a touch of sweetness.
  • Experiment with different types of vinegars! I also make a version that uses red wine vinegar – and instead of chicken and pork I use lamb shanks and I add in some peeled pear quarters.
  • Add a handful of peeled pearl/spring onions to the mix – they will get all melty as the adobo cooks and enrich the sauce.
  • Slow cook your adobo in the oven while you do chores around the house.
  • Use leftover adobo (flake the meat) for awesome fried rice!

What Dishes to Serve with this Recipe?

This dish is best served as the main entree. For a wholesome Filipino meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.

Lumpia (Filipino Spring Rolls)

Pancit (Filipino Fried Rice Noodles)

Braised Pork Belly (Filipino Humba)

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Adobo

Adobo- a Filipino stew or simmer of meat and vegetables cooked with vinegar. This delicious and easy recipe uses both chicken and pork.

Yield 4 people

Prep 5 minutes mins

Cook 10 minutes mins

Total 15 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup white cane vinegar
  • 1/4 cup toyo (our local soy sauce)
  • 3/4 - 1 cup water (you may not use all of it)
  • 3 chicken legs (drumstick and 3 chicken thighs (I like to use dark meat – this should come to about 600-650 g of chicken))
  • 350-400 g pork belly (the part with the bone, skin on, cut into generous chunks (about 2 inches))
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons whole black peppercorns
  • 8-10 cloves garlic (just slightly bashed, skin still on (do not peel!))
  • 2 bay (laurel leaves)
  • Freshly cracked black pepper (a few twists)

Instructions

  • Put all the ingredients except for the water in a Dutch oven or any heavy duty pot and leave for about 30 minutes to marinate.

  • Place the pot over medium heat, add 1/2 cup water, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer and simmer without stirring until most of the vinegar’s acid has been cooked off – you will know when this is done because it won’t smell as sharp and “sting-y”.

  • Keep simmering over low heat until the chicken is very tender - about 40 minutes to an hour. Taste the sauce. If it’s too salty or too sharp for your taste, add some of the remaining water. I usually end up using 3/4 cup total.

  • When chicken is tender, remove the pieces from the pot and set aside. At this point, the garlic will be very tender as well – you can mash some (not all!) of the cloves against the sides of the pot to incorporate it into the sauce.

  • Keep simmering on low heat a further 30 minutes to 1 hour, or until pork is meltingly tender.

  • When pork is very tender, remove from pot and set aside.

  • Keep simmering the sauce until reduced to your desired consistency. Taste the sauce and if you’d like a bit of sweetness, stir in a pinch of brown sugar – I like to do this, but you certainly don’t have to.

  • Heat a skillet with some oil over high heat. When the oil is hot, fry the chicken and pork pieces to brown.

  • When the sauce has reduced to your desired consistency, add the browned chicken and pork back to the pot. Toss gently and remove from heat.

  • You can eat it at this point, but it gains depth of flavour if you let it rest for a day.

Notes

Recipe by 80breakfasts.

Course: Filipino Recipes

Cuisine: Chicken

Keywords: Adobo

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Adobo

Amount Per Serving (4 people)

Calories 688Calories from Fat 558

% Daily Value*

Fat 62g95%

Saturated Fat 21g131%

Cholesterol 153mg51%

Sodium 927mg40%

Carbohydrates 4g1%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 26g52%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

Adobo (Authentic Filipino Adobo Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between adobo and Filipino adobo? ›

While the Philippine adobo can be considered adobo in the Spanish sense—a marinated dish—the Philippine usage is much more specific to a cooking process (rather than a specific recipe) and is not restricted to meat.

What are the original ingredients in adobo? ›

The colonization of Puerto Rico began in the early 1500s, bringing many of the same Spanish influences to the island. As is the case in Mexico, adobo in Puerto Rico most traditionally refers to a wet marinade consisting of garlic, some kind of acid (vinegar or citrus), oregano, salt, pepper, and olive oil.

What are the 2 versions of adobo? ›

Chicken adobo and pork adobo are two popular variations of adobo, a traditional Filipino dish that is made by braising meat in a mixture of vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and spices. The main difference between chicken and pork adobo is, of course, the type of meat used.

What makes adobo a real Filipino dish? ›

Most modern-day Filipino adobo is prepared with vinegar and soy sauce. Some families keep it simple with vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, bay leaves, and black pepper. Others add fresh ginger or coconut milk.

Is Filipino adobo the same as Mexican adobo? ›

Filipino Adobo is an indigenous dish that received a Spanish name because it reminded the Spaniards of how they marinated and preserved meat with spices. They are not the same, but they are similar because each culture needed to preserve and flavor food so it wouldn't rot.

Is Mexican adobo the same as Filipino? ›

The addition of soy sauce in the recipe came by way of Chinese traders. Similar to Filipino adobo, the Spanish version is a cooking process that involves preservation. However, except for the vinegar, the ingredients are vastly different. The Spanish adobar is red from paprika and spicy from chilies.

Why is Filipino adobo so good? ›

There's no doubt that adobo is a mainstay in Philippine cuisine — thanks to its complex flavours rooted from a simple vinegar-braised method, it's one of the most well-known gateway dishes that introduces foreigners to the curious and nuanced world of Filipino food.

Why do you not stir vinegar in adobo? ›

You can stir it while it's simmering or boiling. But, as for my father's words, do not stir it after you add the vinegar because "it may ruin the taste of the adobo." Bay leaves are quite optional to put when I cook my adobo. Salt is optional, too, because all the salty taste will be coming from the soy sauce.

What does adobo mean in Filipino? ›

Mexican adobo sauce is, well, a sauce on its own used to marinade and cook things with. Filipino adobo is more of a technique than any one specific dish, and when we say something is "adobo" in the Philippines, we mean anything braised in vinegar. That includes vegetables and things like squid!

What spice is closest to adobo? ›

A suitable substitute for adobo seasoning is a blend of common spices, such as garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Alternatively, you can try using Cajun seasoning or mild curry powder to achieve a similar flavor profile.

What kind of chili is in adobo? ›

Chipotles in adobo are smoked and dried jalapeños rehydrated and canned in a sweet and tangy purée of tomato, vinegar, garlic, and some other spices, for a ruddy sauce that packs wicked heat but with plenty of balance and body.

Who invented Filipino adobo? ›

The word adobo is derived from the Spanish word adobar, which means “marinade” or “pickling sauce.” The existence of the tangy dish was first recorded in 1613 by the Spaniard Pedro de San Buenaventura.

What makes adobo taste good? ›

Try to use natural vinegar instead of distilled white vinegar. Salty – Soy sauce, garlic, and chicken balance any bitterness and enhance sweet flavours. Sweet – Adding sugar or oyster sauce to your dish will boost sweetness to complement the soy sauce. Savoury – Bay leaves enhance overall dish flavour.

Is adobo Spanish or Filipino? ›

In Filipino cuisine, adobo refers to a common and indigenous cooking method. In the late 16th century, the Spanish referred to it as adobo due to its superficial similarity.

What's so special about Filipino adobo? ›

Adobo is indigenous to the Philippines. In a tropical climate, Filipinos had to find a safe and delicious way to preserve their meat. With no refrigeration, they soaked them in vinegar, salt, and spices so the meat would not spoil. Soy sauce, which has a high salt content, was later added to help preserve the food.

What flavor is Filipino adobo? ›

What Chicken Adobo tastes like. The glaze of Filipino Chicken Adobo is savoury and sweet with a hint of tang, with a distinct soy flavour. The garlic and onion creates a savoury base along with the bay leaves, and the peppercorns add little subtle pops of heat. Don't be afraid of the peppercorns in this!

What is the difference between Mexican adobo and Spanish adobo? ›

The Spanish adobo sauce is distinctly spiced and fiery, with at least three kinds of chili peppers, tomato paste, and cinnamon among its ingredients while the Mexican rendition uses lemon juice, cumin, and Mexican oregano.

References

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