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.

4.88 from 8 votes

Print

By Bee Yinn Low

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? ›

Philippine adobo has a characteristically salty and sour, and often sweet taste, in contrast to Spanish and Mexican adobos, which are spicier or infused with oregano.

What makes adobo a real Filipino dish? ›

The key components of Filipino adobo are vinegar, protein, salt (or soy sauce, after Chinese traders arrived in the islands), garlic, and black peppercorns. One of the reasons adobo got its unofficial “national dish” title was because its ingredients are widely accessible across each region in the Philippines.

Why do you not stir vinegar in adobo? ›

After pouring in the vinegar, do not stir the vinegar into the soy sauce. This helps to burn off the acid in the vinegar in the bottom of the pot. Using the right vinegar is important. It's crucial to use the vinegars recommended for chicken adobo as some can really change the flavor.

Can I use white distilled vinegar for adobo? ›

Traditionally, cane or coconut vinegar is used. For my own recipe, I chose rice vinegar because it's a little less sharp on the palate. But truthfully, I've made so many last-minute adobos with white vinegar, apple cider, or a combination of whatever I have left in my pantry, and they've all turned out great.

Is adobo healthy? ›

Adobo is a delicious Filipino dish with nutritional value, primarily as a source of protein and essential vitamins and minerals. However, be aware of portion sizes, the type of meat used, and the sodium content to enjoy the dish as part of a balanced and healthy diet.

What kind of meat is adobo? ›

Adobo is a dish that is usually made with meat (chicken, pork, or beef) marinated in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and other spices. The meat is slowly cooked until it becomes tender and flavorful. Adobo is often served with rice and is a staple dish in many Filipino households.

What is the English of adobo? ›

Adobo or adobar (Spanish: marinade, sauce, or seasoning) is the immersion of food in a stock (or sauce) composed variously of paprika, oregano, salt, garlic, and vinegar to preserve and enhance its flavor.

Is adobo a Filipino Chinese or Spanish dish? ›

After all, adobo is a proud Filipino original that was created before colonial times, despite its very Spanish name. Adobo is a vessel of varying interpretations just like any other dish such as carbonara, jollof rice, or ramen.

What is adobo seasoning made of? ›

Adobo seasoning is an all-purpose dry spice blend often found in Caribbean and Latin American cuisine. It typically contains salt, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, cumin, and oregano.

What happens if you put too much vinegar in adobo? ›

Ways to balance adobo that is too acidic due to excessive vinegar? Use sugar to add sweetness. Use MSG to balance out acidity. Use bicarbonate soda.

What brand of vinegar is best for adobo? ›

For the most traditional version of this dish, use (Datu Puti brand) Cane Vinegar. Cane vinegar (“sukang maasim”) is made from fermented sugarcane juice. You can find it in most Vietnamese or Filipino supermarkets, or online.

What is a Filipino soy sauce substitute? ›

we use datu puti when recipes call for gluten free soy sauce in bulk. since tamari can be quite expensive, this is a good cheaper alternative for making recipes like adobo and kecap beef. however, it contains quite a few additives, so gf tamari is definitely healthier.

Is there different types of adobo? ›

In this article, we will delve into the different regional variations of Adobo, including Chicken Adobo, Pork Adobo, Adobong Manok sa Gata (Chicken Adobo with Coconut Milk), and Adobong Pusit (Squid Adobo). Chicken Adobo , perhaps the most well-known variation, is a staple in Filipino households.

Is all adobo seasoning the same? ›

The exact mix can vary—some adobo blends may contain turmeric, touches of fiery heat like cayenne, or citrus elements such as dried lemon zest.

What is adobo Filipino to english? ›

1.) adobo - [noun] a Filipino way of cooking meat or vegetables, which usually includes marinating in a mixture of vinegar, soy sauce, garlic and bay leaves. 2.) adobado - [noun] a Filipino way of cooking meat or vegetables, which usually includes marinating in a mixture of vinegar, soy sauce, garlic and bay leaves.

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