Chicken Adobo (Vinegar-Braised Chicken)
A beloved Filipino dish known for its tangy-savory flavor, featuring chicken braised in vinegar, soy sauce, and aromatics.
Time: 1¼ hours
Makes: 8 servings as part of a multicourse family-style meal
Ingredients
- 1½ cups cane vinegar or distilled white vinegar
- 1 cup water
- 6 cloves garlic, smashed
- 2 bay leaves
- 1½ teaspoons black peppercorns, crushed
- 8 whole chicken leg quarters (4 to 5 pounds), cut into drumsticks and thighs
- ¾ cup soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Chopped green onions for garnish
Instructions
1 Prepare Braising Mixture:
- In a large nonreactive pot or Dutch oven, combine vinegar, water, smashed garlic cloves, bay leaves, and crushed black peppercorns.
- Add chicken pieces. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
2 Add Soy Sauce:
- Stir in soy sauce to coat chicken evenly. Cover and simmer for another 20 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.
3 Pan-Fry Chicken:
- Remove chicken from pot using tongs, shaking off excess liquid. Pat dry with paper towels. Discard bay leaves. Skim fat from sauce and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat vegetable oil over high heat until very hot but not smoking. Working in batches, add chicken pieces and pan-fry until crisp and browned on both sides, about 2 to 3 minutes per side.
4 Finish Dish:
- Add reserved sauce to skillet with chicken, scraping up brown bits from bottom of pan. Simmer over low heat until sauce reduces slightly, about 10 minutes.
- Transfer chicken to a rimmed platter. Pour sauce over chicken and garnish with chopped green onions.
Variations
- Coconut Milk: Add coconut milk to the adobo either at the beginning or end of cooking.
- Herbs and Spices: Substitute bay leaves with oregano or add fresh chilies for extra heat.
- Sweet and Tangy: Add pineapple cubes, halved cherry tomatoes, and butter after sauce reduction for a sweet-tangy twist.
Notes
- Vinegar Choice: Cane vinegar is traditional but can be substituted with distilled white vinegar.
- Garlic Tip: Rinse garlic cloves in hot water to easily remove skins.
Serve hot with freshly steamed rice for a satisfying meal.
This Chicken Adobo recipe offers a perfect blend of vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic flavors, a staple dish in Filipino cuisine enjoyed by many around the world.