What the heck is “Adobo Chicken”? Honestly, I didn’t know either until my brother found it on the internet. This dish is one of the most popular one in the Philippines. Being so poplular, you can imagine that there are probably a million ways to make it.
For what it’s worth, making this is in a style called “Inadabo”. This means cooking meat or seafood in vinegar and soy sauce. In the past, before refrigeration, this method was popular because using vinegar helped to prolong the shelf life of food. So as you may have guessed, you are going to bake this in the oven, in a mixture of herbs, spices and vinegar and soy sauce. I’ve made it several times, and like I always say, practice, makes perfect.
Cooking, following recipes, I’ve found, is not a science, no matter how good the directions are. It’s an art. Open to interpretation on all levels, ingredients, amounts, cooking times, appliances used and so forth. As you make this, taste the marinade. The key to the whole thing, is the marinade. Remember, always start with the basic amounts. You can always add more, but you can’t subtract anything you’ve already added. Adjust to YOUR taste. We are all different. Make it to be, what YOU like. And with this long winded advice, let’s move on.
Ingredients:
4 Chicken Thighs, Bone in; 4 Chicken Drumsticks
5 Bay Leaves
1/2 cup Soy Sauce
1/2 cup Cane Vinegar (Apple Cider will do, White Vinegar too)
6 garlic cloves
1/3 cup of brown sugar
oil (to brown the chicken)
1/4 cup peppercorns
Splash of water
Directions:
Ok, here’s the overview. What you want to do is make the marinade and marinate the chicken in it for like 1-12 hours. The longer, the better. Second, you want to brown the chicken so that it has a nice crisp crust on it. That may take a little practice and I’ll go into it below. Third, when you are ready to cook the chicken, you pour the marinade into a covPraered pot, bring it to a boil, then lower it to a simmer, then add the chicken, then cover the pot, put the pot in an preheated oven at 350F for an hour. Take it out and serve the chicken over white rice. Pour the liquid over the chicken.
Regarding the marinade. Once you add it to the pan, cook it over medium heat and cook it down into a thicker consistency. It really adds flavor. Strain the sauce to take out the herbs and spices in it. It makes it easier to eat.
Always check the chicken to make sure it’s done.
The marinade is Soy Sauce, Bay leaves, garlic, sugar, peppercorns, water & vinegar.
Browning the chicken is fast but you have to be careful. It’s pan frying the chicken on high heat in a little bit of oil for about 2-3 minutes on a side. Again, practice makes perfect and be careful.
Want a little help with some items used in this recipe? Here’s a few below. They are linked to Amazon and I’m an affiliate so if you purchase anything I may be compensated.
How about a nice frying pan to brown the chicken? Look at this one.
10.5 inches Frying Pan Nonstick 2.5 Qt Deep Sauté Pan and Lid, Non Stick Stainless Steel Pan Dishwasher and Oven-Safe, Compatible with All Cooktops.
Cane Vinegar. You know, I just wanted to make this as authentically as possible. I couldn’t find this in my local food stores, so I ordered it from Amazon.
Datu Puti Cane Vinegar (Sukang Maasim)- 33.81 fl. oz.
Need a nice pot with a lid to put it in the oven. Here’s a beauty.
Cast Iron Dutch Oven with Lid – Non-Stick Ovenproof Enamelled Casserole Pot, Oven Safe up to 500° F – Sturdy Dutch Oven Cookware – Dark Blue, 6.4-Quart, 28cm – by Nuovva.
And if you’re looking for more ideas for meals, check out my “Over 100 Recipes” . This is not an ordinary run of the mill cookbook. You know, the ones where you have to turn over page after page. They are clumsy and hard to use and frankly….outdated! Use this one instead! All you have to do is click on the title of the recipe and voila! You go right to it! Want to go back to the Table of Contents and find another recipe? Just click on the “contents” box on each page and you are immediately taken back! How easy can it get? It’s a digital download and it works great on your computer, tablet and even your phone! Never be without an idea for a meal and what you need for it, again!
