Chicken Adobo
Adobo is often considered the Philippines's national dish, and is more a style of cooking than specific food. The main ingredient and seasonings vary according to region (it's an archipelago of over 7,000 islands, after all) and even according to family, but this is how Tita Rosie makes it.
Ingredients
- 4 pounds skin-on, bone-in chicken legs, thighs, or drumsticks (avoid chicken breasts, which are too dry for this style of cooking)
- ¾ cup soy sauce (Datu Puti brand preferred)
- 1 cup vinegar*
- 1 cup water
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 10 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 tsp black peppercorns
- 2 bay leaves
Instructions
- Put all ingredients in a large pot or sealable plastic bag, making sure the chicken is mostly submerged.
- Marinate in the fridge for four hours to overnight, turning the chicken or bag around several times so the marinade is distributed evenly. You can skip this step or cut the time down to only thirty minutes, but it won't be as tasty.
- If you used a bag, empty the contents into a large pot and turn the heat to high. If it's already in a pot, you can skip straight to heating everything to boiling.
- Once the liquid boils, turn the heat down to medium-low and cook for 15-20 minutes until the chicken is cooked through, but not falling off the bone.
- Remove the chicken to a plate using tongs, but keep the marinade simmering in the pot.
- Heat a separate pan on high and add a splash of oil. Brown the chicken on all sides, in batches, until the skin is crisp. Alternatively, crisp the skin under the broiler. Set aside.
- Turn the heat back up to high under the marinade pot and boil the sauce for 20 minutes or more, until it's reduced by at least half. Some people like it a little drier, others saucier, so boil it until you have the desired amount.
- Return the chicken to the pot and stir to coat with sauce, then serve with white rice.
- *Filipino cane vinegar is preferred (Datu Puti is the most common brand), but apple cider vinegar is an OK substitute. White distilled vinegar is a bit harsh, so you might need an extra bit of sugar or water to balance it.