It’s no wonder it’s one of the Philippines’ most famous dishes just like chicken inasal, chicken tinola, and pork bbq skewers!
Background
Not to be mistaken with Spanish style adobo that uses paprika and oregano, this Filipino version is something completely different. Filipino adobo is indigenous to the Philippines and each region has its own version, like pork adobo, fish adobo, shrimp adobo, and more. Adobo is basically a cooking process and dish that can include meats and vegetables that are marinated and cooked in a blend of vinegar, soy sauce, pepper, and garlic. Many regions add different ingredients too, like coconut milk or even turmeric. Chicken adobo is extremely similar to Vietnamese braised pork thịt kho, but with vinegar and a more peppery kick. When Spanish colonizers saw this cooking method, they noticed how Filipinos used vinegar to marinate meat, which was similar to the Spanish term for marinating or pickling, “adobar.” They named it “adobar de los naturales” or adobo of the natives. The inclusion of soy sauce was influenced by Chinese migrants later on. Filipino adobo often tastes sour, salty, and a little sweet compared to Spanish adobo, which can be spicier and offers a different flavor profile based on the herbs and spices used like paprika. Chicken adobo is probably one of the most popular and well known versions of adobo. For this recipe, I like to stay with the traditional, simple ingredients that give some of the most flavorful, tender pieces of chicken.
The vinegar
Vinegar is one of the most important ingredients for this recipe and I would really recommend going to your local Filipino or Asian grocery store to buy cane sugar vinegar, like Datu Puti Sukang Maasim. Cane sugar vinegar differs from white distilled vinegar because it’s slightly less acidic and more mellow, whereas white distilled vinegar has a sharp and super pungent flavor profile. While you can use white distilled vinegar in chicken adobo, the pungent flavor might come out too strong and you will need to adjust the amount used in a recipe. If you can’t find cane sugar vinegar nearby, you can also substitute with white wine vinegar instead because it has a similar acidity and flavor profile.
Chicken and marinade
I like to eat party wings and drumsticks for this recipe because I love eating bone-in chicken pieces (better flavor and fattier). These pieces also cook faster when braising in a stew. You can also use other pieces of chicken like thighs, my girlfriend’s mom chops up a whole chicken into smaller pieces–no waste there! Depending on the thickness of different pieces, you may need to adjust the cooking time–just check for tenderness and internal temperature while braising. Marinating the chicken is probably one of the most important parts of the adobo process because it helps to flavor and tenderize the meat. While I’ve seen recipes tout a 30 minute marinating process, I’ve marinated many chicken recipes (chicken karaage, Korean fried chicken, and cà ri gà) to know that the longer you marinate chicken, the better the flavor. For this recipe, I marinate the chicken for at least 3 hours to get a good amount of flavor, however, I would marinate overnight if I had enough time.
Cooking tips
Here are some tips for cooking chicken adobo:
Marinate the chicken for at least 3 hours. The longer you marinate the chicken, the better the flavor will be once it’s cooked. Keep the marinating liquid to use for braising, but also add enough water to your pot so that it’s slightly above chicken and it can braise properly. You want to watch the pot to stir occasionally, taste test, and add more water if necessary. Be careful when stirring so as to not break the chicken meat from falling off the bone. If you find that your adobo tastes too vinegary and still needs to cook, add one teaspoon of brown sugar to adjust and then taste again. Repeat if necessary. It’s difficult to fix an oversalted stew, so start off by underseasoning and know that your liquid will reduce. You can add water to dilute it, but know this fix will make the stew more liquidy than may be intended.Like many Filipino recipes, chicken adobo is best served with hot, steaming rice. The strong flavor of chicken adobo pairs so well with the light flavor of rice.
One of my favorite things about chicken adobo is that it gets better the day after! The flavors infuse the chicken overnight and it tastes even better.
What does chicken adobo taste like?
Chicken adobo is brimming with tangy, peppery, and slightly sweet flavors.
What does in adobo mean?
Adobo means “marinate” or “pickle” in Spanish.
What goes well with chicken adobo?
Chicken adobo is best paired with fresh steamed jasmine rice. Chicken adobo also gets better the day before because all the flavors continue to marinate and infuse the chicken meat.
