1900s-present - Filipino immigrants, Filipino American families, and island-community home cooks

Chicken Adobo

Name: Chicken Adobo
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 3 pounds bone-in chicken thighs or drumsticks; 1/2 cup soy sauce; 1/2 cup cane vinegar, rice vinegar, or white vinegar; 8 garlic cloves, smashed; 2 bay leaves; 1 teaspoon black peppercorns; 1 tablespoon neutral oil; 1/2 cup water; 1 teaspoon brown sugar, optional; Steamed white rice, for serving

A Filipino and Filipino American staple of chicken simmered until tender in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, bay leaves, and black pepper.

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Difficulty

Easy

Prep time

10 minutes

Cook time

50 minutes

Total time

1 hour plus optional marinating

Servings

4 servings

Region

Filipino American kitchens, Hawaii, California, Guam, and island America

Era introduced

1900s-present

Introduced by

Filipino immigrants, Filipino American families, and island-community home cooks

Recipe tools

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The Story

Chicken adobo is a Filipino cooking method and comfort food, not just a single fixed recipe. Vinegar, garlic, pepper, and later soy sauce create a braise that keeps well and tastes even better with rice the next day. In the American archive it belongs with Filipino American home cooking and island foodways, where adobo carries family identity as much as flavor.

Ingredients

3 pounds bone-in chicken thighs or drumsticks
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup cane vinegar, rice vinegar, or white vinegar
8 garlic cloves, smashed
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
1 tablespoon neutral oil
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon brown sugar, optional
Steamed white rice, for serving

Equipment

Large pot
Skillet
Mixing bowl
Measuring cups and spoons

Directions

Combine chicken, soy sauce, half the vinegar, garlic, bay leaves, and peppercorns; marinate 30 minutes if time allows.
Heat oil in a wide pot and brown chicken pieces.
Add marinade, remaining vinegar, and water.
Bring to a simmer without stirring for a few minutes to cook off the sharp vinegar edge.
Cover and simmer until chicken is tender, 30 to 40 minutes.
Uncover and reduce sauce until glossy.
Taste and add brown sugar if desired.
Serve with steamed rice.

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Setting the table...

Chicken Adobo

Save to a Collection

The Story

Ingredients

Equipment

Directions

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