Description
Filipino Chicken Adobo is a classic dish from the Philippines, celebrated for its tangy, savory, and slightly sweet flavor. This dish is made by marinating and simmering chicken in a mixture of soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, bay leaves, and black peppercorns, creating a harmonious blend that is both comforting and rich.
Ingredients
Chicken and Marinade:
750g / 1.5 lb chicken thigh fillets, boneless and skinless (5 – 6 pieces)
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup (85ml) soy sauce, ordinary all-purpose or light (not dark soy sauce)
1/3 cup + 2 tbsp white vinegar
4 bay leaves (fresh) or 3 dried
For Cooking:
2 tbsp oil, separated (vegetable, canola, or peanut)
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 small brown onion, diced
1 1/2 cups (375 ml) water
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp whole black pepper (sub 2 tsp coarse cracked pepper)
Serving:
2 green onions/scallions, sliced (garnish)
Instructions
Marinate Chicken:
Combine chicken and marinade ingredients in a bowl.
Marinate for at least 20 minutes, or up to overnight.
Sear Chicken:
Heat 1 tbsp oil in a skillet over high heat.
Remove chicken from marinade (reserve marinade) and place in the pan.
Sear both sides until browned – about 1 minute on each side. Do not cook the chicken all the way through.
Remove chicken skillet and set aside.
Prepare Sauce:
Heat the remaining oil in the skillet.
Add garlic and onion, cook 1 1/2 minutes.
Add the reserved marinade, water, sugar, and black pepper.
Bring it to a simmer then turn the heat down to medium-high. Simmer for 5 minutes.
Simmer Chicken:
Add chicken smooth side down.
Simmer uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes (no need to stir), turning chicken at around 15 minutes, until the sauce reduces down to a thick jam-like syrup.
Thicken Sauce:
If the sauce isn’t thick enough, remove chicken onto a plate and let the sauce simmer by itself – it will thicken much quicker.
Return chicken to the skillet to coat in the glaze.
Serve:
Coat chicken in glaze then serve over rice.
Pictured in post as a healthy dinner plate (415 calories) with cauliflower rice and Ginger Smashed Cucumbers.
Enjoy 
Notes
- Do not stir the vinegar until it has come to a boil to allow the flavors to meld properly.
- Adjust the soy sauce and vinegar ratios according to your taste preferences for a more or less tangy flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Filipino
Nutrition
- Calories: 300 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 1100 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 25 g