Description
Chicken Adobo transports your taste buds straight to the Philippines with its tangy, tender chicken swimming in a bold marinade of vinegar and soy sauce. Simmered slowly and served over steaming white rice, this classic dish delivers comfort and deep flavor that connects you to generations of Filipino home cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1.5 lb chicken thigh fillets
Supporting Aromatics:
- 6 garlic cloves
- 1 small brown onion
Sauce and Seasonings:
- ⅓ cup soy sauce
- ⅓ cup + 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 ½ cups water
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 4 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon whole black pepper
- 2 green onions
Instructions
- Pour ⅓ cup soy sauce, ⅓ cup white vinegar, 3 minced garlic cloves, and 4 bay leaves into a bowl. Submerge your chicken thigh fillets completely in this marinade for 30 minutes at room temperature.
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet at medium temperature (350°F). Carefully place marinated chicken pieces and sear for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown edges develop.
- Transfer browned chicken to a separate plate. In the same skillet, add remaining 1 tablespoon oil, 3 minced garlic cloves, and 1 diced brown onion. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until onions turn translucent.
- Return chicken to skillet and pour reserved marinade, 1 ½ cups water, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon whole black pepper. Stir ingredients to blend thoroughly.
- Increase heat to high and bring liquid to a rapid boil. Immediately reduce heat to low, cover skillet, and simmer for 30-35 minutes. Your chicken should become fork-tender and sauce will naturally thicken.
- During final 5 minutes, remove skillet lid to allow sauce to condense and intensify. Gently stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Transfer chicken to serving plate and sprinkle 2 sliced green onions across the top for fresh garnish.
Notes
- Always marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors deeply penetrate the meat and create a more complex taste profile.
- When searing the chicken, ensure the skillet is hot enough to create a golden-brown crust without burning, which helps lock in juices and develop rich flavor.
- For a lower-sodium version, use low-sodium soy sauce and reduce the added salt, which keeps the dish healthier without sacrificing taste.
- If cooking for someone with dietary restrictions, substitute chicken with firm tofu or tempeh for a vegetarian alternative that absorbs the same delicious marinade.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Filipino
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5 to 6
- Calories: 216 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1200 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg