Description
Beef Adobo delivers authentic Filipino comfort straight to your dinner table with tender meat simmered in a tangy, rich sauce. Generations of family memories blend perfectly in this simple yet spectacular dish that brings warmth and tradition to your meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 2 lbs beef (chuck or brisket, cut into cubes)
Liquid Base:
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ½ cup vinegar
- 1 cup water
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 6 cloves garlic, crushed
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp whole black peppercorns
- 1 onion, sliced
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar (optional)
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil
Instructions
- Mix 2 lbs beef cubes with ½ cup soy sauce, crushed garlic, and whole black peppercorns in a large bowl. Let your meat soak up the flavors for 30 minutes at room temperature.
- Heat 2 tbsp cooking oil in a deep pan over medium heat at 350°F. Sauté sliced onions until translucent and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
- Transfer marinated beef into the pan, reserving the liquid. Sear beef pieces for 5-6 minutes, turning to brown all sides evenly.
- Pour reserved marinade, ½ cup vinegar, and 1 cup water into the pan. Add 2 bay leaves to enhance the depth of flavor.
- Bring liquid to a rolling boil without stirring. Immediately reduce heat to low and cover the pan. Simmer for 75 minutes until beef becomes incredibly tender.
- Sprinkle 1 tbsp brown sugar into the sauce if desired. Uncover and continue simmering for additional 10 minutes to concentrate and thicken the sauce.
- Check meat’s tenderness by piercing with a fork. Remove bay leaves before serving over steamed rice. Garnish with fresh tomato slices for extra brightness.
Notes
- Beef cuts like chuck or brisket work best because they become incredibly tender during slow cooking, breaking down tough muscle fibers.
- Let the meat marinate overnight in the refrigerator to develop deeper, more complex flavor profiles and help tenderize the protein.
- If you prefer a lighter sauce, remove the beef once tender and reduce the liquid separately to create a more concentrated sauce consistency.
- Adjust the vinegar and soy sauce amounts to suit your personal taste preferences, remembering that traditional adobo has a bold, tangy character.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes
- Category: Beef
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Filipino
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 1200 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg