Classic Chicken Adobo Food

CLASSIC CHICKEN ADOBO

Steps:

• Place the meat and the rest of the ingredients in a large pan like a Dutch oven. You can also marinate the meat overnight prior to cooking.
• Using medium heat, bring to a boil. Adjust the heat to the lowest setting and cook uncovered for 20 minutes. This helps mellow the taste of the vinegar.
• Cover and then continue to simmer on low until the chicken (and pork) pieces are tender about 30-40 minutes. When the meat is already tender, sprinkle the brown sugar on top. Gently stir to allow sugar to be absorbed by the meat. Cover and cook for another 2-3 minutes. This will not really sweeten the adobo but just help enhance the flavor and add a little caramel glaze to the meat. The adobo is already yummy at this time but its taste improves as it ages. And don't forget the rice - lots of rice as this is a particulary more-ish dish.
• For a "dry adobo" you can simply reduce the sauce until it has almost evaporated. The chicken and pork pieces will then begin to fry on their own fat left in the pan. My family in the Philippines like it this way. Or, you can just take out the cooked adobo meat and fry them separately in another pan with a little oil and some of fat from the sauce and then use the remaining sauce (which you can reduce to thicken it slightly) to drizzle on your rice. The sauce is also great for making fried rice so don't throw it away. Anyway, enjoy!

FAMOUS CHICKEN ADOBO

Steps:

• Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken pieces until golden brown on both sides, then remove. Stir in the onion and garlic; cook until they soften and brown, about 6 minutes.
• Pour in vinegar and soy sauce, and season with garlic powder, black pepper, and bay leaf. Add the browned chicken, increase the heat to high, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the chicken is tender and cooked through, 35 to 40 minutes.

CLASSIC FILIPINO CHICKEN ADOBO

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a deep glass or stainless steel sauce pan.
• Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce heat to medium low.
• Cover and simmer for about 30 minutes or until the meat is very tender.
• Gently turn the meat occasionally during the course of cooking.
• Remove the meat from the sauce and pan-fry in a little oil until browned on all sides.
• Transfer to a serving platter or bowl and cover with sauce. Serve with warm steamed rice.
• While the recipe says to saute the meat after it's cooked, I usually brown the meat before adding the remainder of the incredients. I have no idea what difference this makes, if any.
• I adapted this from a recipe in Philippine Recipes Made Easy, by Violeta A. Noriega.

CHICKEN ADOBO

Steps:

• Place the soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, black peppercorns, and bay leaves in a large, nonreactive sauté pan, and then nestle the chicken thighs, skin side down, into the pan.
• Bring the liquid to a boil over high heat, and then cover and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes. Turn the chicken over, and then cover and simmer for another 10 minutes.
• Uncover the pan, increase the heat to high and return the sauce to a boil. while the sauce is reducing, transfer the chicken thighs, skin side up, to a foil-lined sheet pan.
• Brown the chicken thighs underneath the broiler for 3-5 minutes and return to the reducing sauce for the last minute. Continue boiling the sauce, uncovered, until it is reduced by half and thickens slightly, 5-7 minutes. Remove the Bay leaves and serve with steamed white rice.
• Variations: For a "drier" chicken adobo, you can reduce the sauce until it is almost completely evaporated. The chicken will then begin to fry in its own fat that is still left in the pan. This is how my many people finishes their adobo.
• For a saucier adobo, double the amount of soy sauce and vinegar.