Shiitake Mushroom Adobo Food

CHICKEN ADOBO WITH COCONUT MILK (ADOBO SA GATA)

Steps:

• Whisk together vinegar, soy sauce, coffee, and brown sugar in a bowl until sugar is dissolved.
• Heat coconut oil in an 8-quart Dutch oven over high heat. Working in batches, add chicken, skin sides down first, and cook until golden brown and crispy, about 4 minutes on each side. Transfer to a plate.
• Drain all but 2 tablespoons drippings from Dutch oven and return to heat. Add chopped garlic and fry until light brown and crisp, about 3 minutes. Remove to a small bowl, leaving drippings in the pot. Add shallots and minced garlic; cook, stirring constantly, until shallots are translucent and garlic has browned, about 5 minutes.
• Put peppercorns and bay leaves in a square of cheesecloth tied with kitchen string. Add browned chicken quarters, vinegar mixture, and spice bundle to Dutch oven. Bring to a boil; boil for 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes. Add shiitake and oyster mushrooms, coconut cream, and turmeric. Cover and simmer until chicken is tender, 15 to 20 minutes more.
• Cut leg quarters in half at joint or pull meat from bones and shred. Remove spice bundle and skim fat from sauce. Return chicken to the sauce. Sprinkle with green onions and the fried garlic.

MARINATED SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan, heat the sesame oil over medium heat. Add the garlic, ginger root, and mushrooms and saute for 3 minutes, or until the mushrooms are just seared and still dry. Deglaze the pan with the vinegar and reduce over medium-high heat until almost no liquid remains. Stir in the sambal olek and salt and remove from the heat. Add the vinaigrette and tir to mix. Set aside and allow to marinate for at least 6 hours. The mushrooms can be kept covered in the refrigerator, for up to 4 days.

MUSHROOM ADOBO

Steps:

• Cook brown sugar, undisturbed, in a small saucepan over medium heat until melted and a shade darker, about 2 minutes (don't walk away, it can burn quickly). Pour in vinegar, tamari, and ½ cup water, stirring and scraping up solidified sugar on bottom of pan with a wood spoon, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, add garlic, bay leaves, peppercorns, and salt, and simmer 15 minutes to infuse.
• Strain sauce through a fine-mesh sieve into a medium bowl; discard solids. Return sauce to pan and bring to a boil over medium heat.
• Meanwhile, stir together cornstarch and 2 Tbsp. cold water in a small bowl until smooth and lump-free.
• Whisk cornstarch slurry into sauce, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, whisking often, until sauce thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Keep warm.
• Mix mushroom bouillon powder, pepper, and 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt in a small bowl to combine. Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet over medium. Working in 2 batches and adding another 1 Tbsp. oil between batches if needed, cook mushrooms, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 4 minutes; transfer mushrooms to a plate as you go. Return all cooked mushrooms to skillet, sprinkle with mushroom bouillon powder mixture, and cook, tossing to incorporate, 30 seconds.
• Add adobo sauce to pan, scraping up any browned bits stuck to bottom of pan. Bring to a simmer (still over medium heat) and cook 2 minutes to bring flavors together. Taste and season with more salt if needed.
• Divide rice among bowls and top with mushroom adobo. Top each with a handful of watercress (if using). Do ahead: Mushroom adobo can be made 3 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill.