My Simple Chicken Adobo

Adobo is considered the national dish of the Filipinos. It is so because this is one of the dishes that Filipinos learn first.  Adobo comes from the Spanish word adobar which means to marinate. It is suggested that instead of throwing away the marinade, Filipinos used it to cook the meat that was marinated.

My Chicken Adobo with Potatoes

Chicken and pork are most popular meat that can be made into adobo. But Filipinos use any kind of meat to make the dish. Some vegetables such as kangkong (water spinach), sweet potato tops, green papaya and string beans are also cooked into adobo.

Below are the ingredients and procedure to make the simplest adobo:

Ingredients

1. chicken - 1 kilo

2. vinegar - 1/2 cup

3. soy sauce (toyo) -  1/2 cup

4. water - 1 cup

5. cooking oil - 3 tablespoon

6. pinch of salt and black pepper powder

7. peppercorn  - about 10 pieces

8. dry laurel leaves - 2 pieces

9. garlic - 3 gloves

10. onions - 2 medium size

Optional:

11. Potato - 2 medium size

Procedures

1. Clean and cut the chicken into serving sizes or about 16 small pieces.

2.  Chop the onions finely or cut each into 4 pieces.

3. Cut each potato into 4 pieces.

4. Mince the 3 gloves of garlic.

5. In a pan, put cooking oil over medium heat.

6. Put the minced garlic and cook until clear or lightly brown.

7. Add one sliced onion and cook until clear.

8. Add the chicken and fry lightly or until half-cooked as below.

9. Add 1/2 cup of water. Stir occasionally so that the chicken will not stick to the bottom of the pan.

10. After 5 minutes, add the laurel leaves.

11. After 2 minutes, add the cut potatoes.

12. Add the soy sauce and the vinegar. Cover the pan and do not stir.

13. Uncover after 5 minutes and put the rest of the onions and the pepper corn.

14. Turn the stove into low heat and cook for further 10 minutes or until the sauce thickens.

15. Taste. Adjust the saltiness or the spiciness according to your liking with the pinch of salt and black pepper powder.

15. Serve with steam rice.

Optional:

1. To get a kick, you can add banana pepper or 3 siling-labuyo in step 13.

2. You can also use coconut milk instead of water or a combination of both.

3. You can also add chicken broth to enhance flavor.