If you walk into the shop and Food Network is on the TV, don’t be surprised. I like to cook. So, I’ll post recipes from time to time.
Chicken Adobo is the national dish of the Philippines. It is a chicken stew that is at once sour, salty, and garlicky. Just like chili or beef stew, there are thousands of variations. Here’s mine.
2 1/2 lbs chicken, cut up
5 cloves garlic, minced
2/3 cup white vinegar
1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1 bay leaf
3 Tablespoons soy sauce
3 Tablespoons water or chicken broth
1 chcken flavored boullion cube
Olive oil for frying
Combine all ingredients in a pot. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce heat to medium low. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes or until tender. Remove chicken pieces and reserve the remaining sauce. Brown chicken pieces on both sides in a little bit of olive oil. Transfer pieces to a serving plate. Skim any fat from reserved sauce and pour sauce over chicken. Serve immediately with or over rice.
Variations
Frying the chicken pieces is optional.
Sometimes, I like more sauce, so I just add however more tablespoons of water or chicken stock to the pot.
Usually, I add vegetables to make the dish more nutritionally rounded. I like to add sliced onions, green beans, wax beans and slivers of carrots after about 35 minutes of simmering, and let the pot simmer for an additional 10-15 minutes. I’ll remove, fry, then plate the chicken pieces and pour the sauce and vegetables on top. I once described this variation to my mother-in-law. She looked at me, shook her head slightly and said, “Then it’s not adobo anymore, is it?” Sigh… (Love you Mom!)
Time to Ride
Now I’m hungry. Perhaps you could serve this at the shop, maybe the second Tuesday of each month?
Comment by Scott S — December 11, 2009 @ 8:59 pm
Roy, Thanks for posting the recipe, it is funny I was just thinking about making Chicken Adobo yesterday. I was a cook in the US Coast Guard from 1990 to 1999 and was taught culinary arts by Philippeno Chiefs. There was a time that the US Navy and Coast Guard was filled with Philippenos. Often times they served as cooks, some of the greatest artist I must say.
Jay
BTW, my father lives in San Leandro, CA and my step-brother is customer of Robinsons Wheelworks, we stopped in and when they found out I was from Mass. they asked about you and said to say hi!
Comment by Jay — December 15, 2009 @ 7:26 pm