Chicken adobo (Philippines)
Nutrition per serving
The national dish of the Philippines: chicken simmered in a soy and vinegar sauce with garlic and bay leaves. Tangy, fragrant and tender, it is an easy, complete dish that is rich in protein.
Prep: 15 min | Cooking: 40 min | Servings: 4 | Difficulty: Easy
Calculated per serving from the Anses Ciqual 2025 values for each ingredient, based on the quantities in the list. Household measures (spoonfuls, pieces) use average weights. 303 kcal · 38 g protein · 2 g carbohydrate · 16 g fat
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs
- 4 tbsp soy sauce
- 4 tbsp vinegar
- 4 cloves of garlic
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp black peppercorns
Method
- Brown the chicken, then set aside.
- Fry the garlic, then add the soy sauce, vinegar, bay leaves and pepper.
- Return the chicken and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes.
- Uncover and let the sauce reduce, then serve with rice.
Nutritional benefits
Chicken provides lean protein for few calories, and the soy and vinegar marinade adds flavour with very little fat. Garlic and bay leaves add flavour and further benefits. Simmered rather than fried, adobo is a complete, balanced Filipino dish, naturally gluten-free and dairy-free.
Variations and substitutions
- With lean pork (traditional adobo).
- With tofu for a vegetarian version.
- With coconut milk (creamy adobo).
- Spicier: add chilli.
Storage and making ahead
Even better reheated (it improves with time); keeps for 4 days and freezes well. A batch-cooking champion.
💡 Good to know
Adobo improves as it rests: make it the day before and the sweet-and-sour flavours will only get better.
Related reading
Discover more high-protein recipes · healthy & balanced recipes · gluten-free recipes · dairy-free recipes.
Ingredients in this recipe: chicken thighs · soy sauce · vinegar · garlic · bay leaves.
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