CHICKEN ADOBO adobong manok
Adobo is the most popular Filipino food and Chicken Adobo (sometimes pork) is the unofficial national dish of the Philippines. Adobo originated when Chinese migrants introduced soy sauce to the Philippines during the Spanish colonization of the islands between the 16th and 19th centuries.
The process of making soy sauce by fermenting wheat and soybeans in water and salt dates back to 500 B.C. China. Next to mustard (400 B.C.) soy sauce is one of the oldest condiments on the planet. The process evolved from the need to preserve meats, vegetables, and grains with salt.
Today Filipino cuisine is a combination of sweet and sour, salty flavored meats accompanied by steamed and fried rice and vegetables. Coconut is also of utmost importance, with all parts of the coconut (including the sap and leaves) used in cooking and preparation.
PREPARATION: 1 hour 30 minutes – serves 4 to 8
EQUIPMENT: Chef knife, 5-qt mixing bowl with lid, 14-inch-deep skillet with lid
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup rice wine vinegar
- 1 cup soy sauce, or tamari soy sauce
- ½ cup milk or cream
- 8 cloves garlic minced
- 3 bay leaves
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 8 to 12 bone-in chicken thighs skin removed or 4 breasts
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoons olive oil (not the green stuff)
- ½ cup green onions sliced
- Steamed rice or noodles placed in the culinary steamer basket
DIRECTIONS
In a large mixing bowl (or 2250ml Ultra-Vac) combine the vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, peppercorns, bay leaves and brown sugar. Stir to combine. Add the chicken and toss to coat. Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator for at least two hours, preferable overnight.
The unique vacuum sealing process of the Ultra-Vac actually absorbs in minutes. The vacuum process opens the tiny pores in meats, poultry, fish, and vegetables to allow the marinade to penetrate easier. For this recipe 30 to 45 minutes is equivalent tomarinating overnight. Chef Charles Knight click-on photo for more info
Preheat the large skillet over medium-high heat 375ᵒF 2 to 3 minutes, melt the butter and combine with olive oil. Add the chicken to the hot skillet. Brown the chicken about 5 minutes each side.
Add the remaining marinade to the skillet and bring to a simmer and reduce the heat to medium-low 200ᵒF cover open the vent and cook about 10 to 12 minutes. Uncover and flip the chicken cover and continue to cook until the sauce thickens about 10 minutes.
If using the 14-skillet with the large culinary basket you can steam rice, noodles and or vegetables like thinly sliced eggplant, Malunggay leaves, while the chicken is cooking.
