Paleo Filipino Adobo - Recipe - The Joyful Foodie (2024)

Recipe

by DanielUpdated on November 7, 2021November 5, 2021

Do you have a meal that reminds you of your childhood? A dish that whenever you eat it, even if it’s not exactly the same, reminds you of home? Filipino Adobo (or just Adobo, as we call it) is one of those dishes for me. Every Filipino household seems to have a different take on this dish, and yet every version is comfort food to me.Now, we’re not strictly Paleo around here, but we have a lot of friends and family who are. This is kind of an homage to them. I like to cook grain free and soy free at times mostly because they’re so ubiquitous in food today. That, and I love a challenge.Paleo Filipino Adobo - Recipe - The Joyful Foodie (1)It just so happens that one of the main ingredients in Adobo is soy sauce. And then there’s the rice. Adobo’s tangy-salty-sweet sauce is best appreciated soaked into a pile of rice. So what does one do when you’re avoiding both soy and rice and having cravings of your childhood? Drown your sorrows in a pile ofKalua Pig(not a half bad idea, actually)?Or you could just make this Paleo Filipino Adobo because I’ve solved all your problems for you.

Paleo Filipino Adobo - Recipe - The Joyful Foodie (2)

When we did the Whole30 I found a lot of recipes that subbed soy sauce for coconut aminos to make dishes Paleo / Whole30 compliant. In fact, I think every recipe I found that made this substitution claimed that coconut aminos tasted eerily similar to or exactly like soy sauce. Well, I’ve got to say, it must have been a looooong time since you Paleo heads have eaten soy sauce because coconut aminos tastesnothinglike soy sauce. The only thing they have in common really is that they’re both brown, and even then, they’re not the same shade of brown. Don’t get me wrong, coconut aminos tastes good. It just doesn’t taste like soy sauce. Coconut aminos is sweet and slightly salty (from the added sea salt), but it doesn’t have the same level of salt and umami that soy sauce does.And that’s what makes this recipe different than all the other coconut-aminos-instead-of-soy-sauce recipes out there – I added the umami back in for you. You’re welcome.

This recipe produces a slightly sweet but tangy Adobo because that’s how we like it around here. You can always adapt it to your specific preferences to make it taste more like home. Add potatoes or carrots…go lighter on the vinegar…I’ve even replaced the water with coconut milk before for a richer sauce. I hear that’s a regional variation, but no one I know personally makes it that way. It’s delicious, though, if you’d like to try it.Filipino or not, Paleo or not, chicken braised in a tangy-sweet-savory sauce sounds good, no?And if you do happen to be Filipino and Paleo, I hope I just made your day. Or life. That works, too.Paleo Filipino Adobo - Recipe - The Joyful Foodie (4)

Paleo Filipino Chicken Adobo

Prep time
24 hours 5 mins
Cook time
40 mins
Total time
24 hours 45 mins
Paleo Filipino Adobo - Recipe - The Joyful Foodie (5)

Author:Joy @ The Joyful Foodie

Recipe type:chicken, healthy, grain free

Cuisine:Filipino

Serves:3-4 servings

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs bone in chicken thighs, about 6 pieces, fat trimmed
  • ½ cup coconut aminos
  • 2 tsp fish sauce*
  • 2 tsp porcini mushroom powder*
  • 1-2 tsp salt, to taste
  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 8-10 cloves of garlic, smashed and peeled
  • ½ tsp black peppercorns
  • 2 fresh bay leaves (or 3 dried)
  • 1 cup water

Instructions

  1. Combine the coconut aminos, fish sauce and mushroom powder in a container large enough to hold the chicken. Mix well.
  2. Season the chicken with the salt.
  3. Place the chicken in the marinade container, taking care to submerge as much of the chicken into the liquid as possible.
  4. Refrigerate overnight.
  5. When ready to cook, drip excess marinade off the chicken and place thighs skin side down in a (room temp) pot or braising pan and turn the heat to medium low. Allow chicken to cook until the skin browns and the fat is rendered, about 10 minutes.
  6. Remove the chicken from the pan and drain the fat.
  7. Return the chicken to the pan, skin side down. Add the marinade, vinegar, garlic, peppercorns, bay leaves and water.
  8. Turn the heat to medium low, cover and braise chicken for 10 minutes.
  9. Flip chicken skin side up and continue braising while lightly covered until cooked through, about 20 minutes more.
  10. Serve over rice or cauliflower rice.

Notes* I use Red Boat fish sauce and dried porcini mushrooms that I ground with my coffee/spice grinder. I’ve seen porcini mushroom powder available in the spice aisle, but if you do not have access to any, you can substitute more fish sauce.

– Depending on how trimmed our chicken thighs are, they may release a lot of fat. You can skim this off before serving.

– Prefer your chicken skinless? In step 5, heat your pan on medium heat with 1 Tbs oil. Brown chicken on all sides before continuing with the recipe.

– Like your Adobo saucy? Just double the liquid ingredients!Nutrition InformationServing size:1-2 piecesWordPress Recipe Plugin byEasyRecipe

Have you tried Filipino Adobo? If you happen to be Filipino and Paleo, what other foods do you miss?

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Paleo Filipino Adobo - Recipe - The Joyful Foodie (2024)

FAQs

What are the 2 versions of adobo? ›

Even people in the same household can cook adobo in significantly different ways. A rarer version without soy sauce is known as adobong puti ("white adobo"), which uses salt instead, to contrast it with adobong itim ("black adobo"), the more prevalent versions with soy sauce.

What's so special about Filipino adobo? ›

Adobo is indigenous to the Philippines. In a tropical climate, Filipinos had to find a safe and delicious way to preserve their meat. With no refrigeration, they soaked them in vinegar, salt, and spices so the meat would not spoil. Soy sauce, which has a high salt content, was later added to help preserve the food.

Is Filipino adobo the same as Mexican adobo? ›

Filipino Adobo is an indigenous dish that received a Spanish name because it reminded the Spaniards of how they marinated and preserved meat with spices. They are not the same, but they are similar because each culture needed to preserve and flavor food so it wouldn't rot.

What are the original ingredients in adobo? ›

The colonization of Puerto Rico began in the early 1500s, bringing many of the same Spanish influences to the island. As is the case in Mexico, adobo in Puerto Rico most traditionally refers to a wet marinade consisting of garlic, some kind of acid (vinegar or citrus), oregano, salt, pepper, and olive oil.

What is the difference between Filipino adobo and Spanish adobo? ›

The addition of soy sauce in the recipe came by way of Chinese traders. Similar to Filipino adobo, the Spanish version is a cooking process that involves preservation. However, except for the vinegar, the ingredients are vastly different. The Spanish adobar is red from paprika and spicy from chilies.

What spice is closest to adobo? ›

A suitable substitute for adobo seasoning is a blend of common spices, such as garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Alternatively, you can try using Cajun seasoning or mild curry powder to achieve a similar flavor profile.

What is the most important ingredient in adobo? ›

Most modern-day Filipino adobo is prepared with vinegar and soy sauce. Some families keep it simple with vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, bay leaves, and black pepper. Others add fresh ginger or coconut milk.

What is the old name of adobo? ›

The Spanish word 'adobar' refers to a marinade or pickling sauce. In his writings, Pedro de San Buenaventura labeled the Filipino version 'adobo de los naturales' – adobo of the natives. The name stuck.

What do you eat with Filipino adobo? ›

Some side dishes that go beautifully with Filipino adobo are fluffy white rice, brown rice, quinoa or mashed potatoes. You'll want something starchy to soak up the delicious sauce. A simple green salad or cucumber salad would be the perfect side dish with chicken adobo.

Did Filipinos invent adobo? ›

According to the food historian Raymond Sokolov, the ingredients for adobo already existed in the Philippines before Ferdinand Magellan even laid eyes on our shores. Because the dish's original name was never recorded (and in a case of what Sakolov calls “lexical imperialism”), the Spanish label stuck.

What does adobo mean in Filipino? ›

Mexican adobo sauce is, well, a sauce on its own used to marinade and cook things with. Filipino adobo is more of a technique than any one specific dish, and when we say something is "adobo" in the Philippines, we mean anything braised in vinegar. That includes vegetables and things like squid!

What makes adobo taste good? ›

Try to use natural vinegar instead of distilled white vinegar. Salty – Soy sauce, garlic, and chicken balance any bitterness and enhance sweet flavours. Sweet – Adding sugar or oyster sauce to your dish will boost sweetness to complement the soy sauce. Savoury – Bay leaves enhance overall dish flavour.

Why do you not stir vinegar in adobo? ›

You can stir it while it's simmering or boiling. But, as for my father's words, do not stir it after you add the vinegar because "it may ruin the taste of the adobo." Bay leaves are quite optional to put when I cook my adobo. Salt is optional, too, because all the salty taste will be coming from the soy sauce.

What is adobada seasoning? ›

Adobada (Spanish for "marinated") is a preparation for many dishes that are common in Mexican cuisine. Adobada is generally pork marinated in a "red" chili sauce with vinegar and oregano, but it can refer to different types of meat and to marinades closer to al pastor.

What is the national dish of Philippines? ›

In the Philippines, adobo is considered the unofficial national dish, taking many forms across the country, but the base ingredients for the stew are typically the same: vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, black pepper and bay leaves, along with some kind of marinated meat or vegetables.

How many types of adobo are there? ›

Did you know we have over 100 variations of adobo? Here are some of the different ways that the different parts of the country prepare everyone's favorite Filipino food.

What are the different versions of adobo in the Philippines? ›

In this article, we will delve into the different regional variations of Adobo, including Chicken Adobo, Pork Adobo, Adobong Manok sa Gata (Chicken Adobo with Coconut Milk), and Adobong Pusit (Squid Adobo). Chicken Adobo , perhaps the most well-known variation, is a staple in Filipino households.

What is the Spanish version of adobo? ›

Adobo or adobar (Spanish: marinade, sauce, or seasoning) is the immersion of cooked food in a stock (or sauce) composed variously of paprika, oregano, salt, garlic, and vinegar to preserve and enhance its flavor. The Portuguese variant is known as carne de vinha d'alhos.

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