Do you know the Filipino dish Chicken Adobo? I can’t even say the words without my mouth watering.
This one-pot recipe calls for simmering chicken in a tangy, vinegar-based sauce, which I’ve riffed to make gluten-free and Paleo. It’s a very tasty spin on your typical weeknight chicken dinner that everyone can enjoy!
Chicken adobo is an extremely popular dish from the Philippines made with meat cooked in vinegar and soy sauce – this much is generally agreed upon. From there, ingredients and opinions vary widely. There are 7,000 islands in the Philippines, and on each one, every lola (grandmother) and tita (auntie) has their own recipe.
I first discovered chicken adobo as a child. I did not like meat, and my mom was constantly trying to find ways to get me to eat it. What I did like was anything sour – including vinegar – so my mom thought to try chicken adobo. I loved it and it became a staple in our house.
When I had to go gluten-free in 2012, I began adapting some of my childhood dishes to be gluten-free, including this chicken adobo. The only big change I had to make to the recipe was to switch out the soy sauce for tamari, which is soy sauce fermented without wheat. It has a deeper and richer flavor than soy sauce.
When I want to make a Paleo version, I just swap the soy sauce or tamari for coconut aminos, made from fermented coconut sap. This ingredient has a flavor is similar to light soy sauce and tastes a little sweet.
I also add a little fish sauce to my version. Fish sauce has a powerfully pungent aroma, so don’t be scared when you open the bottle! It adds a nice background savory flavor that brings the whole dish together.
When developing my gluten-free and Paleo recipes, I consulted with my sister-in-law to make sure I was on the right track. She is from the Philippines and my brother says she makes THE BEST adobo. My final recipe tastes very similar to hers, so I’m feeling pretty good about it!
At my house, we love to eat our chicken adobo over coconut rice or garlic fried rice, but it’s also great over plain steamed rice or even mashed potatoes. Sometimes I like to make some extra sauce to eat with veggies. If you choose to do that, just make sure to use a big enough pot.
Paleo Chicken Adobo Recipe
You can also buy whole chicken legs and separate them yourself into drumsticks and thighs. You want 3 to 3 1/2 pounds of total meat.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs, bone-in and skin on (about 1 1/2 pounds)
- 4 chicken drumsticks (about 1 1/2 pounds)
- 3/4 cup tamari or coconut aminos (or low-sodium soy sauce, if you don't need this to be gluten-free!)
- 3/4 cup white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon coconut sugar, honey, or dark brown sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh grated ginger
- 2 bay leaves (dried, not fresh)
- 1 tablespoon whole peppercorns
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1/4 teaspoons salt (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon fine ground pepper
- Coconut rice or plain steamed rice, to serve
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