GOOD AND CHEAP DINNER RECIPES - FILIPINO CHICKEN ADOBO

FILIPINO CHICKEN ADOBO FOR  EIGHT

$10.40 t o t a l

$1.30 / s e r v i n g

This ultra-adaptable recipe comes to us care of Tony Pangilinan, who grew up on food stamps after his family immigrated from the Philippines "with nothing but four suitcases and a lot of dreams." After several decades of struggling to achieve those dreams, Tony can now help support family members who remain in poverty in the Philippines. Despite their hard circumstances, he notes that his relatives "still feel blessed."

Filipino adobo—very different from Spanish adobo—is basically anything cooked in vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic. Although this version is chicken, you can use any meat or vegetables you like. It's a brilliant dish that turns basic staples into deliciousness. Because it's vinegar-based, it also keeps well in the fridge!

INGREDIENTS

• ¾ cup rice vinegar or white vinegar
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 2 bay leaves
• 8 chicken thighs, fat trimmed
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• ¾ cup water
• 2 medium potatoes, chopped
• 4 medium carrots, sliced
• 2 cups white rice
• salt
• 2 tsp cornstarch 

ADDITIONS

• 4 jalapeños
• ginger root, grated

VARIATIONS

• 1½ lb pork shoulder or butt, cubed, instead of chicken
• 1 can coconut milk instead of water
• chicken schmaltz instead of vegetable oil

RECIPE

1. In a large, non-aluminum pan, stir together the vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, pepper, and bay leaves. Add the chicken, coating each piece thoroughly. Cover and let marinate for at least 30 minutes, but overnight is great.
2. Pull the chicken out of the marinade and pat each piece dry.
3. Pour the oil into a large pot on medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add enough chicken to fill the bottom of the pot. Let it cook for a few minutes, until one side of the chicken is browned, then flip it over. When the first batch of chicken is done, remove it from the pot and repeat with the remainder.
4. After all the chicken is browned, put it back in the pot along with the marinade, water, potatoes, and carrots.
5. Turn the heat up until the liquid comes to a boil, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 45 minutes, or until the meat near the bone is no longer pink and the carrots and potatoes are cooked through.
6. About 20 minutes before the adobo is ready, pour the rice into a medium pot with 4 cups of water.
7. Add two pinches of salt.
8. Bring to a boil over medium heat with the lid off.
9. Turn the heat down and cover with a lid that is slightly askew to let the steam escape.
10. Cook about 20 minutes, until the water is all gone.
11. Remove the bay leaves from the adobo. In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with a tablespoon of water, then stir it into the sauce. Let the sauce boil and thicken until the chicken and vegetables are well glazed. Serve over the rice.
12. In a large, non-aluminum pan, stir together the vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, pepper, and bay leaves. Add the chicken, coating each piece thoroughly. Cover and let marinate for at least 30 minutes, but overnight is great.
13. Pull the chicken out of the marinade and pat each piece dry.
14. Pour the oil into a large pot on medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add enough chicken to fill the bottom of the pot. Let it cook for a few minutes, until one side of the chicken is browned, then flip it over. When the first batch of chicken is done, remove it from the pot and repeat with the remainder.
15. After all the chicken is browned, put it back in the pot along with the marinade, water, potatoes, and carrots. Turn the heat up until the liquid comes to a boil, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 45 minutes, or until the meat near the bone is no longer pink and the carrots and potatoes are cooked through.
16. About 20 minutes before the adobo is ready, pour the rice into a medium pot with 4 cups of water. Add two pinches of salt.
17. Bring to a boil over medium heat with the lid off.
18. Turn the heat down and cover with a lid that is slightly askew to let the steam escape.
19. Cook about 20 minutes, until the water is all gone.
20. Remove the bay leaves from the adobo. In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with a tablespoon of water, then stir it into the sauce.
21. Let the sauce boil and thicken until the chicken and vegetables are well glazed. Serve over the rice.

FROM GOOD AND CHEAP RECIPES BOOK

PLEASE don't forget to like my page on facebook