Chicken Adobo With Coconut Milk

Recipe from Amy Besa and Romy Dorotan

Adapted by Sam Sifton

Updated July 17, 2024

Chicken Adobo With Coconut Milk
Craig Lee for The New York Times
Total Time
2 hours, plus 2 hours' refrigeration
Rating
5(5,673)
Comments
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It is the national dish of the Philippines, and the subject of intense and delicious debate across its 7,100 islands whether made with chicken, pork or fish. Whichever, the protein is braised in vinegar until pungent and rich, sweet and sour and salty at once, then sometimes crisped at the edges in high heat, and always served with the remaining sauce. Its excellence derives from the balance of its flavors, in the alchemy of the process. Cooking softens the acidity of the vinegar, which then combines with the flavor of the meat to enhance it. Whether consumed in Manila’s heat or on the edge of a New York winter, adobo holds the power to change moods and alter dining habits. It is a difficult dish to cook just once. The recipe that follows derives from one given to The Times in 2011 by Amy Besa, who runs, with her husband, Romy Dorotan, the excellent Purple Yam restaurant in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn. —Sam Sifton

Featured in: The Adobo Experiment

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • 1cup coconut milk
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • 1½ cup rice vinegar
  • 12garlic cloves, peeled
  • 3whole bird’s-eye chilies or other fiery chili
  • 3bay leaves
  • 1½ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 to 4pounds chicken thighs
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

1036 calories; 78 grams fat; 29 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 28 grams monounsaturated fat; 14 grams polyunsaturated fat; 9 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 1 gram sugars; 69 grams protein; 1209 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Combine all of the marinade ingredients in a large, nonreactive bowl or resealable plastic freezer bag. Add the chicken and turn to coat. Refrigerate overnight or for at least 2 hours.

  2. Step 2

    Place chicken and marinade in a large lidded pot or Dutch oven over high heat and bring to a boil. Immediately reduce heat to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and tender, around 30 minutes.

  3. Step 3

    Heat broiler. Transfer chicken pieces to a large bowl, raise heat under the pot to medium-high, and reduce the sauce until it achieves almost the consistency of cream, about 10 minutes. Remove bay leaves and chilies.

  4. Step 4

    Place chicken pieces on a roasting pan and place under broiler for 5 to 7 minutes, until they begin to caramelize. Remove, turn chicken, baste with sauce and repeat, 3 to 5 minutes more. Return chicken to sauce and cook for a few minutes more, then place on a platter and drizzle heavily with sauce.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
5,673 user ratings
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Comments

Steve Muni

Having been born and raised in the Philippines, this is comfort food for me. This version is from the Bicol, in the southern part of Luzon. Around Manila they don't use coconut milk. A relish of two parts chopped tomato and one part chopped white onion, flavored with a little lemon juice and salt, makes a nice accompaniment.

Dhel

Don't need to put under the broiler Marcia. If you want follow the marinade process. when ready to cook, heat oil in a pan and brown it in batches to get a nice brown color set aside, in same pan put the marinade mixture and let it boil, season as your taste. Put the chicken back in the sauce and simmer it until the chicken is tender and the sauce is a bit thicken.

Yvamne

Being from Panay island in the Visayas, this recipe would constitute as "Adobo Sa Gata" meaning, abobo in coconut milk, a variation of adobo. Regular adobo does not have coconut milk. And we don't ever marinate them. We throw everything all at once in a pot, chicken (or pork, or both), garlic, onions, soy sauce, vinegar (cane or coconut), bay leaves and black pepper, no chilies until the liquid reduces considerably to a thick, delicious sauce.

Gabriela

This unfortunately did not work well for me, the vinegar is way too strong of a flavor. I would be curious to know if the correct ingredient is rice wine vinegar instead. The idea is great and other than that, turned out well! I ended up adding brown sugar to make it atleast edible for the night.

.Julie in Oakland

Y’all, DO NOT marinate this overnight. I have a whole sour-ass chicken that no one wants to eat. The flavors are not at all balanced! I hate having leftovers mocking me from the fridge. I think it’s going straight to the bin.

Deena

Made this tonight for the first time in a while. Great recipe. Takes a long time to cook down the sauce. Much longer than the recipe says.

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Credits

Adapted from Amy Besa and Romy Dorotan, Purple Yam restaurant, Brooklyn

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