Adobo (Philippine Chicken And Pork Stew)

Adobo is considered the national dish of the Philippines. This dish consists of chunks of chicken
or pork or both cooked in soy sauce, vinegar, bay leaf, lots of garlic and whole peppercorns. The stew is allowed to cook until the meats are tender and the remaining sauce slightly thickened. Some people prefer their adobos dry which may entail frying them afterwards, while others prefer them moist served in their original sauce. As a style of cooking, it can be applied to fowl, fish, shellfish and vegetables.

1 cup distilled white vinegar (or cider vinegar)
1 cup water
2 tablespoons peeled and crushed garlic
2 teaspoons salt
2 pieces of bay leaves
half teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound chicken, cut into serving pieces, Chinese style
2 pounds pork butt, cut into cubes
soy sauce oil


Add vinegar, water, garlic, salt, bay leaves and pepper into a large casserole. Bring to a boil. Add the meat, cover and bring to a boil. Simmer and cook for about 30 minutes. Sprinkle liberally with soy sauce and cook for an additional 10 minutes. Remove met and reduce sauce. Remove sauce to a bowl. Put oil into the casserole and brown cooked meat. Drain oil from the casserole, and return the reduced sauce back with the meat.

Serve with rice.