Chicken Adobo ~ Panamanian Style 

If I close my eyes, I can smell the aroma of this dish in my moms kitchen. It was always so good to me that I’d stand over the pot with a spoon stealing all the sauce I could, burnt mouth be darned! As kids, we just called it Soy Sauce chicken, but across the world, Chicken Adobo (or vice versa depending on the culture) is one of those intersectional foods that binds us together as humans. Thank you for allowing me to share my version with you. 

Serves: 4-6
Prep Time: 30 min. Cook Time: 45 min.

Ingredients:

• 6-8 Chicken Legs
• 3/4 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1/3 Cup Soy Sauce
  
• 2 Tbsp. Brown Sugar
  
• 1 Tbsp. Honey
• 1/4 Tsp. Black Pepper
  
• 1 Tbsp. Grated Ginger
  
• 6 Cloves Garlic - sliced thin
  
• ​2 Tbsp. Vegetable Oil
• 1 Shallot
• 1 Red Chili - sliced
• 4 Bay Leaves
• 2 Green Onions - sliced diagonally

Put it Together

1. In a medium mixing bowl, combine vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, honey, pepper, ginger, half the garlic, shallot, and half the chili, whisking until sugar is dissolved. 
2. Option 1: Add chicken after cleaning and trimming. Cover and marinate for 30 minutes to 24 hours.
3. Option 2: In a heavy bottom pot, heat 2 Tbsp. Vegetable Oil, sauté remaining garlic for 1-2 minutes, then add chicken.  Brown chicken 3 minutes per side on medium high heat. 
4. Add soy/vinegar mixture to pot and allow to come to a quick boil. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 30 minutes.
5. Remove chicken, increase heat to medium high for 10-15 minutes to allow sauce to thicken. 
6. Pour sauce over chicken and garnish with remaining chilies and green onion.

Serve immediately, Enjoy!

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Sulli Says: This recipe is perfect to introduce the idea of “concept cooking”. My mom built her version of this recipe based on what she had on hand each time. Basic ingredients that could flex when she had more of one, or less of another. I’ve just expanded on that idea for this version and I want you to feel comfortable doing the same. Don’t box yourself in to measurements or rigid recipes, explore and experiment to your taste. 
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