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    Home » Pork

    Filipino Pork Adobo

    Published: Oct 14, 2022 by Nora Rey · This post may contain affiliate links · 7 Comments

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    Filipino Pork Adobo is a pork belly braise in a tangy, sweet, and savory sauce. It is so simple to make with minimal ingredients.

    Leftover adobo makes an amazing Adobo Fried Rice.

    Pork adobo in a bowl topped with fried garlic served over rice with soft-boiled egg and curly scallions.
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients you'll need
    • How to make this recipe
    • Frequently asked questions
    • More about Filipino Pork Adobo
    • Watch how I make it here
    • Other pork recipes you may like
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Ingredients you'll need

    Individual ingredients for Filipino Pork Adobo

    Notes and substitutions

    • Pork belly: You can also use pork butt, pork shoulder, or pork ribs.
    • Soy sauce: Use regular or light soy sauce. A little dark soy sauce is okay for color, but not to replace it entirely. Tamari with no wheat is a gluten-free alternative. It is darker and richer, so you will need less of it.

    How to make this recipe

    (1)Cut 3 pounds pork belly into bite-sized pieces, about 1½ inches. Trim off any excess fat.

    Holding a piece of pork belly with the rest on the cutting board.

    (2)Roughly chop 1 onion. (3)Smash 1 head of garlic with the heel of your hand.

    Chopping onions and smashing garlic cloves on a cutting board using a knife.

    Over medium-high heat, brown the meat in a bit of oil for about 2 minutes on each side. Transfer to a plate. (5)Soak up most of the oil with a paper towel, then sauté garlic and onion until slightly softened.

    Browning the pork belly pieces in oil. Sauteing onions and garlic in the pot.

    (6)Add the meat, ½ cup soy sauce, ⅔ cup vinegar, ¼ cup of water, 3 tablespoons brown sugar (or more), black pepper (to taste), and 3 bay leaves. Stir to combine and lower heat to medium when it boils. Cover and simmer for 45-60 minutes, until the meat is tender and the sauce slightly thickens.

    Adding water to the meat in the pot.

    (7)Check if the meat is tender and remove the fat layer on top. Taste and adjust as needed. If the sauce is too thin, continue to simmer it uncovered until the desired consistency is reached. Add water if it gets too dry.

    Checking the meat for tenderness using a fork.

    Serve Filipino Pork Adobo with white rice to soak up all that flavorful sauce. Boiled eggs, fried garlic, and scallions go well with it.

    Filipino pork adobo served in a bowl.

    Frequently asked questions

    What makes a good adobo?

    A good adobo starts by searing the meat. It is simmered long enough to become tender and flavorful. The sauce is savory and slightly tangy, while the sweetness varies between cooks.

    Can I make adobo with chicken?

    Yes, you definitely can. Make sure to use bone-in chicken thighs with their skin on for full flavor.

    Can I make adobo in an instant pot?

    Yes, you can make adobo in an instant pot or another electric pressure cooker. There’s no need to add extra water since the moisture gets locked in. The meat will let out extra liquid as it cooks.

    How do I fix too sour adobo?

    You can add some sugar, water, or soy sauce. Play around with the flavor until it's just right for you. If you end up with more sauce, you can thicken it with cornstarch.

    More about Filipino Pork Adobo

    Here are frequently asked questions about Filipino Pork Adobo, including extra tips, troubleshooting, and more.

    Watch how I make it here

    Other pork recipes you may like

    • lechon kawali (fried pork belly) on a plate
      Lechon Kawali (Fried Pork Belly)
    • Pork asado on a plate
      Pork Asado with Mushrooms and Cabbage
    • Bicol Express in a bowl
      Bicol Express
    • Embutido Filipino Meatloaf
      Embutido (Filipino Meatloaf)
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    Let's connect on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, Twitter, and Youtube. Be sure to tag me when you try any of my recipes @recipesbynora!

    📖 Recipe

    Filipino Pork Adobo in a bowl

    Filipino Pork Adobo

    Pork belly braised in a tangy, sweet, and savory sauce. It is so simple to make with minimal ingredients.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Filipino
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
    Servings: 10 servings
    Calories: 746kcal
    Author: Nora Rey
    Cost: $14-$16

    Equipment

    • 4.5-quart Dutch oven or a heavy-bottomed pot

    Ingredients

    • 3 pounds pork belly 1½-inch pieces (see note)
    • ½ cup soy sauce
    • ⅔ cup cane or white vinegar sub:apple cider or rice vinegar
    • 3 tablespoons brown sugar more to taste
    • ground black pepper or whole peppercorns to taste
    • 1 head garlic crushed or smashed
    • 1 medium onion chopped
    • 3 bay leaves dried or fresh
    • neutral-flavored oil (canola or vegetable oil) for searing and sautéing
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Over medium-high heat, brown the meat in a bit of oil for about 2 minutes on each side. Set aside.
    • Soak up most of the oil with a paper towel, then sauté garlic and onion until slightly softened.
    • Add meat, soy sauce, vinegar, ¼ cup of water, sugar, black pepper, and bay leaves. Stir to combine and lower the heat to medium when it boils.
    • Cover and simmer for 45-60 minutes, until the meat is tender and the sauce slightly thickens.
    • Check if the meat is tender and remove the fat layer on top. Taste and adjust as needed.

    Video

    Notes

    • Pork belly: You can also use pork butt, pork shoulder, or pork ribs.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 746kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 14gFat: 74gSaturated Fat: 26gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 35gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 98mgSodium: 693mgPotassium: 300mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 16IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @recipesbynora or tag #RecipesByNora!

    More Filipino & Asian Pork Recipes

    • skinless longganisa
      Skinless Longganisa (Filipino Sausage)
    • barbecue pork skewers on a plate served with achara
      Filipino Barbecue Pork Skewers
    • grilled pork belly on a plate
      Inihaw na Liempo (Grilled Pork Belly)
    • adobo fried rice served on a plate with fried egg
      Adobo Fried Rice
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Victoria

      February 26, 2023 at 4:37 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you! My mom usually makes it for me but she's all the way in the Philippines and I'm in South Carolina! She tried to show me how to make it but it never tastes like hers! This is by far the best and closest recipe I've found!

      Reply
    2. Chris

      November 16, 2022 at 10:32 pm

      5 stars
      It was delicious! The recipe was easy enough. Thank you and i’m looking through other recipes to make.

      Reply
      • Nora Rey

        January 05, 2023 at 12:41 am

        Thank you, Chris! =)

        Reply
    3. John

      November 04, 2022 at 4:29 pm

      Nice video. What brand of soy sauce do you use for this recipe?

      Reply
      • Nora Rey

        November 07, 2022 at 9:07 pm

        Hello John, I am not so sure, but it's either Datu Puti or Silver Swan. A regular type of soy sauce should work. Thanks!

        Reply
    4. Bim

      January 12, 2022 at 8:34 pm

      5 stars
      Wow, one of my favorite Filipino food. I’ve tried so many times to cook adobo but I cannot find a recipe that is so good and easy to follow recipe. Cooked this today for lunch and my family asked for more. Thank you Nora.

      Reply
      • Nora

        January 27, 2022 at 9:30 pm

        That is so nice. I am always happy to know you guys enjoyed it. Thank you!!!

        Reply

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