Adobo is one of the first dishes most moms teach their children when they’re old enough to cook. It’s very easy, it’s has very few ingredients, and it’s as Filipino as it could get. Ykaie has learned to embrace all kinds of adobo that we cook at home — from pork to chicken to squid. Among all of the versions of adobos, though, she likes Pork Adobo more than the others. I’m guessing it has something to do with the fat. Pork belly has a thick layer of fat and it keeps the meat moist and luscious while cooking.
Each family has their own version of Adobo and it is as unique as each of the members of that household. Given the same ingredients for adobo, I’m absolutely certain that each would come up with two completely different results.
The Electrolux event I attended last thursday got me craving for some Pork Adobo. Chef Bruce Lim had a cooking demo for Adobo Pasta. It was delicious and something I want to recreate at home. So that same night, I added ingredients for Pork Adobo in my to buy list, taking extra care to add more because leftovers were planned to be cooked into pasta the next day.
Browsing over my past adobo post, I was surprised to find out I didn’t have a recipe nor a post for Filipino Pork Adobo. There was chinese, white, yellow and squid. There was even string beans adobo. Here, check them out:
- Minolauric Adobo sa Dilaw
- Chinese Pork Adobo
- Pork Adobo sa Gata
- Adobong Balut
- Squid Adobo
- Squid Adobo sa Gata
- String Beans Adobo with Tofu
- Lamb Adobo Fiesta
- Fried Adobo Flakes
- Lazy Chicken Adobo
- White Chicken Adobo with Lemongrass
See? No Pork Adobo. I guess this was overlooked because it’s a common, almost weekly, dish on the menu. Well, today Pork Adobo is the star of our plates.
Just like what I said earlier, each has their own version of adobo. Mine has all the basic ingredients like soy sauce, vinegar, and garlic. It also has spices like bay leaf, peppercorns, and a dash of oregano.
Is putting a dash of oregano sound weird to you? I bet.
I want to know what’s unique about the way you cook your pork adobo. Do you bake it? Marinate it first? Or do you simmer it in vinegar?
- 600g pork belly, cut into squares
- 4 cloves garlic + 4 cloves garlic, crushed
- 3 pcs bay leaf
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup soy sauce
- ½ cup vinegar
- 2 tbsp cooking oil
- 1 tbsp sugar
- ½ tsp ground oregano
- ½ tsp peppercorns
- Put pork belly pieces in a small pot.
- Add water, soy sauce, vinegar, crushed garlic, bayleaf and peppercorns.
- Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes until the pork belly becomes tender.
- Heat cooking oil in a wok, sauté garlic until oil gets infused with the flavor of garlic.
- Remove pork belly from the sauce it was simmered in and fry in oil until a bit brown on the edges.
- Pour in the sauce.
- You can add more vinegar if you prefer a more sour adobo.
- Bring to a boil without stirring. Simmer for 10 minutes then add sugar and ground oregano.
- Mix well.
- Simmer for a few more seconds then turn off heat.
- Serve with steamed rice.
What a delicious recipe!!! Blessings dear. Catherine xo
Thank you so much, Catherine!
Amazing!! Loving this!
Thanks Asmita!
For you this is a Ho Hum recipe. But for ME, I can remember the first time I had this dish. That’s how memorable it was, even though that was 20 yrs ago. It is so delicious. And at least in my part of the States, you don’t easily find it. I was going to look back thru your site for a recipe. But I hadn’t gotten around to it. So how is the renovation of your Internet Café coming along?
The renovation is actually turning out nicely. Thank you so much for asking, Carol.
Peachy,you are the master of Filipino cuisine and this is a perfect masterpiece…even though we have become vegetarians for some years now…have had non-vegetarian delicacies lots of times before and have never tasted such a lovely combination of spices and soy sauce before…we have got to try this out with a vegetarian alternative….it looks scrumptious,thanks so much for sharing….Have A Wonderful Week!!! 🙂
We also do String Beans Adobo with tofu. That’s fantastic and ideal if you don’t eat meat.
Just by the looks I’m craving for the foods you prepared! I wonder if you have something to do with “tuyo” or “daing” aside from being fried or gata? that it’s a main course not just to add kicks to some dishes like mungo or spaghetti? tks passyourluck
Thanks passyourluck. I will think about a dish that would be perfect with tuyo and daing.
Great. Soon, I hope… good luck to you! cheers.
I used to work in a little Pilipino café when I was in high school and my favorite memory was eating the chicken adobo! I am excited to try the pork version of this!!!
-Tara
I do hope you give this a try Tara!
I have yet to make a Filipino adobo and they all looks so good! Love your version and it looks so easy!
It’s really very easy MJ. You can make this with chicken as well.
That kind of ;pork adobo is what I miss!
I’m sure you’re cooking it for your lovely family.
The all-time Filipino favorite! I mix chicken and pork when making adobo. My husband loves chicken adobo and I want liempo. 🙂
That’s a great idea too. I’ll do that next time.
My mouth is watering just by looking at it. Looks so delicious. Thanks for the recipe.Will be making this soon.
You’re welcome April. I hope you like it.
This is one dish I learn to cook from papa, well I learn all cooking from my father.
May favorite is chicken adobo, i just can eat chicken adobo everyday :).
I don’t usually put sugar in my pork adobo because I thought it is for humba hehehe..
The adobo looks so deliesh and I just want to eat adobo tomorrow 🙂
I like my adobo a little sweet..hihihi
This adobo version that I liked most…just a little sauce and with bay leaves.
I love Adobo!! I love it oily but I don’t like it too much soysauce ..
Your pork adobo looks really tasty and it makes me really hungry.
Thanks Franc!
We love adobo at home, and my mom has a killer pork adobo recipe, too. I love trying out different versions, though. I will go through your recipes one by one 🙂
I’ve always considered cooking as a burden rather than just a chore, that’s why I never bothered learning even the easiest dish. But of course, I’m getting older so I don’t have any choice but to learn how to cook, or else I’ll starve. LOL thanks for this post! It’ll come handy since now I have to cook for the kiddos 🙂