DINING

Home Cooking with Mariko Ashley: Dry Chicken Adobo

By Natalie Gitt

For as long as she can remember, adobo has been a staple on Mariko Ashley’s table. A design enthusiast, home cook, and part of the Fable community, she learned the recipe from her dad—a family favorite drawn from his Filipino roots, and the perfect balance of sweet and savory.

“Truth be told, this is actually the first time we’ve written down a recipe for my dad’s adobo! Growing up it was best practice for him to eyeball ingredients while cooking,
and to adjust proportions
later on if need be."

"Ultimately this recipe differs from household to household, as every family has their own flavor and texture preferences that make their adobo unique. My dad sometimes makes this recipe using pork, and I’ve even tried plant based versions with oyster mushrooms or seitan—but we’ve both found that chicken seems to hold the classic adobo flavor the best.

He recommends using the Datu Puti brand soy sauce and vinegar if you’re able to find it at your local Filipino grocery store, but if not, distilled white vinegar and other soy sauce brands will also suffice. You can also keep the peppercorns whole by placing them in a metal tea strainer while cooking, and removing before serving.”

Ingredients

2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs

3/4 cup white vinegar

1/2 cup soy sauce

2 tbsp brown sugar

1 tbsp peppercorns (ground)

green onions (chopped, for garnish)

8-10 cloves of garlic (minced)

1-2 dried bay leaves

1 tbsp oil (for sautéing)

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4. Keep it timeless.

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