Authentic Chicken Adobo

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Ingredients

  • 2 cups coconut vinegar

  • ½ cup soy sauce

  • 2 heads garlic, peeled and coarsely chopped, divided

  • 10 bay leaves

  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder

  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground black pepper

  • 3 teaspoons annatto powder, divided

  • 5 ½ pounds cut-up chicken parts

  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided

Directions

  1. Combine vinegar, soy sauce, 1/2 of the chopped garlic, bay leaves, garlic powder, pepper, and 1 ½ teaspoons annatto powder in a large bowl. Add chicken, stir to coat, cover, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

  2. Remove chicken from marinade and pat dry. Reserve marinade.

  3. Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken until brown, about 4 minutes per side. Remove skillet from heat and set aside.

  4. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir remaining 1/2 of the chopped garlic until brown, about 3 minutes. Add remaining 1 ½ teaspoons annatto powder, lower heat and simmer, about 3 minutes.

  5. Pour annatto mixture over chicken and add reserved marinade. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook until chicken is tender, about 45 minutes. Uncover and cook until sauce has reduced slightly, about 10 minutes more.