What adobo means
Adobo is a word with several meanings, all linked by the idea of marinating or seasoning with vinegar, garlic and spices. It comes from the Spanish verb adobar, to marinate. The best known use today is Filipino adobo, often called the national dish of the Philippines. Chicken, pork or both are simmered with vinegar, soy sauce, lots of garlic, bay leaves and black peppercorns until tender, then the sauce is reduced to a glossy, tangy glaze.
Some cooks brown the meat afterwards for extra flavour. In Spain, adobo is a marinade of vinegar, paprika, garlic and oregano used for pork and fish. In Mexico, adobo is a thick, rich sauce of dried chillies, vinegar, garlic and spices, used for marinating and braising meat. Many people know it from tins of chipotles in adobo, smoked chillies packed in this sauce, which are used to add smoky heat to stews, beans and marinades.
In Puerto Rico and across much of the Caribbean, adobo also means a dry seasoning mix of garlic, salt, oregano and pepper. Because the same word covers different things, it is worth checking which kind a recipe means before shopping. Each version is distinctive, and all are widely used in home cooking.