Filipino Pork Adobo Recipe – The Filipina Cy

If there’s one Filipino dish I can make over and over again and never get tired of, it’s pork adobo. Tender pieces of pork simmered with soy sauce, vinegar, lots of garlic, bay leaves, and peppercorns — simple ingredients that somehow turn into the kind of food that makes you want another scoop of rice.

There are so many ways to make adobo in the Philippines, and every family seems to have their own version. This is how I make mine at home — savory, garlicky, a little tangy, and with plenty of sauce for the rice.

Want to learn more about the dish? Read about the history and cultural significance of Filipino adobo.

What is Filipino Pork Adobo?

Pork adobo is one of the many versions of adobo you’ll find in the Philippines. Pork is simmered in a savory, tangy sauce made with vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, bay leaves, and whole black peppercorns until the meat is tender and full of flavor.

There really isn’t just one “correct” way to make adobo. Recipes can change from one family or region to another, and that’s part of what makes it such a special Filipino dish. This version is the way I like to make it at home, with onion, oyster sauce, a little butter, and optional brown sugar for balance.

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Ingredients You’ll Need

2 lbs pork shoulder, cubed
½ cup soy sauce
½ cup white vinegar
2 tbsp oyster sauce
1 cup water
8 garlic cloves, crushed
1 medium onion, chopped
2 bay leaves
1 tsp whole black peppercorns
1 tbsp brown sugar, optional
1 tbsp cooking oil
2 tbsp butter

How to Make Filipino Pork Adobo

Brown the pork. Heat the cooking oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Add the pork and cook until lightly browned.
Add the aromatics. Add the butter, onion, and garlic. Cook until the onion begins to soften and the garlic is fragrant.
Add the sauce. Pour in the soy sauce, vinegar, oyster sauce, and water. Stir everything together and scrape the bottom of the pot to release the flavorful browned bits.
Season the adobo. Add the bay leaves, whole black peppercorns, and brown sugar, if using.
Simmer until tender. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce the heat, and simmer for 35–45 minutes, or until the pork is tender.
Taste and adjust. Taste the sauce and adjust the saltiness if needed.
Reduce the sauce. Remove the cover and simmer for another 10–15 minutes, or until the sauce reduces to your preferred consistency.
Serve. Serve hot with plenty of steamed rice and spoon some of that adobo sauce over the top.

Tips for the Best Pork Adobo

Brown the pork first. This adds another layer of flavor before the pork simmers in the sauce.
Don’t rush the simmer. Give the pork enough time to become tender and absorb all that adobo flavor.
Adjust it to your taste. Adobo is personal! Add a little more vinegar if you like it tangier, or a touch of brown sugar if you prefer a little sweetness.
Let the sauce reduce. I like my adobo with enough sauce for rice, but not so watery that all that flavor gets lost.
It’s even better the next day. Adobo is one of those dishes that tastes amazing after the flavors have had more time to come together.

What to Serve With Pork Adobo

For me, you really can’t go wrong with a big bowl of hot steamed rice. The rice soaks up that savory, tangy adobo sauce, and honestly, that’s usually all I need. You can also serve it with vegetables or a simple Filipino side dish if you want to make it a bigger meal.

Kitchen Tools for Making Pork Adobo

You don’t need anything fancy to make a good pot of adobo, but having the right cookware definitely makes things easier. Here are a few kitchen essentials that are useful for this recipe and plenty of other Filipino dishes too.

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Dutch Oven or Heavy-Bottomed Pot — Great for browning the pork and letting the adobo simmer slowly and evenly. Shop Dutch Ovens →
Wooden Spoon — Handy for stirring the adobo and scraping up those flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Shop Wooden Spoons →
Chef’s Knife — For cubing the pork and chopping the onion and garlic. Shop Chef’s Knives →
Cutting Board — A sturdy cutting board makes all that prep much easier. Shop Cutting Boards →

Made This Filipino Pork Adobo?

If you make this Filipino pork adobo, I’d love to know how it turned out! Leave a comment below and let me know how your family liked it. And if you’re looking for more Filipino food to try, explore my other Filipino recipes for more dishes that taste like home.