Filipino food is clearly having a moment among foodie circles, especially in the United States. Adobo, one of the most quintessential Filipino dishes, holds fond memories among many Pinoys in the country and abroad, making its mark as a staple on the family dinner table!
Our beloved adobo just earned its moment in the spotlight after British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay chose an adobo-inspired burger in a burger cook-off on the Good Morning America show, while promoting his new program, The F Word.
The winning dish was prepared by 25-year-old Maura Hohman, whose Pork Adobo Burger went against a Bison and Chorizo Stacked Burger.
Before anything else, let’s get one thing clear: No, we don’t need foreign chefs or celebrities like Gordon Ramsay to validate our history-laden food. And while it’s easy to claim “cultural appropriation!” over this iteration, it does seem that Maura (who is not Pinoy) has some understanding of our cuisine, if her interpretation of adobo is any indication. It’s an interesting take on a classic dish without taking away the important elements that make it Filipino. I don’t know about you, but this Pinoy over here is pretty impressed.
So if you want to recreate the adobo burger that impressed the Masterchef US judge, no worries, we saved you a Google search. Here’s a faithful, Pinoy-approved burger recipe that stays true to its adobo roots:
Pork Adobo Burger
Ingredients:
For the patty
- ground beef
- chopped bacon
- salt
- pepper
For the adobo sauce
- soy sauce
- vinegar
- garlic
- onion
- bayleaf
- pepper
For the bun
- Freshly baked pandesal from your neighborhood Pinoy bakery
.
Procedure
1. Combine chopped bacon and ground beef, and shape into a patty of your desired size. We recommend making one inch-thick patties.
2. Heat a pan with vegetable or canola oil over medium to high heat. Sear the patty for 3-4 minutes per side.
3. Season the patty with salt and pepper.
4. Slice pan de sal in half, and toast each piece.
5. Place a bed lettuce and tomato onion on the burger.
6. Top your burger with the adobo sauce.
For the adobo sauce:
1. In a bowl, mix soy sauce, vinegar, bayleaf and pepper corn.
2. Heat pan with oil to medium heat. Sauté garlic and onion.
3. Add the liquid mixture to the pan, and stir until reduced.
Thoughts on this? Will you be trying out this adobo recipe? Tag a friend!
