Watch: Selena Gomez Cooks Adobo and Read Adobo Facts in this List

Selena Gomez cooks adobo in her new cooking show and Filipinos rave about the dish once again. Yes, this is not the first time that adobo and other Filipino dishes hit international shows. But Filipinos always love it when a big star, such as Selena, brings Filipino cuisine to the global spotlight.

Read on to see how Selena Gomez prepares adobo in her cooking show. And learn some interesting facts about the dish too.

How Selena Gomez Cooks Adobo in her Show

There’s no doubt. Adobo is one of the most popular dishes in Filipino cuisine, with only Sinigang rivaling its fame. Adobo often receives global attention from tourists too. That is especially when they talk about the dish on their blogs, videos, and books.

And that is what Selena Gomez did.

She features Filipino adobo in her cooking show, Selena  + Chef. And that is with the help of Filipino-Canadian celebrity chef Jordan Andino.

Filipino viewers are also quick to notice the Datu Puti vinegar in Selena’s kitchen. Yes, Selena is using Filipino ingredients to prepare adobo. Meaning, she and Chef Jordan are probably doing it right.

After all, quality vinegar and soy sauce are essential in churning out the best Filipino adobo. And Datu Puti is a trusted brand among Filipinos in their kitchens today. This makes the brand a great add-on while Selena Gomez cooks adobo in her show.

But of course, adobo isn’t simply about meat, vinegar, and soy sauce. It has other vital ingredients too. And there are interesting facts about this popular dish that you should know.

7 Interesting Adobo Facts to Know

Adobo Fact #1: Ancient Filipinos have Adobo before Spaniards Came

A Spanish chef and culinary scientist, Borja Sanchez, points out that Filipinos already have adobo before the Spaniards reached the archipelago in 1521. But the ancient adobo is a basic version of cooking meat in a mixture of vinegar, salt, and chili pepper. Such original version doesn’t include soy sauce because it’s already developed way before Chinese traders brought the black condiment into the Filipino islands.

Adobo Fact #2: Spain has Adobo before Coming to the Philippines too

Now, here’s an interesting point. Spaniards also have adobo before they come in contact with ancient Filipinos. It also highlights meat that is cooked with vinegar and other ingredients. However, their adobo has evolved as they gather different ingredients from the places they reach.

Adobo Fact #3: It has Dozens of Variations

Adobo has dozens of variations from all over the archipelago. There are pork and chicken adobo. Different vegetable adobo, such as kangkong, sitaw, and eggplant, are also popular. There are even adobo recipes that produce different colors too.

Adobo Fact #4: Yes, Adobo doesn’t need to be Brown

The popular adobo that many people know is the brown variation. This version primarily uses the mixture of vinegar and soy sauce together.  But other recipes make adobo appear differently too.  For example, it may appear creamy white when mixed with coconut milk, black with squid, and orange or yellow with achuete and turmeric.

Adobo Fact #5: Vinegar is its Most Essential Ingredient

Whatever adobo you have in mind, it always has vinegar as one of the primary ingredients. Think of it, not all adobo has soy sauce, such as the Adobong Puti. It doesn’t even need to have meat, such as the various vegetable adobo. Yes, it is unsurprising when the Datu Puti vinegar easily captured the viewers when Selena Gomez cook adobo in her show.

Adobo Fact #6: It doesn’t Easily Spoil

It is natural for adobo to last a long time after cooking. Adobo can even last for a few days without refrigeration. The secret? The antibacterial property of vinegar marinates the dish while giving great flavor.

That’s why adobo is popular in coastal areas with high humidity. Note that humid areas boost the growth of bacteria in food and promote spoilage. Moreover, this property of adobo is useful for ancient travelers. In fact, Spanish expeditions commonly have adobo in their food storage.

Adobo Fact #7: How Adobo got its Name

To understand how the Filipino Adobo got its name, remember that the Spanish word “adobo” refers to the cooking process. It is not the name of actual recipes. Adobo refers to the method of cooking meat in vinegar along with other spices. 

Now, when Spaniards arrived in the archipelago, they saw the natives prepare Kilaw. It is a quite different dish but involves cooking pork, chicken, or fish meat in vinegar too. that is why Pedro de San Buenaventura called it “adobo de los naturales” or adobo of the natives.

Watch Selena Gomez Cooks Adobo while Learning about the Dish

Thinking about these adobo facts makes you realize that there are still more about the popular dish that you do not know. And these facts help you enjoy Filipino Adobo on a whole new level too. 

Of course, it is more enjoyable to see one of the Philippines’ best dishes in the international spotlight. That’s why you should watch Selena Gomez cooks adobo in her show! Perhaps, you can try cooking her version as well. Check out this adobo recipes!