Pork Adobo with Oyster Sauce is your classic Filipino adobo made extra special! It's easy to make in an hour yet turns out so tasty! You'll love the melt-in-your-mouth tender pork belly and sweet and savory sauce with steamed rice.

Adobong Baboy with Oyster Sauce in a white serving bowl.

We have 20-plus adobo varieties already on the blog, and I am excited to add another one to the list. You can never have too many adobo recipes, right? Especially when it's made extra yummy with the sweet and savory flavors of oyster sauce!

There are so many ways to prepare this classic Filipino stew, from adobo sa gata and pork ribs adobo with atsuete to adobong dilaw and adobong puti. Every version has its own delicious nashville filipino food flavor profile, it's pretty hard to nail down a favorite.

But why pick one when you can make them ALL?

Adobo Ingredients

pork belly, soy sauce, vinegar, water, onion, garlic, salt, peppercorns, bay leaves, oyster sauce in bowls.
  • Pork- I love the deep flavor and velvety texture of pork belly in my adobong baboy, but other cuts such as Boston butt, pork shanks or hocks, pork chops, picnic shoulder, and pork ribs are also great options.
  • Seasonings- the Filipino adobo is braised in a mixture of vinegar, soy sauce, and aromatics such as onions, garlic, peppercorns, and bay leaves for a salty and savory taste.
  • Oyster sauce- in this pork belly adobo recipe version, a dollop or two of oyster sauce is stirred into the sauce for another layer of flavor.

Pork adobo with oyster sauce cooking process

cooking pork adobo with oyster sauce in a pan.

You can marinate the meat before searing if you like, but I find it unnecessary as the low and slow cooking infuses enough flavor.

  1. Browning the meat adds depth of flavor. Pat the pork dry to ensure a good sear. Do not overcrowd the pan and use a wide pan or cook in batches as necessary. Heat a pan over medium heat. Add pork belly and cook until lightly browned and begins to render fat. Add onions and garlic and cook until softened.
  2. Add vinegar and bring to a boil, uncovered and without stirring, for about 2 to 3 minutes before adding the soy sauce and water to cook off the strong acid taste.
  3. Add soy sauce and water. Bring to a boil, skimming any scum that floats on top.
  4. Add bay leaves and peppercorns. Lower heat, cover, and simmer until pork is fork-tender and liquid is reduced. If the meat is tender before the sauce is fully reduced, remove the lid and increase the heat to allow quicker evaporation. If the sauce is drying out before the meat is sufficiently tender, add more water in ½ cup increments as needed.
  5. Add oyster sauce and stir to combine. Continue to cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
  6. As the flavors of the dish will concentrate as the sauce reduces, season with salt and pepper if needed at the end of cook time to accurately gauge taste.

Quick tips

  • Cut the meat in uniform size to ensure even cooking. To make slicing easier, freeze the pork belly for about 8 to 10 minutes or until slightly firm.
  • The recipe uses palm vinegar (Filipino brand); if you're substituting white distilled, which has a stronger taste, you might need to adjust the amount.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does oyster sauce add flavor?

Yes. Oyster sauce is a condiment made with oyster juice, salt, sugar, and caramel color. It's commonly used in stir-fries, sauces, and marinades to add a sweet, salty, and umami punch.

How much oyster sauce should I use?

I use about ¼ cup in this recipe with about a kilo of pork. The adobo already has soy sauce so make sure to taste text adjust amount as desired lest the sauce gets overly salty.

Is hoisin sauce and oyster sauce the same?

No. Hoisin sauce is has a fermented soy bean base while oyster sauce is made from oyster extract. However, hoisin can make a suitable substitute for the latter especially in vegan or vegetarian recipes. Use 1 to 1 ratio.

pork adobo with oyster sauce on a white serving plate with steamed rice and glass of water and a bowl of adobo in the background.

How to Serve and store

  • Serve for lunch or dinner with steamed rice and a side of atchara or pickled mangoes to cut through the richness and add a contrast of flavor. Or enjoy for breakfast with sinangag and sunny side up eggs as hearty adosilog.
  • Adobo makes great leftovers and will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow to cool completely and transfer into an airtight container or resealable bag.
  • To reheat, place in a saucepan with a splash of water if needed and heat over low heat to an internal temperature of 165 F.

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @kawalingpinoy on Facebook and Instagram!

4Servings

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a pan over medium heat, add the pork belly and cook, turning as needed, for about 3 to 5 minutes or until browned and begins to render fat.
  • Add onions and garlic and cook until softened.
  • Add vinegar and bring to a boil, uncovered and without stirring, for about 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Add soy sauce and water. Bring to a boil, skimming any scum that floats on top.
  • Add bay leaves and peppercorns.
  • Lower heat, cover, and cook until meat is fork-tender and liquid is reduced.
  • Add oyster sauce and continue to cook for about 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Season with salt if needed. Serve hot.

Notes

  • Cut the meat in uniform size to ensure even cooking. To make slicing easier, freeze the pork belly for about 8 to 10 minutes or until slightly firm.
  • Browning the meat adds depth of flavor. Pat the pork dry to ensure a good sear. Do not overcrowd the pan and use a wide pan or cook in batches as necessary.
  • The recipe uses palm vinegar (Filipino brand); if you're substituting white distilled, which has a stronger taste, you might need to adjust the amount. To cook off the vinegar taste, allow it to boil, uncovered and without stirring, for a good few minutes before adding the soy sauce and water.
  • As the flavors of the dish will concentrate as the sauce reduces, season with salt if needed at the end of cook time to accurately gauge taste.

Video

YouTube video

Nutrition Information

Calories: 1222kcal, Carbohydrates: 7g, Protein: 24g, Fat: 120g, Saturated Fat: 44g, Cholesterol: 163mg, Sodium: 1285mg, Potassium: 509mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 23IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 37mg, Iron: 2mg

“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”

About Lalaine Manalo

Welcome to Kawaling Pinoy. Here you’ll find hundreds of delicious nashville filipino food Filipino and Asian recipes. Make sure to browse around and pick a favorite dish or two. Happy cooking! Read More

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