Slow-Braised Pork Adobo with Bay Leaves and Black Peppercorns

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-04 · Updated 2026-08-04

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

Tender pork chunks slowly braised in a tangy and savory adobo sauce infused with garlic, soy, and aromatic bay leaves. This Filipino-inspired pork recipe, ready in about 150 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, soy sauce, white vinegar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 40 min Cook: 110 min Serves 6 Filipino cuisine 350 cal/serving

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Ingredients

2 lbs, cut into 2-inch cubes pork shoulder
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup white vinegar
1 cup water
6 cloves, crushed garlic
1 tbsp whole black peppercorns
3 bay leaves
1 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 medium, sliced white onion
to taste salt

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Instructions

Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 1/2 cup soy sauce, 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1 cup water, 6 crushed garlic cloves, 1 tbsp whole black peppercorns, 3 bay leaves, and 1 tbsp brown sugar. Add 2 lbs pork shoulder cubes and marinate for at least 30 minutes.
Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Remove pork from marinade (reserve marinade) and sear pork cubes for 4-5 minutes until lightly browned on all sides.
Step 3: Add 1 medium sliced white onion to the pot and sauté with pork for 3 minutes until softened and fragrant.
Step 4: Pour in the reserved marinade and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer gently for 1 hour 30 minutes until pork is tender and sauce is reduced and slightly thickened.
Step 5: Taste and season with salt as needed. Remove bay leaves and serve hot with steamed rice.