Adobo

If you only master one Filipino recipe, make it adobo. Filipinos are as likely to agree that adobo should be considered the national dish of the Philippines as they’re liable to disagree on every other point about its preparation and enjoyment. The recipe has endless variations, each accompanied by a different set of pamahiin [superstitions]. When I would prepare my evening meal after long workdays, adobo was my best friend. A braise flavored with vinegar, salt, and garlic, it’s easy to make and gets better the longer you keep it. These piquant seasonings, which preserved the dish prerefrigeration, permeate, lending the main ingredients a greater depth of flavor.