Comfort food. That is what I wanted when I googled “Paleo Filipino Adobo.” Something familiar that felt like home.

Of course, one of the main ingredients in Filipino Adobo is soy sauce. So I was even more curious to see how anyone pulled it off.

Enter coconut aminos. Just like soy sauce without the soy. At least that’s what all the Paleo Filipino blog sites were touting. So I ordered a few bottles on Vitacost and was excited when they finally arrived.

I found a solid crockpot recipe that included coconut milk (fancy!) and got to cooking.

Well, turns out this was some expensive comfort food:

And this didn’t even include the cauliflower rice I made with it (for the record, NOT a good substitute for real rice at all)! Coconut aminos are NOT cheap and definitely not as cheap as soy sauce. I used about 3/4 of one bottle.

Also the coconut milk did nothing for the dish. You can totally leave it out and save some dollars.

I have to say though, it was really, really delicious and comforting. So totally worth it.

What to buy:

• chicken thighs and/or drumsticks with skin – about 8-10 pieces
• ginger
• garlic
• red onion
• coconut aminos – 3/4 cup needed
• white or apple cider vinegar – 3/4 cup needed
• coconut milk (totally optional and unnecessary)

What to cut:

• ginger – mince
• garlic – mince
• red onion – strips

Spices!

• black pepper or whole peppercorns

What to cook with:

• a crockpot

How to make it:

1. Mince the ginger and garlic and cut the red onions. Put in the crockpot.
2. Put the chicken in the crockpot.
3. Pour an equal ratio of coconut aminos and vinegar into the crockpot. I did 3/4 cup each.
4. Pour the coconut milk into the crockpot (or not!).
5. Add a healthy dose of black pepper, or better yet, a small handful black peppercorns.
6. Turn on the crockpot for 6 hours and let the amazing smell take over the house.