Chicken Adobo*

Recipe from NYT that looked good, but I can't get fresh bay leaves or coconut vinegar.  So maybe if I happen to be at an Asian store or Whole Foods, then I'll wait to make.  I thought this recipe was going to use Adobo peppers, but no.

Ingredients:
-2 Tbsp coconut oil
-15 garlic cloves, roughly chopped

-2 tsp whole black peppercorns, plus 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper

-1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

-4 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken drumsticks and thighs

-1 cup unsweetened coconut milk

-1/2 cup coconut vinegar

-1/2 cup soy sauce

-8 fresh bay leaves

-Cooked rice, for serving

Directions:

1. In a large pot, heat the coconut oil over medium-high until shimmering.  Add the garlic, whole peppercorns, freshly ground pepper and red-pepper flakes, drop the temperature to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is toasted and softened and mixture is fragrant, about 5 min.

2. Add the chicken, skin-side down, and cook over medium-high, undisturbed, until fat starts to render, about 5 min

3. Stir in the coconut milk, coconut vinegar, soy sauce, bay leaves, and 1 cup water, and let the mixture come to a boil.  Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until the chicken feels loosened and just about falling off the bone, stirring halfway through, about 1 hour.

4. Increase the temperature to medium-high and cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce is thickened to a velvety gravy, about 15 min.  Serve chicken and sauce over rice.