Chef John’s Caramel Chicken
Description
Succulent chicken cooked in a spicy sweet-sour sauce. It’s inspired by a dish made famous by San Francisco’s The Slanted Door restaurant.
Ingredients
•
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
•
1/3 cup cold water
•
1/3 cup fish sauce
•
1/3 cup rice vinegar
•
4 cloves garlic, crushed
•
1 tablespoon soy sauce
•
1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
•
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
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8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, quartered
•
1/2 cup roasted peanuts
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1 bunch green onions, chopped
•
2 fresh jalapeno peppers, seeded and sliced
•
fresh cilantro sprigs, for garnish
Directions
1
Whisk brown sugar, water, fish sauce, rice wine vinegar, garlic, soy sauce, and ginger together in a bowl until brown sugar completely dissolved, about 1 minute; set aside.
2
Heat oil in a skillet over high heat; add chicken.
3
Pour 1/3 cup brown sugar mixture over chicken; cook and stir until mixture has a syrup-like consistency, 6 to 7 minutes.
4
Pour in remaining brown sugar mixture; cook until chicken tender and no longer pink inside, about 5 minutes.
5
Stir in in peanuts, green onions, and jalapeños; cook until warmed through, 2 to 3 minutes.
6
Garnish with cilantro and serve.