Spicy Caramel Chicken

Ingredients

Main
2 lbs —boneless, skinless chicken thighs
½ cup —jalapeño peppers
½ cup —red chiles or bell peppers
½ cup —green onions
½ cup —roasted peanuts
optional: ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
4 cups —cooked white rice
Sauce
2 tbsp —finely grated fresh ginger
4 —cloves finely minced garlic
¾ cup —light brown sugar
⅓ cup —rice vinegar
⅓ cup —fish sauce
~1 tsp —soy sauce
~2 tsp —hot sauce

Method

Make the sauce

  • In a medium mixing bowl
    • Peel and grate ginger
    • Peel and crush garlic
    • Add brown sugar, rice vinegar, and fish sauce
    • Add soy sauce and hot sauce and whisk together

Prep

  • Trim and cut chicken into ~1″ pieces
  • Transfer to a large mixing bowl
  • Add ~1⁄4 cup of the sauce and make sure the chicken is thoroughly coated
  • Marinate on the counter while prepping the rest of the ingredients
  • Seed and slice peppers into rings
  • Get peanuts
  • Chop green onions
  • Make rice

Make the caramel chicken

  • Put a heavy cast iron pan over high heat
  • When ready to cook, add oil and chicken pieces
  • Cook, stirring, until all the chicken is caramelized
  • Have courage to get deep caramelization
  • Visualize perfection
  • Back off heat to medium
  • Add in peppers, peanuts, and onions
  • Cook for 1 minute
  • Add the rest of the sauce and bring to a simmer and let it thicken a bit
  • Taste and adjust seasoning

References