Caramel Chicken
User Reviews
4.5
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
10 mins
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Total Time
20 mins
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Servings
3 people
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Calories
447 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Vietnamese
Caramel Chicken
Description
Caramel Chicken combines marinated chicken thighs cooked in a skillet to create slightly charred, crispy skin. The marinade of sugar, fish sauce, and black pepper infuses a distinctive savory-sweet base, while the caramel sauce introduces a glossy coating with balanced acidity from vinegars and sweetness from sugar. Cooking involves pan-frying the chicken skin-side to crispiness before simmering it with sauce to meld flavors and thicken the glaze.
The final touches of minced garlic and fresh jalapeño slices enhance the aroma and provide a mild spiciness. This recipe pairs well with plain steamed rice to absorb the caramel sauce and highlight the richness of the chicken. Immediate serving is recommended to enjoy the textures and flavors at their best.
A practical note for cooks: boneless chicken thighs with skin are preferred for ease of preparation, and marinating briefly helps deepen the flavors without extended wait times. Using a cast iron skillet can improve heat retention for better caramelization. Adjust jalapeño quantity to control heat level.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. chicken thighs with skin, deboned
- 2 tablespoons neutral cooking oil generic cooking oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 jalapeño sliced
Marinade:
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- black pepper
Caramel Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1/2 tablespoon sugar
- 3 teaspoons rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Marinate the chicken with the marinade ingredients for 10 minutes. In a bowl, mix all the ingredients for the caramel sauce and set aside.
- Heat up a skillet (cast iron preferred) on medium to high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of oil. Pan-fry the chicken (skin side up) until the bottom turns slightly crispy and brown. Repeat the same for the skin until it becomes slightly charred. Transfer the chicken out of the skillet.
- Add the remaining oil into the skillet and sauté the garlic. Then, add the chicken back into the pan, followed by the caramel sauce mixture.
- Lower the heat to a simmer and continue to cook until the caramel sauce reduces and becomes amber in color. Be sure to turn the chicken a couple of times during cooking.
- Add the jalapeño and continue to cook for about 1 minute. Dish out and serve immediately with steamed rice.
Notes
- Use boneless chicken thighs with skin for easier cooking and good caramelization.
- Marinate the chicken for about 10 minutes to infuse flavor without making the process lengthy.
- Cook on medium-high heat in a heavy skillet, ideally cast iron, to achieve crispy and slightly charred skin.
- Add sliced jalapeño at the end to introduce mild heat; adjust amount based on desired spiciness.
- Serve this dish hot with steamed rice to balance the caramel sauce's richness.
- You may use skinless and boneless chicken thighs if preferred, but skin-on yields better texture.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 3people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 447 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1g | |
| Calories | 447kcal | 22% |
| Carbohydrates | 8g | 3% |
| Protein | 25g | 50% |
| Fat | 34g | 52% |
| Saturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 8g | 47% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 16g | 80% |
| Trans Fat | 0.2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 148mg | 49% |
| Sodium | 1060mg | 44% |
| Potassium | 363mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 0.1g | 0% |
| Sugar | 7g | 14% |
| Vitamin A | 145IU | 3% |
| Vitamin C | 4mg | 4% |
| Calcium | 24mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.5
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