Honey Soy Chicken - Marinade and Sauce (excellent grilled!)
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
20 mins
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Additional Time
1 d
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Servings
5 - 6
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Calories
353 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
American
Honey Soy Chicken - Marinade and Sauce (excellent grilled!)
Description
The marinade sauce is made from soy sauce, honey, cider vinegar, Chinese cooking wine, sesame oil, and minced garlic blended until the honey dissolves. Part of the sauce is reserved for basting during cooking, and part is set aside to make a thickened serving sauce with cornflour and water. Raw chicken is marinated for at least 3 hours, preferably up to 48 hours, for flavor penetration.
The chicken is cooked over medium-high heat on a BBQ or skillet coated lightly with oil. It is grilled for about 10 minutes, with turning and frequent basting with reserved sauce to build a sticky glaze. The final serving sauce, thickened and kept warm, is served alongside or drizzled over the chicken.
The recipe notes suit boneless thighs or breast pieces. Different cooking times apply depending on chicken cut size and bone presence. The marinade can be prepared in bulk and frozen in portions, with cooked chicken storing up to five days refrigerated. Gentle reheating methods preserve moisture.
Ingredients
- 1.25 - 1.5 kg/ 2.5 - 3 lb chicken thighs Note 1, skinless boneless; or breast
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil , for cooking
Honey Soy Marinade Sauce:
- 1/2 cup soy sauce , all purpose or light (not dark, Note 2)
- 2/3 cup honey (sub maple syrup)
- 1/3 cup cider vinegar (or rice vinegar)
- 1/4 cup Chinese cooking wine key ingredient, Note 3, or dry sherry
- 1 tbsp sesame oil , toasted (Note 4)
- 1 1/2 tbsp garlic , finely minced
Serving Sauce:
- 1/3 cup water
- 1 1/2 tsp cornflour or cornstarch
Garnishes (optional):
- green onion , finely sliced
- sesame seeds
Instructions
Marinade Sauce:
- Place ingredients in a jug and mix well until honey is completely dissolved.
- Reserve 1/4 cup for Basting, refrigerate. (Note 5)
- Reserve 2/3 cup for Serving Sauce, refrigerate.
- Marinade Chicken: Pour remaining marinade over chicken in a container. Coat chicken thoroughly. Cover, refrigerate 24 to 48 hours (minimum 3 hrs).
Serving Sauce (Makes 1 cup):
- Place reserved sauce in a small saucepan. Mix cornflour and water, then add into saucepan.
- Simmer over medium for 5 minutes, stirring regularly, until it thickens to a syrupy consistency. Set aside and keep warm. (If it gets too thick, just add a bit more water)
Cook:
- Brush BBQ plate or grills with oil and heat to medium high. Or heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
- THIGHS: Place chicken on BBQ. Cook the first side for 2 minutes, then flip and dab with reserved Basting Sauce. Cook for 2 minutes, flip and baste. Then flip/baste every 1 minute for total cook time of ~ 10 minutes or until a thermometer reads 75°C/165°F.
- BREAST: Cook first side 2 minutes, flip, baste. Cook 2 minutes, then flip and baste every 45 sec or so for total cook time of ~8 minutes (internal temp 66°C / 151°F).
- REST: Transfer to serving plate, cover loosely with foil and rest for 5 minutes.
- SERVE chicken garnished with sesame seeds and green onion, with sauce on the side so people can help themselves.
Notes
- Use boneless skinless chicken thighs or breast for easier and faster grilling; bone-in pieces require longer cooking at medium heat with lid down.
- Light or all-purpose soy sauce is recommended; avoid dark or sweet varieties which overpower the flavor.
- Chinese cooking wine is essential for depth; suitable substitutes include dry sherry, Mirin, or cooking sake in order of preference.
- Toasted sesame oil provides characteristic flavor preferred in this recipe.
- The basting sauce is uncooked marinade; frequent basting is necessary because it doesn't spend enough time on heat to kill raw chicken juices.
- Cooked chicken stores up to five days refrigerated and reheats well briefly in an oven or microwave.
- Preparing large batches of marinade and freezing in portions before adding chicken is a convenient make-ahead option.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 5- 6
Amount Per Serving
Calories 353 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 353cal | 18% |
| Carbohydrates | 16g | 5% |
| Protein | 39g | 78% |
| Fat | 14g | 22% |
| Saturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Cholesterol | 190mg | 63% |
| Sodium | 569mg | 24% |
| Potassium | 523mg | 11% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 14g | 28% |
| Vitamin A | 48IU | 1% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 22mg | 2% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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