Chef John's Caramel Chicken

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.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 20 mins
• Total Time: 40 mins
• Calories: 615 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
• ⅓ cup cold water
• 1 bunch green onions, chopped
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• ⅓ cup rice vinegar
• ¾ cup dark brown sugar
• ⅓ cup fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
• 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, quartered
• ½ cup roasted peanuts
• 2 fresh jalapeno peppers, seeded and sliced
• fresh cilantro sprigs, for garnish

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Whisk brown sugar, water, fish sauce, rice vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger in a bowl until brown sugar is completely dissolved, about 1 minute. Set aside.

Step 2

Heat oil over high heat in a skillet. Stir in chicken.

Step 3

Pour 1/3 cup of the brown sugar mixture over chicken; cook and stir until the brown sugar mixture has a syrup-like consistency, 6 to 7 minutes.

Step 4

Pour in the remaining brown sugar mixture; cook until chicken is tender and no longer pink inside, about 5 minutes.

Step 5

Stir in in peanuts, jalapenos and green onion; cook until warmed through, 2 to 3 minutes.

Step 6

Garnish with cilantro and serve.