Chef Johns Caramel Chicken Recipes

CARAMEL CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the brown sugar and cook, stirring constantly, until it begins to melt, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger and cook, continuing to stir, for another 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the vinegar, fish sauce and soy sauce. Bring to a low simmer and let cook for about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Use a paper towel to thoroughly pat dry the chicken. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.
• Heat a large ovenproof skillet over high heat until very hot. Add the oil. Place the chicken in the skillet skin-side down and let brown without moving it for about 4 minutes. Remove the chicken to a plate and raise the heat to medium-high. Add the brown sugar mixture and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits. Return the chicken to the skillet skin-side up. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake, basting the chicken with the sauce midway through cooking, until cooked through, about 20 minutes. For extra-crispy skin, transfer the skillet to the broiler for about 2 minutes. Serve over white rice with sauce.

CHEF JOHN'S CARAMEL CHICKEN

Steps:

• 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.
• Heat oil over high heat in a skillet. Stir in chicken.
• 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.
• Pour in the remaining brown sugar mixture; cook until chicken is tender and no longer pink inside, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in in peanuts, jalapenos and green onion; cook until warmed through, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Garnish with cilantro and serve.

CARAMEL CHICKEN

Steps:

• Whisk dark brown sugar, rice vinegar, water, fish sauce, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and crushed red pepper together in a bowl until sugar is completely dissolved.
• Heat oil in a skillet over high heat. Add chicken; cook until skin is golden brown, about 5 minutes. Pour in 1/2 cup of the brown sugar mixture. Cook and stir until sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes more.
• Pour in remaining sauce; cook until the juices run clear, 10 to 12 minutes. An instant-read thermometer should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Top with green onions.

CHEF JOHN'S CARAMEL CHICKEN

Steps:

• 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.
• Heat oil over high heat in a skillet. Stir in chicken.
• 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.
• Pour in the remaining brown sugar mixture; cook until chicken is tender and no longer pink inside, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in in peanuts, jalapenos and green onion; cook until warmed through, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Garnish with cilantro and serve.

SPICY CARAMEL CHICKEN

Steps:

• Whisk grated ginger, garlic, brown sugar, rice vinegar, fish sauce, hot sauce, and soy sauce together in a large bowl.
• Place chicken chunks in a bowl. Pour 1/4 cup of the prepared sauce onto chicken chunks; mix until all chicken pieces are coated. Set aside 15 minutes.
• Heat vegetable oil in a heavy skillet over high heat. As soon as oil starts to smoke, place chicken chunks in a single layer in the pan. Cook and stir until chicken pieces start to caramelize and turn deep brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium. Stir in sliced jalapeno and red peppers, peanuts, and green onions. Cook and stir one minute. Pour in remainder of sauce. Simmer until heated through, 1 or 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Stir in cilantro. Serve over hot cooked rice and top with chopped green onions.