Continuing My Chicken Kick...

Okay, so this may not be the exact recipe for Caramel Chicken, made famous by The Slanted Door, a popular Vietnamese restaurant in San Francisco. Theirs is actually made in a clay pot and takes much longer to prepare. Ain't nobody got time for that!  It’s been well reported that this dish is a favorite of Mick Jagger, who makes a point of ordering it when he’s in the city by the bay. This version is quick, easy, and delicious, and can be whipped up in just a few minutes on the stove top. No clay pot required.

The Slanted Door Caramel Chicken

Serves 4 to 6

¾ cup dark brown sugar

1/3 cup water

3 tablespoons fish sauce (nam pla or nuoc mam)

1/3 cup unseasoned rice vinegar

1 teaspoon dry sherry

1 teaspoon tamari

2 tablespoons fresh ginger, peeled and grated

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 Thai chilies, sliced thin

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 2-inch pieces

Freshly cracked black pepper

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

5 scallions, thinly sliced on an angle, for garnish

½ cup roasted unsalted peanuts, roughly chopped

Cilantro leaves, for garnish

Steamed jasmine rice, for serving

In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, water, fish sauce, vinegar, sherry, tamari, ginger, garlic and chilies.

Season chicken generously with pepper. In a large sauté pan, heat the oil until shimmery and almost smoking; add the chicken and sear on all sides until golden brown, about 5 minutes total.  Adjust the heat as necessary. Push the chicken to the sides of the pan forming a well. Pour the sauce in the middle of the well and reduce until thick and syrupy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir to coat the chicken and finish cooking through, about 5 minutes. Stir in the scallions.

To serve, mound rice on a platter and pour the chicken over. Shower with peanuts and cilantro.

Note: Tamari is dark aged soy sauce.

Tweet

Pin It now!