Description
A quick and flavorful Vietnamese caramel ginger chicken featuring tender chicken pieces coated in a glossy sweet-salty caramel glaze, infused with ginger, fish sauce, and a hint of chilli. Perfect served over jasmine rice for a comforting yet vibrant meal.
Ingredients
1 kg skinless chicken thigh fillets, cut into large 5 cm pieces
3 tbsp fish sauce
1 bird’s eye or Thai chilli, deseeded and finely minced (optional)
3 tbsp vegetable oil
1/4 cup brown sugar, tightly packed
1/3 cup ginger, finely julienned (about a 5 cm piece)
2 eschallots, halved then finely sliced (or 1/2 red onion)
1/2 cup boiling water
Fresh coriander or green onion slices, to garnish
Finely sliced red chilli, to garnish (optional)
Jasmine rice, to serve
Instructions
- Toss the chicken with fish sauce and minced chilli, if using. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes while preparing other ingredients.
- In a large non-stick pan, combine the vegetable oil and brown sugar. Turn heat to medium-high and cook until the sugar melts and turns golden.
- Carefully add the chicken pieces to the pan along with the ginger and eschallots. Toss to coat in caramel (it may harden but will melt again when heated).
- Cook until the chicken turns white all over but not fully cooked through.
- Add the boiling water, stir, and bring to a rapid simmer over medium-high heat. Cook for 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens into a glossy glaze.
- Toss the chicken frequently during the last few minutes to ensure even caramelization.
- Serve hot over jasmine rice, garnished with coriander, green onions, and sliced chilli.
Notes
Add a squeeze of lime juice at the end to brighten the sauce.
Stir in vegetables like capsicum or snow peas for added freshness.
Substitute chicken with firm tofu or prawns for variation.
Garnish with crushed peanuts or fried shallots for crunch.
Use a large pan to help the sauce reduce properly and prevent overcrowding.
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Vietnamese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 345
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 890 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg
