Welcome to a truly comforting and flavorful meal that’s perfect for any night! This Caramelized Soy Chicken dish combines sweet and savory notes with aromatic ginger and garlic, creating an irresistible experience. It’s incredibly quick and easy to prepare, making it an ideal choice for busy weeknights when you still crave something homemade and delicious. Get ready to transform simple ingredients into a truly satisfying dinner for the whole family.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Caramelized Soy Chicken
You’re going to adore this recipe for so many reasons. It’s designed to bring maximum flavor with minimal fuss, perfect for even the busiest schedules.
- Rich, Sweet-Savory Chicken: Enjoy boneless, skinless chicken thighs coated in a luscious, sticky sauce with beautiful caramelized spots.
- Aromatic Garlic-Ginger Broth: A fragrant broth infused with fresh ginger and garlic creates a warm, comforting base for your meal.
- Balanced, Complete Meal: Served over fluffy rice with crisp cucumber, this dish offers a delightful harmony of textures and tastes.
- Quick Weeknight Dinner: From start to finish, you can have this amazing dinner on the table in under 30 minutes.
- Easily Customizable: Adjust the spice, sweetness, or garnish to perfectly suit your family’s preferences.
- Impress Guests: This beautiful and flavorful chicken dish looks impressive but requires very little effort to achieve.
Ingredients
Gathering your ingredients is the first step to creating this delightful Caramelized Soy Chicken. Each component plays a vital role in building the layers of flavor.
- 10g Fresh Ginger
- 10 Garlic Cloves
- 700ml Chicken Stock
- 5 Spring Onions
- 8 Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
- 3 Tbsp Kecap Manis
- Ground White Pepper, to taste
- 30ml Neutral Oil
- 1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- 2 Tsp Toasted Sesame Seeds
- 70ml Water
- 1 Cucumber
- 500g Cooked Rice
- Sambal or Chilli Garlic Sauce, to taste (for serving)
Notes & Substitutions
- Fresh ginger/garlic: If fresh isn’t available, use 1 tablespoon of pre-minced ginger and garlic paste for convenience.
- Chicken thighs: Boneless, skinless chicken breast works well too, but reduce cooking time slightly to prevent drying out. For another delicious option, explore oven-baked chicken thighs.
Originating in Indonesia, kecap manis is a unique sweet soy sauce that plays a crucial role in many Southeast Asian dishes. Learn more about Indonesia’s sweet and syrupy soy sauce, Kecap Manis.
- Kecap Manis: This sweet soy sauce is key for the caramelized soy chicken flavor. If you don’t have it, combine 2 tablespoons of regular soy sauce with 1 tablespoon of brown sugar.
- Neutral oil: Canola, vegetable, or grapeseed oil are all great choices for their high smoke point.
- Chicken stock: Feel free to use vegetable stock for a lighter option, or even beef stock for a richer flavor profile.
- Sambal: Adjust the amount of sambal or chili garlic sauce to your personal spice preference.
Equipment
Having the right tools ready makes cooking this Caramelized Soy Chicken a breeze. You’ll need just a few basic kitchen essentials.
- Medium saucepan
- Large frying pan
- Mixing bowls
- Sharp knife
- Chopping board
- Measuring spoons and cups
How To Make Caramelized Soy Chicken
Let’s get cooking! Follow these simple steps to create your delicious Caramelized Soy Chicken with aromatic broth and rice. This recipe is designed to be straightforward and enjoyable for all skill levels.
- Start the Broth: Begin by gently bashing the fresh ginger and garlic cloves to release their aromas. Transfer them to a medium saucepan with the chicken stock. Trim the spring onions, thinly slicing the green parts for garnish later and halving the white parts lengthways. Add the spring onion whites to the stock. Place the saucepan over a medium heat and let the stock simmer gently while you prepare the remaining components.
- Marinate the Chicken: Place the boneless, skinless chicken thighs into a clean mixing bowl. Pour the kecap manis over the chicken, then season generously with a pinch of salt and ground white pepper. Use your hands or tongs to ensure each piece of chicken is well coated in the sweet and savory marinade. Set the chicken aside briefly to allow the flavors to meld.
- Prepare Sesame Oil Topping: Heat the neutral oil in a large frying pan over a high heat. Add the thinly sliced spring onion greens to the hot oil. Sauté them for a few minutes until they have wilted and become fragrant. Carefully transfer the wilted spring onions to a small bowl. Stir in the sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds, then set this aromatic topping aside for serving.
- Cook the Chicken: Return the same frying pan to a medium-high heat. Place the marinated chicken thighs into the hot pan in a single layer, ensuring not to overcrowd it. Cook the chicken for approximately 7-8 minutes, flipping occasionally, until it turns beautifully golden brown, develops deep caramelized spots, and is cooked through. The desired golden-brown color and rich flavor on the chicken are a result of the Maillard reaction, a complex chemical process crucial to the Maillard reaction in cooking. Pour any remaining marinade from the bowl into the pan, adding 70ml of water to it first. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid reduces down to a thick, glossy sauce that coats the flavorful chicken. This creates the signature caramelized soy chicken.
- Prep Cucumber & Rice: While the chicken finishes cooking, prepare your fresh accompaniments. Trim the ends of the cucumber and thinly slice it into rounds or half-moons. Season the sliced cucumber lightly with a pinch of salt. Reheat your cooked rice according to package directions or your preferred method until it’s warm and fluffy.
- Assemble and Serve: Divide the warm, cooked rice evenly among your serving bowls. Ladle a generous amount of the hot, aromatic garlic ginger broth over the rice in each bowl. Slice the cooked, caramelized chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces and arrange them on top of the rice and broth. Place the seasoned cucumber slices alongside the chicken. Finish by drizzling a touch of sambal or chili garlic sauce and a spoonful of the prepared sesame spring onion oil over each serving. Serve immediately and savor every delicious bite!
Pro Tips & Troubleshooting
- Achieve perfect caramelization: Don’t overcrowd your frying pan when cooking the chicken. Cook in batches if necessary to ensure each piece gets good contact with the hot surface, leading to deep caramelization.
- Intensify broth flavor: For an even richer broth, consider adding a star anise pod or a few black peppercorns during the simmering process. A teaspoon of white miso paste also adds lovely umami.
- Prevent chicken sticking: Always ensure your pan is adequately heated before adding the chicken, and use enough neutral oil to coat the bottom.
- Adjust seasoning: Always taste your broth and the reduced chicken sauce before serving. Adjust salt and pepper as needed to suit your preference.
- Batch cooking: Cook the flavorful chicken and prepare the broth separately for easy meal prepping throughout the week. Store them in separate containers.
- Broth reduction: Keep an eye on the broth simmering; you want it hot and aromatic, not overly reduced. Maintain a gentle simmer.
Serving, Storage, & Variations
- Serving suggestions: Garnish your bowls with fresh cilantro leaves, a squeeze of fresh lime juice, or a sprinkle of extra toasted sesame seeds for added freshness and flavor.
- Additions: This Caramelized Soy Chicken pairs wonderfully with steamed broccoli florets, tender carrots, or blanched edamame pods for extra vegetables.
- Storage: Store any leftover chicken and broth in separate, airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheating: Gently reheat the chicken on the stovetop over low heat with a splash of water or in the microwave until warmed through. Reheat broth separately.
- Vegetarian variation: Swap the chicken thighs for firm tofu cubes or a plant-based chicken alternative. Adjust cooking times accordingly.
- Spicier twist: If you love heat, increase the amount of sambal or add a pinch of red chili flakes directly to the chicken marinade.
- Noodle bowl: For a delightful change, serve the chicken and broth over cooked egg noodles or ramen noodles instead of rice.
- Freezer-friendly: Both the cooked chicken (without the sauce) and the prepared broth freeze exceptionally well for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Caramelized Soy Chicken Nutrition
Enjoying a satisfying and balanced meal like this Caramelized Soy Chicken is a wonderful way to nourish your body. Here’s an approximate nutritional breakdown per serving.
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 627 |
| Fat | 23g |
| Saturated Fat | 5g |
| Carbohydrates | 70g |
| Dietary Fiber | 3g |
| Sugars | 10g |
| Protein | 36g |
| Sodium | 1047mg |
This dish is a fantastic source of protein, providing a substantial and balanced meal. Please note that nutritional values are estimates only and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.
FAQ
- Is this dish very spicy? No, the base caramelized soy chicken is not spicy. You can customize the spice level by adding more or less sambal or chili garlic sauce to your individual serving.
- Can I use chicken breast instead of thighs? Yes, boneless, skinless chicken breast works as a substitute. Be sure to reduce the cooking time slightly, as breast meat can dry out faster.
- Can I prepare this in advance for meal prep? Absolutely! You can prepare the broth and cook the flavorful chicken ahead of time. Store them separately in the refrigerator, then reheat and assemble when ready to eat.
- Is caramelized soy chicken freezer-friendly? Yes, it is! You can freeze the cooked chicken (without the sauce) and the broth in separate airtight containers for up to 3 months. Thaw them thoroughly before reheating.
- How can I make the broth more flavorful? To enhance the broth, you can add extra slices of fresh ginger, a squeeze of lime juice, a spoonful of white miso paste, or even a few whole spices like star anise.
Conclusion
We hope you feel inspired to create this incredibly delicious and easy Caramelized Soy Chicken in your own kitchen. It truly brings together comforting flavors and simple steps, proving that a satisfying homemade meal doesn’t have to be complicated. Dive into the sweet, savory, and aromatic goodness, and enjoy every bite. We’d love to hear how your Caramelized Soy Chicken turns out, so please share your cooking experiences with us!
Delicious Caramelized Soy Chicken with Garlic Ginger Broth & Rice
This recipe features tender boneless chicken thighs caramelized in a soy-based sauce, served with a fragrant garlic-ginger broth, fresh cucumber, and rice. It’s a flavorful and satisfying meal with a hint of spice.
Equipment
- Saucepan
- bowl
- Frying Pan
- Knife
- Chopping board
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 10 g Fresh Ginger
- 10 Garlic Clove
- 700 ml Chicken Stock
- 5 Spring Onion
- 8 Boneless Skinless Chicken Thigh
- 3 tbsp Kecap Manis
- Ground White Pepper
- 30 ml Neutral Oil
- 1 tbsp Sesame Oil
- 2 tsp Toasted Sesame Seed
- 70 ml Water
- 1 Cucumber
- 500 g Cooked Rice
- Sambal to serve
Instructions
Instructions
- Bash ginger and garlic, combine with chicken stock and halved spring onion whites in a saucepan, then simmer on medium heat.
- Marinate chicken thighs with kecap manis, salt, and white pepper in a bowl.
- In a frying pan, wilt spring onion greens in neutral oil, then transfer to a bowl and mix with sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds.
- Cook chicken in the frying pan for 7-8 minutes until caramelized; add water mixed with leftover marinade and cook until the sauce thickens.
- Slice cucumber and season with salt, then reheat the cooked rice.
- Serve rice in bowls, top with stock, sliced chicken, cucumber, sambal, and the sesame spring onion oil.
Notes
Adjust the amount of sambal to your preferred spice level. Garnish with fresh cilantro for an extra burst of flavor.
Nutrition
Calories: 550kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 45gFat: 25gSodium: 1000mgFiber: 4gSugar: 8g
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