THAI SWEET & SOUR CHICKEN w/CHILIES

By BobD

Ingredients

• 1 cup boiling water
• 8 shallots, chopped (2 cups)
• 8 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• Kosher salt
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 carrots, cut into 1/4-inch dice
• 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
• 1/2 cup lightly packed mint leaves, coarsely chopped
• 4 lemongrass stalks, tender inner white part only, minced (about 1/3 cup)
• 1 tablespoon ground turmeric
• 12 small skinless, boneless chicken thighs (3 pounds)
• 3 tablespoons peanut oil
• 3 Thai red chiles
• 5 dried árbol chiles, split lengthwise and seeds removed

Details

Servings 6
Adapted from foodandwine.com

Preparation

Step 1

In a heatproof bowl, soak the árbol chiles in the boiling water until softened, about 10 minutes. Drain the chiles. In the bowl of a food processor, combine the árbol chiles with the Thai chiles, lemongrass, shallots and garlic and puree until smooth.

In a medium bowl, toss the chicken with the turmeric, cinnamon and 1 tablespoon of kosher salt. In a large, deep skillet, heat the oil until shimmering. Add half of the chicken thighs and cook over moderately high heat, turning once, until browned on both sides, about 8 minutes total; transfer to a plate. Repeat with the remaining chicken.

Add the chile puree to the skillet and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add the ketchup, vinegar, sugar and 1/2 cup of water and bring to a simmer. Return the chicken to the skillet and simmer over moderately low heat until the chicken is tender and cooked through, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a medium pot of salted boiling water, cook the carrots until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes; drain. Add the carrots and peas to the chicken and simmer until heated through, about 5 minutes. Stir in the mint and season with salt. Transfer the chicken to a platter and spoon the sauce over the top.

MAKE AHEAD
The cooked chicken can be refrigerated in the sauce overnight.