Caramelized Black Pepper Chicken

By

  • 4
  • 35 mins

Ingredients

  • Variation for 2 from Food 52:
  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1/4 About 1/4 cup fish sauce (nam pla)
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger
  • 1 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
  • 2 fresh Thai chiles, halved, or dried red chiles
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1 shallot, thinly sliced
  • 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 4 cilantro sprigs
  • Stir-Fry:
  • 10 ounces boneless chicken thigh
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1/2 cup chopped white onion
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas and carrots, thawed
  • 10 tablespoons peanut oil
  • 1 to 2 cups hot steamed rice
  • Black Pepper Sauce:
  • 1/4 cup oyster sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dark sweet soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon rice wine or dry sherry
  • 1/2 tablespoon black pepper

Preparation

Step 1

In a small bowl, combine the sugar, fish sauce, water, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, pepper and chiles.

Heat the oil in a large deep skillet. Add the shallot and cook over moderate heat until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the fish sauce mixture and the chicken and simmer over high heat until the chicken is cooked through, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a serving bowl, garnish with the cilantro and serve.

Notes: Because fish sauces vary in their saltiness, Phan advises adding the fish sauce to taste. Serve With Steamed jasmine rice

Variation:
1. Mix sauce ingredients in small bowl and set aside.

2. Dice chicken into 1/2-inch pieces.

3. Toss chicken with cornstarch and shake off excess.

4. Heat 1/2 cup oil in a wok or deep skillet.

5. Fry coated chicken pieces in hot oil until golden and cooked through; drain on paper towels.

6. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in skillet and add onion, cooking until translucent; add peas and carrots and cook one minute more.

7. Stir in fried chicken pieces with sauce, and cook until everything is hot.

8. Serve with hot steamed rice.