Chef John's Caramel Chicken

Succulent chicken cooked in a spicy sweet-sour sauce. It's inspired by a dish made famous by San Francisco's The Slanted Door restaurant.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 20 mins
• Total Time: 40 mins
• Calories: 615 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
• 1 bunch green onions, chopped
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
• 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, quartered
• 2 fresh jalapeno peppers, seeded and sliced
• fresh cilantro sprigs, for garnish
• 0.33333334326744 cup rice vinegar
• 0.33333334326744 cup cold water
• 0.33333334326744 cup fish sauce
• 0.75 cup dark brown sugar
• 0.5 cup roasted peanuts

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Garnish with cilantro and serve.

Step 2

Whisk brown sugar, water, fish sauce, rice wine vinegar, garlic, soy sauce, and ginger together in a bowl until brown sugar completely dissolved, about 1 minute; set aside.

Step 3

Heat oil in a skillet over high heat; add chicken.

Step 4

Pour 1/3 cup brown sugar mixture over chicken; cook and stir until mixture has a syrup-like consistency, 6 to 7 minutes.

Step 5

Pour in remaining brown sugar mixture; cook until chicken tender and no longer pink inside, about 5 minutes.

Step 6

Stir in in peanuts, green onions, and jalapeños; cook until warmed through, 2 to 3 minutes.