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Meat, South and Southeast Asian

Caramelized ginger chicken with rice

Caramelized ginger chicken is a Vietnamese dish of chicken thighs simmered in a sugar, ginger, and fish sauce caramel. It takes 45 minutes to make for 4 people, it's easy, and costs about €3.00 per person. The key to success is stopping the caramel at amber and letting the sauce reduce until syrupy.

Tonight, chicken thighs simmered in a ginger and fish sauce caramel, a Vietnamese mom's dish, with steamed white rice.

Caramelized ginger chicken with rice
Total time
45 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€3.00
Calories per person
490 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Fall, Winter, Spring
The kids
They generally like it

This dish gets its character from a simple contrast, sugar cooked down to an amber caramel, ginger that adds a light bite, and fish sauce that brings deep savory depth. The chicken simmers slowly and soaks up this glossy, slightly sticky sauce that coats every spoonful of rice. It's a home style dish, no complicated technique, but one precise moment to watch closely, the caramel.

It's the kind of recipe you make on a weeknight because it needs little attention once the pot is covered, yet it has enough personality to serve to guests. Kids generally love the sweet and salty balance and the sauce spooned over rice. The raw ginger and garlic stay present but mellow out as they cook.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Chicken thighs 4

Fruits and vegetables

  • Fresh ginger 60 g
  • Garlic 3 cloves
  • Shallots 2
  • Scallions 2

Pantry

  • Sugaroften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Fish sauceoften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Riceoften in the pantry 300 g
  • Neutral oiloften in the pantry 2 tbsp

Allergens Fish, Soy

The step by step recipe

  1. Cut the ginger into thin strips and slice the shallot into rings.

    A knob of ginger peels easily with the edge of a spoon.

  2. Melt the sugar with a spoonful of water in a pot until you get an amber caramel, then add the ginger and garlic. 5 min

    Step back a little, it will sputter for the first few seconds.

  3. Add the chicken and brown it in the caramel, then pour in the fish sauce and a glass of water. 8 min

    Turn the thighs several times, they'll take on a beautiful lacquered color.

  4. Cover and let simmer over low heat, basting regularly, until the sauce thickens. 25 min

    Uncover for the last few minutes to let it reduce.

  5. Cook the rice and serve the chicken topped with sauce, sprinkled with scallions. 12 min

    Spoon the sauce generously over the rice, that's the best part.

Our tips to get it right

  • Use a light colored pot so you can clearly see the caramel's color as it cooks.
  • Taste the sauce near the end, if it's too salty, add a splash of water and let it reduce again.
  • Prep and cut every ingredient before starting the caramel, since that step moves fast and leaves no time to improvise.

The variations

  • Swap the chicken thighs for boneless thighs, the cooking time will be a bit shorter.
  • For a vegetarian version, use firm tofu browned in a pan and replace the fish sauce with soy sauce, the caramel works just as well.
  • For busy weeknights with kids, cut the chicken into pieces before simmering, it cooks faster and is easier to serve.

What to serve it with

  • Steamed white rice
  • Crisp cucumber slices
  • Hot green tea

Storage

The chicken keeps for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. It freezes well, sauce included, for up to 2 months. Reheat gently in a saucepan, adding a splash of water to loosen the sauce.

Questions about this dish

Can you make this dish ahead of time?

Yes, it's actually better the next day once the sauce has soaked into the chicken. Make it the day before and reheat gently before serving.

What if the caramel burns?

If it turns black and smells acrid, it's best to toss it and start over. A burnt caramel makes the whole sauce bitter, and there's no way to fix it.

Can you replace the fish sauce?

Soy sauce can replace it partly, but the flavor will be less deep and less authentic. Fish sauce brings a distinct umami note that's hard to fully recreate.

Is this dish spicy for kids?

No, the ginger adds a light warmth but no real heat once cooked. Kids generally enjoy the sweet and salty sauce.

How long does it take to make a caramelized ginger chicken with rice?

Count 45 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a caramelized ginger chicken with rice?

About 490 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a caramelized ginger chicken with rice cost?

About €3.00 per serving, or €12.00 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains fish, soy. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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