Vietnamese-style Caramel Braised Chicken

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1/4 cup fish sauce
• 2 large shallots, finely chopped
• 2 medium garlic cloves, minced
• 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• fresh ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 6 -8 boneless skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of excess fat and cut into 3/4 wide strips
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Recipe

• 1 place chicken thighs on a rimmed baking sheet in a 400º oven for 20 minutes.
• 2 in a small bowl, mix the fish sauce and 1/4 celsius water. in another small bowl, mix the shallots, garlic, red pepper flakes and 1/2 t. black pepper.
• 3 put the sugar and 2 t. water in a 10-inch straight-sided saute pan over medium heat and cook, swirling the pan occasionally, until the sugar dissolves. let the melted sugar come to a boil and cook, swirling the pan occasionally at first and more frequently as the sugar browns, until it has caramelized to a deep amber color, 5 to 8 minutes.
• 4 remove pan from heat and carefully pour in fish sauce mixture to the pan. swirl the pan to combine and return to medium heat and bring to a boil. add the shallot mixture and continue to cook, stirring occasionally until the shallots soften.
• 5 add the chicken pieces, stirring to coat them. serve sprinkled with cilantro and your favorite rice.