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cilantro & chili chicken

(2 ratings)
Andy59 avatar
Recipe by
Andy Anderson !
@Andy59
Wichita, KS

This is one of my favorite chicken dishes, and one of my guests, if you count the number of times it gets requested at dinner parties. The deep-flavored sauce makes this an ideal dish to serve on those cold Autumn and Winter evenings when the snow is falling thick and the wind is howling through the rafters. And believe me when I say that it is the rich cilantro & chili sauce that gives this chicken dish its distinctive, lip-smacking flavor.

(2 ratings)
yield 4 serving(s)
prep time 30 Min
cook time 1 Hr 5 Min
method Stove Top

Ingredients For cilantro & chili chicken

  • 6
    chicken thighs and/or legs (with skin intact)
  • 3
    jalapeno peppers, seeded and diced small
  • 1 Tbsp
    fresh ginger, grated
  • 2 c
    water
  • 2/3 c
    soy sauce
  • 1/2 c
    white wine vinegar
  • 2/3 c
    sugar, granulated
  • 1/2 c
    cilantro, fresh, chopped

How To Make cilantro & chili chicken

  • 1
    Combine chilies, ginger, water soy sauce, white wine vinegar, and sugar in a deep pan, and simmer for 5 to 8 minutes.
  • 2
    Add the chicken, and cook, covered, for 35 minutes (turn the chicken twice).
  • 3
    Remove lid, and continue cooking until the chicken is cooked and completely covered with the chili sauce (about 25-30 minutes). Note: Keep an eye on this part of the recipe. The heat of the pan (even a few degrees) can change the cooking time.
  • 4
    Remove the chicken from the pan, and de-fat the sauce. Note: A good way to do this is to pour the sauce into a clear glass measuring cup or bowl, and let stand for about 5 minutes. The fat will rise to the top, and it will be easy to remove.
  • 5
    Return the de-fatted sauce to the pan, stir through the cilantro, and then return the chicken, and any juices into the sauce.
  • 6
    Warm on medium heat for about three or four minutes, and then plate. Place the leftover sauce into a small dish and serve with the chicken.
  • Chicken slowly cooked in a soy, vinegar, and sugar sauce make an excellent cold weather dish.
    7
    Plate/Present: Serve with steamed white rice, and a green veggie, like broccoli or green beans. A nice loaf of French bread with a plate of sweet butter wouldn’t be amiss. Keep the loaf intact, and have your guests tear off a piece, when needed. That’s called being rustic.
  • 8
    Additional Notes: If you’re thinking of brining the chicken parts, don’t. The chicken simmering in the sauce will keep it very moist. In addition, the brining process increases the salt in the meat, and when you combine that with simmering in soy sauce you’ll wind up with overly salty chicken… I hate it when that happens. Although you can use any parts of the chicken, the recipe works best with dark meat, such as thighs or legs. If you’re worried about the salt content, you can substitute low-sodium soy sauce. Keep an eye (two eyes if you can) on that sauce. Cooking times are approximations, based on the temperature of the pan. Once the sauce begins to thicken, it’s close to being finished; whether you’ve met the prescribed time or not.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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