Caramel Chicken

This recipe is a nice substitution for Chinese Take-Out.  It had a totally different flavor then I was expecting, but not at all in a bad way!  When I read Caramel Chicken, I was thinking more of a sticky-sweet flavor.  But we found it much more like a Teriyaki.  It was sweet, salty and almost impossible to stop eating!  It balanced awesomely with the simply steamed broccoli and white rice I served to soak up the sauce.  I went with a less is more approach to the sides and boy am I glad I did!  The Grimway Farms organic broccoli was so beautiful and vibrant I really wanted it's sweet flavor to show through.  And even though the sauce was very robust, you still tasted the lovely sweet, delicate flavor from the broccoli- and check out that color!  Beautiful!

If you aren't an organic shopper already, you really need to become one.  There are so many benefits to it- especially if you have children.  But the biggest is hands down the flavor you get from the fruits and vegetables.  It can make conventional food taste like cardboard in comparison. They taste as God intended them to.  And Grimway Farms does a beautiful job with theirs.  I have eaten their Bunny Love carrots before and are a huge hit in our house (sugar sweet!) but while browsing their other products I had such a hard time deciding- rainbow chard, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, beautiful lettuces.... the options were fantastic!  I am definitely picking up their beets next.  I have been dying to try this recipe for Honey Dijon Roasted Beets. Doesn't that sound yummy?!

The lovely people of Grimway Farms sent a coupon for me to give their produce a try and what a truly special treat it was!  I will definitely be going back to their items again and again.  They also have a nice website if you would like to see where their produce is sold in your area, and while you are there, check out their recipes- lots of great ones!

Caramel Chicken
recipe courtesy Bill Granger


8 chicken thigh fillets, skinless, cut in half
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 red onion, sliced
3 garlic cloves, sliced
freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup dark soy sauce
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup fish sauce

to serve
steamed rice
steamed green vegetables, such as broccoli, snow peas or asparagus
garnish with toasted sesame seeds

Place the chicken and oil in a bowl and toss to combine.  Heat a large frying pan over a high heat until hot. Add the chicken, in two batches, and cook for two minutes on one side until lightly brown, turn and cook for another minute.  Remove from the pan, reduce the heat to medium and add a little extra oil if needed.  Add the onion and garlic and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Return the chicken to the pan, sprinkle liberally with black pepper, add the soy sauce and stir to combine.  Cover the pan, reduce the heat to low and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Increase the heat to high, add the sugar and stir to combine.  Cook uncovered for 3-4 minutes, or until the sauce is rich, dark and syrupy.  Add the fish sauce and stir to combine. Place in a serving dish, garnish with sesame seeds if desired and serve with steamed rice and green vegetables.  Serves 4.

Disclaimer:
Grimway Farms gave me a coupon to test and review their products.  The thoughts and opinions are completely my own.