Delight Your Taste Buds with Vietnamese Ginger Chicken

If there’s one thing I’ve learned on my culinary journey, it’s that the magic of Vietnamese cuisine lies in its incredible flavors. Today, I’m excited to share with you a recipe that embodies the very essence of Vietnamese cooking – “Vietnamese Ginger Chicken.” This dish is a harmonious blend of aromatic spices, succulent chicken, and a hint of sweetness, creating a mouthwatering experience you won’t want to miss. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a cooking novice, this recipe will transport you straight to the bustling streets of Vietnam. So, let’s dive into this culinary adventure and discover the secrets behind Vietnamese Ginger Chicken.

Ginger Chicken Vietnamese Recipe

Ingredients

– 1 tbsp sugar

– Peppercorns

– 1 tbsp fish sauce

– 1/2 tsp chicken bouillon

– Minced shallot

– Minced garlic

– Red pepper chili (optional for garnishing)

– Green onion (for garnishing)

– Thinly sliced ginger

– Lemongrass (1 inch, smashed)

– 4 chicken thighs (cut into bite-size pieces)

– 1 ½ tbsp Gochujang powder (optional)

– ¼ butter stick

– 1 cup of water

Caramel

– 2 tbsp sugar

– 3 tbsp water

How to Make Vietnamese Ginger Chicken

Pat dry the chicken thighs with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
In a large skillet or wok, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Once it’s bubbling, add the chicken and sear them until they turn golden brown on both sides, approximately 5-8 minutes per side.
Remove the chicken from the pan.
Use the remaining butter to saute shallot and garlic until they turn golden brown.
Add the soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar, and the chicken.
Stir for about 2-3 minutes then add the water.
Add ginger and lemongrass. Mix everything together.
Cover the pan and reduce the heat to low. Allow the chicken to simmer for 5-10 minutes while preparing the caramel sauce.
While the chicken is simmering, prepare the caramel:
- Place a saucepan over medium heat and allow 2 tbsp sugar to dissolve.
- Let the sugar bubble until it turns a rich and amber color. This will take about 3-5 minutes. Swirl the saucepan to ensure even caramelization.
- Once the sugar turns a deep brown, quickly turn the heat to low. Carefully add 3 tbsp of water to the caramelized sugar. Be cautious as it may sizzle and release steam.
- Stir the mixture until the caramel is fully dissolved in the water, creating a rich caramel sauce.
Pour the prepared caramel sauce over the chicken and stir to ensure an even coating with the sauce.
Add chicken bouillon peppercorns, and gochujang (optional). Stir everything together.
Continue simmering the chicken for another 10-15 minutes until the sauce reduces to a brown glaze that coats the chicken.

Garnish and serve

Once the chicken is cooked through, remove the lemongrass and ginger pieces.
Garnish the Vietnamese ginger chicken with thinly sliced green onions and red pepper chilies (if desired) for a burst of color and flavor.
Serve your ginger chicken hot with steamed rice.

Caramel sauce for ginger chicken

What does ginger do to the chicken?

Ginger, with its warm and earthy flavor, plays a vital role in this dish. It not only infuses the chicken with a delightful, slightly spicy kick but also brings a subtle sweetness that balances the flavors perfectly. Ginger is also known for its ability to tenderize meat, ensuring that each bite of your Vietnamese Ginger Chicken is incredibly juicy and tender.

What does the caramel do?

Caramel, in this recipe, isn’t your typical dessert topping. Instead, it adds depth and complexity to the dish. When sugar and water are heated until they turn a rich, amber color, they create a luscious caramel sauce. This sauce not only provides a touch of sweetness but also imparts a beautiful caramelized glaze to the chicken, elevating its appearance and taste.

What pairs well with Vietnamese Ginger Chicken?

Vietnamese Ginger Chicken is a versatile dish that pairs wonderfully with various rice or bread. For a wholesome meal, serve it over a bed of fragrant jasmine rice or with a side of steamed vegetables. The freshness of a crisp cucumber and herb salad makes an excellent accompaniment, providing a refreshing contrast to the savory chicken. If you’re feeling adventurous, try it with some banh mi bread for a unique and satisfying sandwich.

Can you add more aromatics to the ginger chicken?

Absolutely! Aromatics are the soul of Vietnamese cuisine, and you can customize your Vietnamese Ginger Chicken to suit your preferences. To enhance the fragrance, consider adding kaffir leaves or galangal root to the mix. These ingredients infuse the dish with layers of aroma and flavor that are simply irresistible. If you crave a touch of heat, don’t forget the red pepper chili for garnishing.

Vietnamese Ginger Chicken

A recipe that embodies the very essence of Vietnamese cooking - "Vietnamese Ginger Chicken." This dish is a harmonious blend of aromatic spices, succulent chicken, and a hint of sweetness, creating a mouthwatering experience you won't want to miss.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Course Dinner, Lunch, Main Course

Cuisine Vietnamese

Servings 3 people

Ingredients

1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp fish sauce
1/2 tsp chicken bouillon
Minced garlic
Minced shallot
Red pepper chili (optional for garnishing)
Green onion (for garnishing)
Thinly sliced ginger
Lemongrass (1 inch, smashed)
4 chicken thighs (cut into bite-size pieces)
1 ½ tbsp Gochujang powder (optional)
¼ butter stick
1 cup of water

Caramel

2 tbsp sugar
3 tbsp water

Instructions

Pat dry the chicken thighs with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
In a large skillet or wok, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Once it’s bubbling, add the chicken and sear them until they turn golden brown on both sides, approximately 5-8 minutes per side.
Remove the chicken from the pan.
Use the remaining butter to saute shallot and garlic until they turn golden brown.
Add the soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar, and the chicken.
Stir for about 2-3 minutes then add the water.
Add ginger and lemongrass. Mix everything together.
Cover the pan and reduce the heat to low. Allow the chicken to simmer for 5-10 minutes while preparing the caramel sauce.
While the chicken is simmering, prepare the caramel (see the caramel sauce).
Pour the prepared caramel sauce over the chicken and stir to ensure an even coating with the sauce.
Add chicken bouillon peppercorns, and gochujang (optional). Stir everything together.
Continue simmering the chicken for another 10-15 minutes until the sauce reduces to a brown glaze that coats the chicken.

Caramel Sauce

Place a saucepan over medium heat and allow 2 tbsp sugar to dissolve.
Let the sugar bubble until it turns a rich and amber color. This will take about 3-5 minutes. Swirl the saucepan to ensure even caramelization.
Once the sugar turns a deep brown, quickly turn the heat to low. Carefully add 3 tbsp of water to the caramelized sugar. Be cautious as it may sizzle and release steam.
Stir the mixture until the caramel is fully dissolved in the water, creating a rich caramel sauce.

Garnish and serve

Once the chicken is cooked through, remove the lemongrass and ginger pieces.
Garnish the Vietnamese ginger chicken with thinly sliced green onions and red pepper chilies (if desired) for a burst of color and flavor.

Notes

Caramel sauce for the chicken

Keyword ginger chicken recipe vietnamese, ginger chicken vietnamese recipe, vietnamese ginger chicken

Hey there, I’d like to keep it simple with everyday meals that are easy to make, and I hope you can find some delightful flavors at Wikisizzle. Let’s get cooking.