Ingredients
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1 1/2-2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs (750g - 1 kg)
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1/2 cup water (125ml, and use more if necessary)
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1 teaspoon sugar (5ml)
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1/2 cup balsamic vinegar (125 ml)
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1/3 cup ketjap manis (sweet Indonesian soy sauce, 100 ml)
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3 large garlic cloves, fat, chopped and crushed
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1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce (or use chopped hot pepper to taste)
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1/2 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped (100ml)
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1 cup spring onion, finely chopped (250ml)
Instructions
- In a fairly large pot, mix the water, sugar, balsamic vinegar, ketjap manis, garlic and chilli pepper sauce.
- Please note that because I use metric measurements I use a little more than 1/3 cup ketjap manis. It's hard to work out precisely. Ketjap manis are normally easily found in good shops, on the shelves with Oriental sauces.
- Ketjap manis is thick and sticky, so if you want to measure it in a cup, best is to spray the cup with non-stick spray. I pour from the bottle and guess the amount by now --.
- Cut each thigh into two pieces, or slice breasts into three or four pieces across the grain.
- We far prefer chicken thighs, which are more juicy and tasty than breast meat. Or use deboned breasts WITH the skin.
- Add to the sauce mixture, and bring to a boil. Simmer open, for about 25 minutes. If any scum rises to the surface, skim it off.
- Increase heat and cook sauce until it reduces and thickens, but don't let it cook down to a glaze: you want some sauce for the rice.
- (It used to be "1 cup water", but reading through the reviews, this was too much for some cooks, although it really is what I use).
- This reduction will only take 5 - 10 minutes or so: judge for yourself.
- Put the chicken and sauce in a heated dish, scatter over the spring onions and parsley, and decorate around the edges with the lime/lemon curls or strips.
- Serve with jasmine or white rice, but couscous is also nice. As for vegetables, a platter of steamed baby veggies such as corn, patty pan squash and carrots look attractive.