Best 5 Vietnamese Style Caramel Braised Chicken Recipes

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Vietnamese cuisine is a delightful fusion of sweet, sour, spicy, and savory flavors, and the Vietnamese-style caramel braised chicken is a testament to this culinary artistry. This dish features tender chicken pieces smothered in a luscious caramel sauce, creating a tantalizing balance of sweet and savory notes. The caramel sauce, with its rich amber hue and complex flavors, is often made from a combination of sugar, nước mắm (Vietnamese fish sauce), and a few secret ingredients that elevate it beyond a mere glaze. Whether you're a seasoned cook or just starting your culinary journey, this article will guide you through the steps of creating the perfect Vietnamese-style caramel braised chicken, ensuring that you can impress your family and friends with this delectable dish.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

VIETNAMESE CARAMEL CHICKEN



Vietnamese Caramel Chicken image

Asian-style chicken with steamed rice.

Provided by Dan Wentzel

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Asian     Vietnamese

Time 35m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 tablespoons white sugar
2 tablespoons fish sauce
ground black pepper to taste
3 pounds chicken thighs
3 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon fish sauce
½ tablespoon white sugar
3 teaspoons rice vinegar
3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 jalapeno peppers, sliced

Steps:

  • Combine sugar, fish sauce, and black pepper in a shallow plate and turn chicken in the marinade. Set aside for 10 minutes.
  • Combine water, fish sauce, sugar, and rice vinegar in a bowl. Set caramel sauce aside.
  • Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon oil and pan-fry chicken, skin-side up, until bottoms turn slightly crispy and brown, about 5 minutes. Turn and cook until skin is slightly charred, about 5 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and transfer to a plate.
  • Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil to the skillet and cook garlic for 30 seconds. Return chicken to the skillet and add caramel sauce. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until chicken is no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear. Caramel sauce should be reduced and turn amber in color. Add jalapenos and cook for 1 more minute.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 463.8 calories, Carbohydrate 6.7 g, Cholesterol 141.4 mg, Fat 30.4 g, Fiber 0.2 g, Protein 38.7 g, SaturatedFat 7.7 g, Sodium 675.6 mg, Sugar 5.6 g

VIETNAMESE-STYLE CARAMELIZED CHICKEN



Vietnamese-Style Caramelized Chicken image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     main-dish

Time 35m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs, quartered (about 6 to 8 thighs)
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 shallot, thinly sliced
1 1-inch piece ginger, peeled and cut into fine matchsticks
1 cup coconut water
1/4 cup fish sauce
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
2 jalapeño peppers, thinly sliced
2 cups steamed white rice
Cilantro leaves, for topping

Steps:

  • Heat the vegetable oil in a large cast-iron skillet or other heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper and add to the skillet; cook until browned, about 4 minutes per side. Remove to a plate.
  • Remove and discard 3 tablespoons rendered fat from the skillet; reduce the heat to medium. Add the garlic, shallot and ginger and cook until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the coconut water, fish sauce and brown sugar and stir until the sugar is melted. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce thickens (the bubbles will begin to slow as it thickens), 4 to 5 minutes.
  • Return the chicken and any collected juices to the skillet and stir to coat the chicken. Cook, reducing the heat if the sauce starts thickening too much, until the chicken is cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the jalapeños. Serve the chicken over the rice and top with cilantro leaves.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 500, Fat 17 grams, SaturatedFat 4 grams, Cholesterol 208 milligrams, Sodium 1498 milligrams, Carbohydrate 42 grams, Fiber 1 grams, Protein 43 grams, Sugar 17 grams

VIETNAMESE CHICKEN (CARAMEL CHICKEN)



Vietnamese Chicken (Caramel Chicken) image

This recipe for Vietnamese chicken includes sugar to create a sweet and savory dish with a hit of spice from generous amounts of fresh ginger, red pepper, and black pepper.

Provided by Bouthaina

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Asian     Vietnamese

Time 1h10m

Yield 2

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 cup water
½ cup white sugar
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, minced
½ cup minced fresh ginger root
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 thin boneless chicken breasts
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 tablespoons soy sauce

Steps:

  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add water and sugar and cook until sugar starts to melt and turn brown, about 5 minutes. Cook, stirring frequently, for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and pour caramel into a bowl.
  • Rinse the skillet with hot water and return to medium heat. Add olive oil, onion, ginger, and garlic. Cook for 5 minutes; transfer mixture to a bowl.
  • Season chicken breasts with salt and black pepper and add them to the hot skillet. Cook for 10 minutes. Add caramel, soy sauce, and ginger mixture to the skillet. Reduce heat to low and cook 20 minutes more.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 523.7 calories, Carbohydrate 68.6 g, Cholesterol 64.6 mg, Fat 16.6 g, Fiber 2.9 g, Protein 27.1 g, SaturatedFat 2.7 g, Sodium 2584.4 mg, Sugar 55.6 g

VIETNAMESE-STYLE CARAMEL CHICKEN WITH BROCCOLI



Vietnamese-Style Caramel Chicken With Broccoli image

This Recipe came from"Cooks Illustrated" May/June 2015. The saltiness of fish sauce can vary; we reccommend Tiparos. When taking the temperature of the caramel in step 2, tilt the pan and move the thermometer back and forth to equalize hot and cool spots; also make sure to have hot wter at the ready. This dish is intensely seasoned, so servi ti with plenty of steamed white rice.

Provided by Party of four

Categories     Asian

Time 55m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 tablespoon baking soda
2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
7 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup fish sauce
2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
1 lb broccoli, florets cut int 1 -inch pieces, stalks peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves and stems

Steps:

  • combine baking soda and 1 1/4 cups cold water in large bowl. Add chicken and toss to coat. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes. Rinse chicken in cold water and drain well.
  • Meanwhile, combine sugar and 3 tablespoons water in small saucepan. Bring to boil over medium-high heat and cook, without stirring, until mixture begins to turn golden, 4 to 6 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to cook, gently swirling saucepan, until sugar turns color of molasses and registers between 390 and 400 degrees, 4 to 6 minutes longer. (Caramel will produce some smoke during the last 1 to 2 minutes of cooking.) Immediately remove saucepan from heat and carefully pour in 3/4 cup hot water (mixture will bubble and steam vigorously). When bubbling has subsided, return saucepan to medium heat and stir to dissolve caramel.
  • Transfer caramel to 12-inch skillet and stir in fish sauce and ginger. Add chicken and bring to simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until chicken is forktender and registers 205 degrees, 30 -40 minutes, flipping chicken halfway through simmering. Transfer chicken to serving dish and cover to keep warm.
  • Bring 1 inch water to boil in Dutch oven. Lower insert or steamer basket with broccoli into pot so it rests above water; cover and simmer until broccoli is just tender, 4.5 to 5 minutes. Transfer broccoli to serving dish with chicken.
  • While broccoli cooks, bring sauce to boil over medium-high heat and cook until reduced to 1 1/4 cups, 3 to 5 minutes. Whisk cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water together in small bowl, then whisk into sauce; simmer until slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Stir in pepper. Pour 1/4 cup sauce over chicken and broccoli. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve, passing remaining sauce separately.

VIETNAMESE-STYLE CARAMEL BRAISED CHICKEN



Vietnamese-Style Caramel Braised Chicken image

Make and share this Vietnamese-Style Caramel Braised Chicken recipe from Food.com.

Provided by evelynathens

Categories     Chicken Thigh & Leg

Time 45m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

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

Steps:

  • Place chicken thighs on a rimmed baking sheet in a 400º oven for 20 minutes.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Add the chicken pieces, stirring to coat them. Serve sprinkled with cilantro and your favorite rice.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 186.2, Fat 4.1, SaturatedFat 1, Cholesterol 85.9, Sodium 1187.2, Carbohydrate 15.2, Fiber 0.1, Sugar 13, Protein 21.4

Tips:

  • Choose the right chicken: Use a whole chicken or chicken parts with skin and bones for the best flavor. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
  • Marinate the chicken: Marinating the chicken in a mixture of soy sauce, fish sauce, garlic, ginger, and pepper helps to infuse it with flavor. Let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight.
  • Use a good quality fish sauce: Fish sauce is a key ingredient in Vietnamese cooking. Choose a fish sauce that is made from anchovies and has a clear, amber color.
  • Don't overcrowd the pot: When browning the chicken, do not overcrowd the pot. This will prevent the chicken from browning evenly and will result in steamed chicken.
  • Cook the chicken until it is tender: The chicken should be cooked until it is tender and cooked through. This will take about 30 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken pieces.
  • Make the caramel sauce: The caramel sauce is made by melting sugar in a saucepan until it turns a deep amber color. This process takes about 5 minutes.
  • Add the chicken and vegetables to the caramel sauce: Once the caramel sauce is ready, add the chicken and vegetables to the pot and stir to coat them in the sauce.
  • Simmer the chicken and vegetables until they are tender: Simmer the chicken and vegetables in the caramel sauce for about 15 minutes, or until the chicken is tender and the vegetables are cooked through.
  • Serve the chicken and vegetables over rice: Serve the chicken and vegetables over steamed rice and enjoy!

Conclusion:

Vietnamese-style caramel braised chicken is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. The chicken is marinated in a flavorful mixture of soy sauce, fish sauce, garlic, ginger, and pepper, then browned and braised in a rich caramel sauce. The chicken is served over steamed rice and is a perfect meal for any occasion.

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