GRILLED SOY-BASTED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH SPICY CASHEWS

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Grilled Soy-Basted Chicken Thighs With Spicy Cashews image

Here's a hack I performed on a recipe for an appetizer portion of skewered chunked chicken thighs that the great live-fire cooks and cookbook writers Chris Schlesinger and John Willoughby wrote many years ago, and that I have slowly altered into a main-course grilled dinner. The skinless chicken browns nicely over a medium flame, and the sugary soy basting sauce lacquers it beautifully in the final few minutes of cooking. It's terrific with rice, or as a topping for a salad of sturdy greens. You may wish to double the recipe for Sriracha-roasted cashews. Those are addictive, and for them you will find many delicious uses.

Provided by Sam Sifton

Categories     dinner, weeknight, barbecues, poultry, main course

Time 1h

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

1/2 cup unsalted cashews
2 tablespoons Sriracha sauce
3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon cracked black pepper
Hot sauce, to taste
2 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs
1/4 cup brown sugar (light or dark) or molasses
2 tablespoons peeled and minced ginger
4 scallions, sliced thin
5 or 6 springs cilantro, tough stems removed and roughly chopped (approximately 2 tablespoons)

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 300 degrees. Combine cashews and Sriracha sauce in a small bowl and stir until nuts are coated. Line a small baking pan with foil and spread the coated cashews out on it, then place in the oven and bake until nuts are dry, approximately 20 minutes. Carefully remove the nuts from the foil and let cool, then chop roughly and set aside in a small bowl.
  • Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together sesame oil, 1/2 cup soy sauce, the hoisin sauce and the black pepper, and hot sauce if using. Add chicken thighs and stir to coat. Refrigerate until ready to cook.
  • For the basting sauce, combine the remaining 3 tablespoons soy sauce, the brown sugar and the ginger in a small bowl, and whisk until the sugar has dissolved.
  • When you are ready to cook the chicken, build a fire in a charcoal grill, leaving about 1/3 of the cooking space free of coals. When coals are covered with gray ash and the temperature is medium (you can hold your hand 5 inches above the coals for 5 to 7 seconds), you are ready to cook. (For a gas grill, turn one burner to high, leaving the others off, then lower cover and heat for 15 minutes.)
  • Using tongs, remove chicken thighs from marinade and cook, directly over the coals, turning every few minutes, until they are well-browned but not crusty, approximately 8 to 10 minutes. Then, using a pastry brush, begin to baste them with the soy, ginger and sugar mixture, until they develop a lacquer, an additional 8 to 10 minutes, again turning every few minutes. (If chicken threatens to burn, place it over the part of the grill without coals.)
  • Transfer chicken to a warmed platter, sprinkle with the chopped cashews, the scallions and the cilantro, and serve.

Djsjhh Ksnns
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This recipe is a must-try! The chicken is so flavorful and juicy, and the spicy cashews are the perfect addition.


Christian Opoku
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I would not recommend this recipe. It's not worth the time or effort.


Mia Gonzales
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This recipe is a bit too simple for my taste. I like dishes with more complex flavors.


Sashan Shrestha
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I'm not a fan of the spicy cashews. I think they overpower the flavor of the chicken.


Tiko Tiko
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This recipe is a bit too spicy for my taste.


Mohsin India
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I'm not sure what I did wrong, but my chicken was dry and tough.


Ravindu Pramod
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This recipe is a great way to impress your guests. It's sure to be a hit at any party or gathering.


Monica Madder
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I would recommend marinating the chicken for at least 30 minutes before cooking. This will help to infuse the chicken with flavor.


Knauchs
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I love the combination of flavors in this dish. The chicken, the spicy cashews, and the sauce all work together perfectly.


Christina Rivera
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This recipe is a bit time-consuming, but it's worth it. The chicken is so flavorful and juicy.


Johnny Joestar
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I'm not a big fan of spicy food, so I omitted the spicy cashews. The chicken was still very good.


Salim Kahan
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The spicy cashews are the perfect addition to this dish. They add a nice crunch and flavor.


Mohammed Abdallah
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This recipe is a great way to use up leftover chicken.


Kumar Yawa
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I made this recipe for a party and it was a huge success! Everyone loved the chicken and the spicy cashews.


Gulbaz Waseem
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The chicken was a bit dry for my taste, but the spicy cashews were delicious.


Waqas Wohra
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I love this recipe! It's so easy to make and the chicken always comes out perfect.


Khalida Bano
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This recipe was a hit with my family! The chicken was juicy and flavorful, and the spicy cashews added a nice kick. I'll definitely be making this again.