Caramel Chicken

By kimvess

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 1/2 pounds skin-on, bone-in chicken legs and thighs
• Kosher salt
• 8 garlic cloves, peeled
• 1/3 cup (packed) light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup (or more) unseasoned rice vinegar
• 2 slices 1/4"-thick slices peeled ginger
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 2 scallions, thinly sliced
• Cooked white rice (for serving)

Details

Servings 4
Cooking time 105mins
Adapted from bonappetit.com

Preparation

Step 1

Heat oil in a large wide heavy pot over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and, working in 2 batches, cook until golden brown and crisp, 6–8 minutes per side; transfer to a plate. Add garlic to pot and cook, stirring often, until golden, about 2 minutes; transfer to plate with chicken. Pour off fat from pot.

Return pot to medium-high heat and add ½ cup water, scraping up browned bits. Add brown sugar; stir to dissolve, then cook, stirring, until mixture thickens and turns a deep amber color, about 4 minutes. Carefully add vinegar (it may bubble up; sugar will crystallize); stir to dissolve sugar.

Add ginger, broth, and soy sauce, then add chicken, skin side up, and garlic. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer gently until chicken is cooked through, 20–25 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate.

Bring cooking liquid to a boil and cook until thick enough to coat a spoon, about 10 minutes. Return chicken to pot; turn to coat. Top with scallions and serve with rice.