Spicy Lemongrass Chicken

By

  • 6
  • 25 mins

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs, fat trimmed, meat cut into 3/4-inch pieces
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 2 plump stalks of lemongrass, tender white inner bulb only, minced
  • 1 medium red onion, quartered lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1/4 cup Chinese cooking wine, sake or water
  • 1/2 cup Vietnamese Stir-fry Sauce (See Below)
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon oyster sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Asian chili paste
  • 4 large scallions, cut into 1/2-inch lengths
  • 5 small dried red chiles
  • 1 large jalapeño, seeded and thinly sliced

Preparation

Step 1

In a medium bowl, toss the chicken pieces with 2 tablespoons of the canola oil, 1 1/2 teaspoons of kosher salt and 3/4 teaspoon of pepper.

In a large skillet or a wok, heat 2 tablespoons of the canola oil until small puffs of smoke begin to appear. Add half of the chicken and stir-fry over high heat until browned in spots, about 3 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate. Repeat with the remaining chicken.

Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in the skillet. Add the lemongrass, onion and garlic and cook over high heat, stirring, until fragrant, 2 minutes. Add the wine and cook until slightly reduced, about 1 minute. Add the Vietnamese Stir-fry Sauce, oyster sauce, chili paste, scallions, dried chiles and jalapeño; bring to a boil. Add the chicken to the sauce and simmer until heated through, then serve.


Vietnamese Stir-Fry Sauce:
1 1/2 cups chicken
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoon Asian fish sauce
1 Tablespoon sugar

In a small saucepan, bring the stock to a boil. Remove from the heat and add the fish sauce and sugar; stir until the sugar is dissolved. Let cool.
(The sauce can be refrigerated for up to 2 days.)