1/2 cup rice vinegar
1/3 cup demerera or packed brown sugar
4 cloves garlic, minced
1-2 fresh mild chillies, minced
2 tsp fish sauce
1 Tbsp. soy sauce or tamari
GARNISH: (optional)
a few sprigs of fresh coriander or flat-leaf parsley
Preparation
1. Combine all marinade ingredients in a bowl and
stir well to dissolve the sugar.
2. Add chicken parts or thighs, turning several
times to ensure the chicken is covered with marinade.
3. Cover and place in the refrigerator to marinate while you heat up
the grill and prepare the dipping sauce. OR allow chicken to marinate
overnight, or up to 24 hours.
4. To make the dipping sauce/glaze, place all the dipping sauce/glaze
ingredients in a sauce pan. Stir and bring to a boil.
5. Reduce heat to medium-low. Allow sauce to simmer for 10-15 minutes,
stirring occasionally. The sauce will thicken as it cooks and become
tangy - a mixture of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy.
6. Tip:
this sauce can be served warm, at room temperature, or cold, so you can
easily make it ahead of time and keep in the refrigerator until needed.
7. Brush your grill with a little vegetable oil, then grill the
chicken, turning occasionally. Brush the chicken with the leftover
marinade for the first 10 minutes or so, then discard marinade.
To Cook Chicken in Your Oven: Place chicken pieces on a grill pan or on
a baking sheet lined with foil. Bake at 375 degrees for approximately
45 minutes, or until chicken is nearly done (thicker pieces may need
slightly longer, while small or thin pieces may cook faster).
8. Now turn your oven to the "broil" setting (on "high" if you have a
choice), and move chicken to one of the upper racks of your oven. Baste
both sides of chicken with the leftover marinade, or with a little of
the dipping sauce, then broil 3-5 minutes per side, or until fully
cooked. Tip: Stay near the oven for this process, or chicken may burn.
9. Serve with the dipping sauce on the side, OR spoon a little sauce
over each piece of chicken as a glaze before serving. This dish goes
well with a salad (if you're watching your carbs), or serve with rice.
ENJOY!
