poultry essentials: pineapple soy chicken thighs

23 Pinches 22 Photos
Wichita, KS
Updated on Jan 21, 2021

This is a flavorful dish that comes together with rather common ingredients. Quick to put together with a minimum of utensils. Serve over rice or flat noodles. Yummy stuff. So, you ready… Let’s get into the kitchen.

prep time 10 Min
cook time 30 Min
method Stove Top
yield 4 serving(s)

Ingredients

  • PLAN/PURCHASE
  • THE CHICKEN
  • 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil, or other non-flavored variety
  • 1 tablespoon sweet butter, unsalted
  • 4 medium chicken thighs, skinless, boneless
  • THE SAUCE
  • 2 cups filtered water
  • 2/3 cup tamari sauce or liquid aminos
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2/3 cup coconut sugar
  • 4 ounces diced green chiles, 1 small can, drained
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated, or 1/2 tablespoon ginger powder
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • 8 ounces pineapple chunks, 1 small can, drained
  • white pepper, to taste
  • OPTIONAL GARNISH ITEMS
  • parsley, freshly, chopped
  • toasted sesame seeds

How To Make poultry essentials: pineapple soy chicken thighs

  • Step 1
    PREP/PREPARE
  • Step 2
    You will need a good size ovenproof skillet with a cover, to make this recipe.
  • Step 3
    You will note that my photos reflect making these in All-Clad mini pans. I assume you will be using a large pan for all 4-chicken thighs and that is how the instructions are written. What I did is divide the recipe ingredients by four and divided them among the four pans. Regardless of whether you use one pan or four, the recipe steps remain the same.
  • Step 4
    When it comes to diced green chiles in a tin, my favorite brand, hands down, is Hatch. They come mild, medium or hot. And the great news is that if you do not use the whole can, you can freeze what is left and save for another recipe.
  • Step 5
    I made this recipe with boneless/skinless chicken thighs; however, you could use any part of the chicken; even bone-in. But make sure it is skinless. The skin adds too much fat to sauce. Come to think about it, this recipe might do well with beef or even pork. However, I am not willing to go there… yet.
  • Step 6
    Gather your ingredients (mise en place).
  • Step 7
    Whisk the sauce ingredients together in a bowl, and reserve.
  • Step 8
    The best way to accomplish this is to whisk everything together, except the pineapple chunks, and when combined add the pineapple chunks to the bowl.
  • Step 9
    Add the oil and butter to a skillet over medium heat.
  • Step 10
    When the foaming subsides, give the skillet a swirl and add the chicken thighs.
  • Step 11
    Cook about 2 – 3 minutes per side.
  • Step 12
    You want them to brown slightly on the outside, but not cook through. This helps to create additional levels of flavor for the recipe.
  • Step 13
    Remove the chicken from the skillet and reserve.
  • Step 14
    Add the reserved sauce ingredients to the skillet, bring up to a simmer, then use a wooden spoon to scrap up any brown bits that formed during the cooking of the chicken and dissolve them into the liquid.
  • Step 15
    Those browned bits are called “fonds” and they are little dried nuggets of flavor.
  • Step 16
    Continue to simmer for 5 – 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Step 17
    Add the chicken thighs and cook covered for about 8 - 10 minutes.
  • Step 18
    During this time, turn the chicken every 4 -5 minutes.
  • Step 19
    Remove the lid and remove the chicken, then continue to simmer and reduce the sauce, about an additional 15 – 18 minutes.
  • Step 20
    Once the sauce begins to thicken, it is close to being finished, whether you have met the prescribed time or not. It is ready when it will coat the back of a spoon.
  • Step 21
    While the sauce is simmering and thickening, cut the chicken into bite-size pieces.
  • Step 22
    Add the chicken back to the pan and allow to warm through… about 3 – 4 minutes.
  • Step 23
    PLATE/PRESENT
  • Step 24
    I like to serve this rustic, right in the skillet, and let people scoop out a portion. I also have a nice bowl of steamed rice on the side. Enjoy.
  • Stud Muffin
    Step 25
    Keep the faith, and keep cooking.

Discover More

Category: Chicken
Culture: Asian
Ingredient: Chicken
Method: Stove Top

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