Soy Braised Chicken Rice and Gravy

Ingredients

• 4 Chicken Thighs (bone-in, skin-on preferred for flavor)
• 30 g Rock Sugar (or 2 tbsp granulated sugar)
• 4 Garlic (smashed)
• 2 inch Ginger (sliced into rounds)
• 3 Spring Onion (cut into lengths)
• 2 Star Anise (whole)
• 1 Cinnamon Stick (whole)
• 0.25 cup Light Soy Sauce
• 2 tbsp Dark Soy Sauce (for color)
• Salt (to taste)
• 2 cup Jasmine Rice (rinsed)
• 1 inch Ginger (minced for rice)
• 2 Garlic (minced for rice)
• 2 Spring Onion (finely chopped)
• 3 cup Chicken Stock (to cook the rice)
• Coriander (fresh, for garnish)

Steps

1. 1

   Prepare the aromatics for the sauce by smashing the garlic, slicing the ginger, and cutting the spring onions into large segments.

2. 2

   In a large pot or wok, heat a small amount of oil and briefly sauté the garlic, ginger, spring onion, star anise, and cinnamon until fragrant.

3. 3

   Add the chicken thighs to the pot. Pour in the light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and enough water to partially submerge the chicken. Add the rock sugar and a pinch of salt.

4. 4

   Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30-40 minutes until the chicken is tender and cooked through.

5. 5

   While the chicken is braising, prepare the rice. In a separate pot or rice cooker, combine the rinsed jasmine rice, minced ginger, minced garlic, and chopped spring onions.

6. 6

   Pour in the chicken stock and add a pinch of salt. Cook the rice according to package or rice cooker instructions.

7. 7

   Prepare the herb garnish by placing fresh coriander and additional spring onion curls into a bowl of ice water to crisp them up.

8. 8

   Once the chicken is done, remove it from the pot. Increase the heat to high and boil the remaining braising liquid until it reduces into a thick, glossy gravy.

9. 9

   Serve the braised chicken over the aromatic rice. Generously ladle the soy gravy over the top and garnish with the chilled coriander and spring onions.

Notes

Placing the herbs in ice water (as seen in the video) helps them curl and stay vibrant and crunchy for the final presentation. If you don't have rock sugar, regular sugar works, but rock sugar provides a more traditional glossy sheen to the sauce.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• chicken
• braised
• rice
• dinner
• comfort food