Why This Recipe Shines
This delightful recipe substitutes traditional Vietnamese rock sugar with a blend of brown sugar and honey, creating a rich flavor profile. A final sprinkle of nuts and seeds adds an irresistible crunch and depth to the dish.
There’s something undeniably appealing about food served on skewers—especially grilled chicken. While barbecue sauce is often the go-to for chicken kebabs, I have a special fondness for sweet and savory chicken skewers inspired by the sticky caramel glaze found in Vietnamese gà kho (caramelized chicken). This version incorporates a zesty citrus twist along with toasted sesame seeds and sliced almonds for added texture.
A successful skewer recipe starts with an effective marinade, but simplicity is key. In this dish, I combine fish sauce, brown sugar, and orange juice to ensure that the chicken remains tender and flavorful during grilling. To achieve maximum coverage without mess, I cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces, place them in a zip-lock bag with the marinade, seal it tightly, and give it a good shake.
Next comes threading those marinated chunks onto skewers.
Using chicken thighs is essential here; they retain moisture better than breasts due to their higher fat content—perfect for high-heat grilling!
For the glaze base, I opt for brown sugar mixed with honey to mimic the taste of traditional rock sugar used in Vietnamese cooking rather than using granulated white sugar. The sweetness from this marinade needs balancing; therefore, salty fish sauce complements it well alongside citrusy orange juice and tangy rice vinegar. Adding minced garlic, ginger, and shallots introduces subtle heat as it reduces—the glaze should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon (it will thicken further when brushed onto grilled chicken).
Once on the grill, I generously brush each skewer with glaze multiple times until fully cooked through and beautifully caramelized. After one last coating of glaze at finishing time rolls them in sesame seeds mixed with almonds before returning them briefly to grill until golden brown.
The result? Juicy skewers that are crispy on the outside yet tender within—a refreshing alternative to standard barbecue offerings!
Crispy Caramel Chicken Skewers Recipe
#### Ingredients:
For Marinated Chicken:
- 2 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs (cut into 1-inch pieces)
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon orange juice
For Caramel Glaze:
- ⅔ cup packed light brown sugar
- ⅓ cup fish sauce
- ⅓ cup orange juice
- ⅓ cup rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 4 medium cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 medium shallots (chopped)
- A piece of fresh ginger (1 inch) minced
To Grill & Garnish: -¼ cup white sesame seeds -¼ cup black sesame seeds -⅓ cup sliced almonds -2 scallions (thinly sliced)
Instructions:
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Marinate Chicken: In a large zip-lock bag combine chopped chicken thighs along with fish sauce, brown sugar & orange juice; shake well until coated thoroughly then refrigerate for at least two hours or overnight.
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Prepare Caramel Glaze: In medium saucepan over medium heat mix together all ingredients listed under “Caramel Glaze.” Stir continuously until sugars dissolve completely then add garlics/shallots/ginger continuing cooking till mixture thickens enough that coats back spoon easily—remove from heat once done.
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Grill & Garnish: Light up charcoal or gas grill preheating grate while preparing baking sheet lined evenly scattered out both types sesame seed plus almond slices readying them next step!
Thread marinated chunks onto six bamboo skewers before placing directly over heated coals turning every five minutes brushing liberally throughout process ensuring even crispiness achieved after approximately eight minutes total cook time!
Just before removing from grill apply final generous layer glazing rolling through nut mixture allowing brief toast finish around two minutes max! Finally garnish finished product scallion slices serve hot!
Special Equipment Needed:
Charcoal or gas grill; bamboo skewers soaked in water at least thirty minutes prior use; rimmed baking sheet.
Enjoy these delicious crispy caramel chicken skewers as an exciting addition to your next meal!