Tender Braised Chicken Thighs with Soy Sauce and Shishito Peppers
The Best Side Dish for Kids! Crispy Outside, Tender Inside Soy-Braised Chicken Thigh Recipe with Shishito Peppers
Made with only chicken thigh meat, this soy-braised chicken thigh is incredibly tender and moist, never dry. It’s a perfect side dish for children with rice, and for adults, it’s a fantastic accompaniment to drinks alongside the shishito peppers. You absolutely must try making this popular dish! Highly recommended as a children’s side dish.♡
Main Ingredients
- 300g Chicken thigh meat (with skin)
- 5 Shishito peppers
- Sake or Soju (to remove gamey smell) – appropriate amount
- 1 Tbsp Sesame oil
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds
Braising Sauce (Perfect Sweet & Salty Balance!)
- 2 Tbsp Soy sauce
- 1/3 Tbsp Oyster sauce
- 2 Tbsp Mirin (or cooking wine)
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Corn syrup (for shine and extra sweetness)
- 1/3 Tbsp Minced garlic
- A pinch of black pepper or herb salt (to taste)
- 2 Tbsp Soy sauce
- 1/3 Tbsp Oyster sauce
- 2 Tbsp Mirin (or cooking wine)
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Corn syrup (for shine and extra sweetness)
- 1/3 Tbsp Minced garlic
- A pinch of black pepper or herb salt (to taste)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare fresh chicken thigh meat. It’s best to leave the skin on for extra tenderness and flavor. Rinse off any impurities from the chicken thighs under running water and place them in a bowl. Pour sake or soju over the chicken and let it marinate for about 10 minutes to effectively remove any gamey odor. This step ensures the chicken is clean and delicious.
Step 2
While the chicken is marinating, let’s make the delicious braising sauce! Combine 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1/3 tablespoon of oyster sauce, 2 tablespoons of mirin, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 1 tablespoon of corn syrup for a glossy finish and added sweetness. Add 1/3 tablespoon of minced garlic and a pinch of black pepper or herb salt, according to your preference. Stir everything together until well combined to create the perfect braising sauce!
Step 3
Now, wash the shishito peppers and green onions thoroughly. You can lightly blanch the shishito peppers, but cooking them directly will retain their crispiness. The green onions will add a wonderful aroma.
Step 4
Cut the shishito peppers into bite-sized pieces, about 2-3 cm in length (around 5-6 peppers). Cutting them too small might make them mushy when cooked, so a moderate size is best. Finely chop the green onions. The mild spiciness of the shishito peppers will enhance the overall flavor of the dish.
Step 5
Rinse the chicken thighs that were marinating in sake or soju under running water and pat them dry. Now it’s time to sear the chicken. Heat a pan over medium-low heat without any oil. Place the chicken thighs skin-side down. The fat from the skin will render and help fry the chicken until golden brown.
Step 6
The chicken skin will render enough fat to make it golden and crispy. If you removed the skin, add a little cooking oil at this stage. Once the chicken thighs are nicely browned on both sides, cut them into bite-sized pieces (about 3-4 cm). Searing the exterior like this helps to lock in the juices, keeping the chicken moist and tender.
Step 7
Pour all the prepared braising sauce over the nicely seared chicken thighs. Keep the heat at medium-low and stir occasionally with a spatula to ensure the chicken is evenly coated with the sauce as it simmers. Let it simmer for about 5-7 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and the chicken is well-coated and glossy. The sauce should be reduced to a glaze.
Step 8
Once the chicken has absorbed the flavors of the sauce, add the prepared shishito peppers and green onions. Turn the heat up to high and stir-fry quickly. It’s important not to overcook the shishito peppers; stir-frying them briefly will keep them pleasantly crisp. The aromatic green onions and crunchy shishito peppers will make this dish even more delicious.
Step 9
Finally, drizzle in 1 tablespoon of sesame oil for added aroma and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds to finish. Your delicious soy-braised chicken thigh, a perfect side dish for kids and a wonderful accompaniment for adults, is ready! Doesn’t it look mouthwatering?
Step 10
The shishito peppers can be slightly spicy, which might be too much for young children. In such cases, you can let the children enjoy just the chicken pieces, while adults can savor them with the shishito peppers. The flavor is quite similar to a teriyaki chicken skewer sauce, which is why children love it so much! You can also make a larger batch of this sauce separately by simmering it down. Then, skewer chicken and green onions to make chicken skewers and use this sauce as a dipping sauce – it’s absolutely delicious! This makes for a special meal to enjoy with your family.
