Best Pei Wei Asian Diner Caramel Chicken Recipes

CARAMEL CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large skillet heat oil over medium high heat. Season chicken with salt and cook until golden brown on each side until crisp and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
• Add garlic cloves to skillet until golden brown about 2 minutes. Transfer to the plate of chicken.
• Return pot to medium high heat and carefully pour 1/2 cup of water scraping down the browned bits. Whisk in the brown sugar until dissolved. Then cook until mixture turns a deep amber color. About 4 minutes. Carefully add vinegar and stir to dissolve.
• Add garlic, broth and soy sauce. Bring cooking liquid to a boil and whisk occasionally. This takes about 10 minutes. Be patient. The sauce will thicken and glaze the chicken beautifully.
• Once glaze is ready, turn heat to medium low and return chicken to pan until heated through. Serve over rice and garnish with scallions or green onions if desired.

PEI WEI ASIAN DINER CARAMEL CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Combine sugar and water in a high sided sauce pot. Bring to boil and simmer until the sugar turns a dark caramel color, but not burnt. Do not stir the sugar while cooking or it may crystallize.
• Add the chicken broth (the broth will boil quickly and spatter because of the hot sugar so be careful. This is the reason for the high sided pan).
• Stir in the broth and continue stirring over low heat until the sugar dissolves, then add the fish sauce and soy sauce. Set aside.
• Combine Vietnamese vinaigrette ingredients to a medium bowl and add cucumbers, red bell peppers and carrots. Marinate until ready to use.
• Season the chicken pieces with the salt.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a large dutch oven and brown the chicken pieces on all sides. Set aside.
• In the same pan, (using the extra vegetable oil if needed) saute the ginger, garlic, red onion, and jalapeno over medium heat for 4-5 minutes until soft and fragrant.
• Add the browned chicken pieces and the caramel sauce to the dutch oven, turning the chicken in the caramel broth to coat all sides. Arrange the chicken in the pan so it is all submerged in the sauce as much as possible and bring the pot to a boil.
• Cover the pot, put in the oven and braise until done (35-45 minutes). While chicken is cooking, assemble the green onion, pineapple chunks and the other herbs and set aside.
• Just before serving, add in the green onions and pineapple chunks and stir well. Serve the chicken over your favorite rice or rice vermicelli.Top with portion of Vietnamese vinaigrette slaw.

CARAMEL CHICKEN

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees. Combine sugar and water in a high sided sauce pot. Bring to boil and simmer until the sugar turns a dark caramel color, but not burnt. Do not stir the sugar while cooking or it may crystallize. Add the chicken broth (the broth will boil quickly and spatter because of the hot sugar so be careful. This is the reason for the high sided pan). Stir in the broth and continue stirring over low heat until the sugar dissolves, then add the fish sauce and soy sauce. Set aside.
• Season the chicken pieces with the salt. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet and brown the chicken pieces on all sides. In the same pan, (using the extra vegetable oil if needed) sauté the ginger, garlic, onion and jalapeno over medium heat for a couple minutes until soft and fragrant. Add the browned chicken pieces and the caramel sauce, turning the chicken in the caramel broth to coat all sides. Arrange the chicken in the pan so it is all submerged in the sauce as much as possible and bring the pot to a boil. Cover the pot, put in the oven and braise until done, about 35-45 minutes.
• While chicken is cooking, combine the green onion and the other herbs and set aside.
• Serve the chicken over your favorite rice, with the herbs sprinkled on top. I like jasmine rice.

PEI WEI ASIAN DINER THAI BLAZING NOODLES

Steps:

• Add all ingredients to a mixing bowl and whisk until evenly mixed. Reserve sauce.
• Cut chicken breast into ¾ inch squares. Whisk eggs, milk, salt & white pepper together. Place potato starch in a mixing bowl. Dredge chicken through egg wash then dust in potato starch. Shake chicken in a strainer to remove excess starch.
• Heat 2 qts of water in a large sauce pan. Once boiling, cook chicken for 3-4 minutes or until cooked all the way through. (This helps pre-cook the chicken). Drain on paper towels and reserve.
• In a flat bottom wok or a large sauté pan, heat 1 Tbsp of vegetable oil until smoking hot. Add minced garlic and tomatoes & return the chicken to the sauce then sauté for 5-10 seconds.
• Add noodles, snap peas and carrots. Add the Blazing Sauce and toss to coat noodles evenly. Simmer and toss until sauce is 90% absorbed into the noodles. Dish should not be dry or overly saucy.
• Add green scallion sticks, basil and cilantro. Toss well and pour into 4 bowls evenly.

PEI WEI ASIAN DINER MIEN GA (VIETNAMESE CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP)

Steps:

• Place chicken stock, kaffir lime leaves, fish sauce, lemongrass, and galangal in a large sauce pan. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce to a very low simmer.
• Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes. Turn off heat and reserve until you are ready to serve.
• Place your bowls onto plates big enough so they have room for garnishes.
• Reheat broth to a boil for 15 seconds. Fill each bowl with 2 oz of cooked rice noodles, 1/4 cup of tomatoes, 1/4 cup of carrots, 1 Tbsp of Scallions, and approximately 4 oz of pulled chicken.
• Ladle hot broth over ingredients into bowl until bowl is 3/4 full.
• Place a lime wedge, jalapeno rings, bean sprouts, cilantro, thai basil on each plate for garnish. Serve and place Sriracha and Hoisin on the table for extra flavor.

BEST ORIENTAL SALAD DRESSING

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in blender and blend at medium speed 3-4 seconds until celery is finely grated.
• This can be served immediately, but the flavors will blend better if refrigerated about an hour before serving.
• The fewer substitutions you have to make, the better, of course, but I've used each of these at one time or other, and still been happy with the results. Send me any other substitutions you've tried!