Description
This 30-Minute Honey Ginger Indonesian Chicken recipe features tender chicken breasts coated with a flavorful rub and simmered in a luscious honey-ginger sauce. A perfect balance of sweet, savory, and aromatic spices makes this dish a quick yet impressive meal ideal for weeknights or casual entertaining. Serve with jasmine rice and fresh sliced cucumbers and mini bell peppers for a refreshing contrast.
Ingredients
Scale
For the sauce:
- ½ cup honey
- ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup dark brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 3 tablespoons finely grated fresh ginger
- 6 medium cloves garlic, finely minced
For the rub:
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
For the chicken:
- 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 4 medium-size breasts)
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
For serving:
- Sliced baby cucumbers, if desired
- Sliced mini bell peppers, if desired
- Sesame seeds, optional garnish
- Cooked jasmine rice, recommended accompaniment
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In a medium bowl, combine honey, low-sodium soy sauce, dark brown sugar, hoisin sauce, finely grated fresh ginger, and minced garlic. Stir thoroughly until well mixed, even if the mixture remains slightly lumpy. Set aside.
- Make the rub: In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, garlic salt, ground coriander, and smoked paprika until evenly blended. Set aside.
- Rub the chicken: Lay the chicken breasts on a large plate and sprinkle the prepared rub evenly over both sides of each breast, ensuring full coverage.
- Cook the chicken: Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add olive oil and butter, swirling the pan to coat the surface. Once the butter is hot and bubbling, place the chicken breasts, smooth side down, in the pan. You should hear a gentle sizzle. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes or until the underside turns a golden color. Flip the chicken and cook for an additional 1 minute. The chicken will not be fully cooked at this stage but will finish cooking in the sauce. Remove chicken to a clean plate.
- Simmer in sauce: Pour the prepared sauce into the same pan and bring it to a boil over medium heat. Allow it to cook uncovered for 3 to 4 minutes until it thickens slightly. Return the chicken breasts to the pan, cover, and turn off the heat. Let the chicken sit covered for 10 minutes to finish cooking in the residual heat and sauce. For larger chicken breasts, either slice them horizontally before cooking or let them simmer in the bubbling sauce for an additional 1 minute before covering and turning off the heat.
- Serve: Plate the chicken with jasmine rice and garnish with sliced baby cucumbers, mini bell peppers, and sesame seeds if desired. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
- For even cooking, slice larger chicken breasts horizontally into thinner cutlets before applying the rub.
- Allowing the chicken to rest covered in the sauce off the heat ensures tender, juicy results.
- Slicing fresh cucumbers and mini bell peppers as a side adds a refreshing crunch and balances the dish’s richness.
- Use low-sodium soy sauce to control salt levels.
- Optionally garnish with toasted sesame seeds for added texture and aroma.
Keywords: Indonesian chicken, honey ginger chicken, quick chicken recipe, stovetop chicken, easy dinner, honey garlic chicken, ginger chicken sauce