Recipes That Rock -- Honey Ginger Chicken

This is a recipe that I hold very near and dear to my heart. I love this recipe. I've made it so many times I have it memorized. I found it one day while looking up yummy bento recipes during my crazy bento making days and it's been a staple in my kitchen ever since.

This particular recipe comes from CookingCute.com. I highly recommend them for all your bento needs. Hm. Maybe I'll do a bento week later this year...

HONEY-GINGER CHICKEN

• 2 tbsp. canola oil
• 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 large onion, sliced into wedges
• 6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 1-inch chunk of ginger, peeled and julienned
• 2 tbsp. honey
• 2 tbsp. low-sodium tamari
• 2 tbsp. fish sauce
• 1/2 tsp. five-spice powder

1. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the onion and stir-fry until onion begins to soften and turn translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
2. Add the chicken and stir-fry until lightly browned, about 3-4 minutes.
3. Add the garlic and ginger and stir-fry until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
4. Add the honey, soy sauce, fish sauce and five-spice powder. Combine well and simmer for another 5 minutes, until chicken is nicely glazed with the sauce


Now, here's my two cents.

I don't normally buy whole garlic because I never use it in time. Same with Ginger Root. You'd think I would, but no. I've made this recipe both with whole garlic and ginger as well as with ground ginger and garlic powder. It's awesome either way. You definitely get more a ginger punch when you use the "real" thing, but it's up to you.

Tamari is soy sauce. Please go with the low sodium version. You get the delicious soy flavor with out the 800lbs of salt. It's just better.

We supposedly have Asian markets here in St. Louis. I am pretty sure you have to be Asian and a wizard to find them. Because I can't. Ever. So I've never made this with fish sauce or five spice powder. I'm willing to try. Maybe I'll pick some up the next time I'm in Iowa City. If you make it with these ingredients, let me know how it turns out.

I usually serve this with yummy white rice and some steamed broccoli. I was out of white rice so I went with yellow rice (white rice seasoned with saffron) tonight.