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–+ servings
caramelised chicken with brown rice

Vietnamese Caramelized Chicken (Gà Kho Recipe)

This Vietnamese chicken recipe is a dish braised in coconut water which turns into a lovely salty and sweet sauce. Serve the chicken over rice to soak up all the irresistable flavors.
5 from 2 votes
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 29 minutes
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine Asian, Vietnamese
Servings 4 people

Equipment

Cast iron pan

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon cooking oil
  • 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1/2 jalapeno, chopped (optional)
  • 1/2 cup coconut water
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 2 teaspoons white vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Gather the ingredients.
    ga kho ingredients
  • Heat a cast-iron pan over medium heat. Add one tablespoon of oil. When the pan is fully heated, add chicken thighs, skin side down.
    chicken thighs in cast iron pan
  • Sear the chicken thighs until the skin is golden brown and the fat has been rendered, about 5-8 minutes. Flip the chicken over and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
    cooking chicken thighs in cast iron pan
  • Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside on a plate (it's ok if the chicken is not fully cooked). Remove excess fat and leave about one tablespoon. Add the sugar to the pan.
    sugar in cast iron pan
  • Let the sugar melt and caramelize until it reaches a deep golden color. This should take about 2-3 minutes. Be careful not to let it completely burn.
    caramelised sugar
  • When the sugar is caramelized, add the garlic and optional jalapenos. Cook for about one minute. Deglaze the pan by adding coconut water and the rest of the ingredients.
    Add coconut water to pan
  • Add the chicken back into the pan and let it simmer in the coconut water mixture. Cover and let it cook for about 15 minutes, occasionally flipping the chicken so both sides simmer in the sauce.
    ga kho simmering
  • The chicken is done when the sauce is thickened and turns into a nice glaze. Uncover the pan in the last 5 minutes if it hasn't reduced enough. If the sauce gets too thick, just thin it out with more coconut water or water.
    sauce for ga kho
  • Serve with steamed rice and enjoy!
    finish caramelized chicken

Notes

  1. For a step-by-step guide on how to debone chicken thighs, click here. 
  2. When buying coconut water, try to buy the kind that lists 100% coconut water in the ingredients. 
Keyword chicken
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