Caramelized Black Pepper Chicken

Ingredients
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• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
• About 1/4 cup fish sauce (nam pla)
• 1/4 cup water
• 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger
• 1 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
• 2 fresh Thai chiles, halved, or dried red chiles. Or 1 or 2 Serrano chile is you can't find Thai chilies. Depending on how hot you like it.
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 shallot, thinly sliced
• 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 4 cilantro sprigs
• Jasmine Rice

How to Make It​

Step 1    
In a small bowl, combine the sugar, fish sauce, water, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, pepper and chiles.

Step 2    
Heat the oil in a large deep skillet. Add the shallot and cook over moderate heat until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the fish sauce mixture and the chicken and simmer over high heat until the chicken is cooked through, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a serving bowl, garnish with the cilantro and serve.
NotesBecause fish sauces vary in their saltiness, Phan advises adding the fish sauce to taste.

Serve with steamed jasmine rice.

From Food and Wine Magazine