How to Make Thai-Inspired Steamed Chicken Thighs - A Step-by-Step Guide

Thai cuisine is known for its bold flavors and fragrant aromas. One of the most popular cooking techniques in Thai cuisine is steaming, a method that allows the natural flavors of the ingredients to shine through. In this recipe, we take a traditional Thai steaming technique and combine it with the succulent flavors of chicken thighs to create a dish that is both incredibly flavorful and surprisingly simple to prepare.

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Ingredients

  • 4 bone-in chicken thighs, with skin
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
  • 1 (2 inch) piece fresh ginger, thinly sliced, or to taste
  • 3 sliced green onions, white and green parts separated, divided
  • 1 cup coconut juice
  • 4 tablespoons water
  • 4 Thai chiles, chopped
  • 5 sprigs fresh cilantro, stems and leaves separated, divided
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 (1 inch) piece fresh ginger, coarsely chopped
  • 1 ½ tablespoons fish sauce
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon palm sugar
  • 2 ½ tablespoons vegetable oil

Information

  • Prep Time: 25 mins
  • Cook Time: 40 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins
  • Servings: 4

  • Fill a large pot with 4 to 5 inches of water. Insert a large steam rack inside the pot.
  • Season chicken thighs with salt and spread ginger slices over top. Arrange thighs in an even layer in a large, shallow, heat-proof bowl. Sprinkle white parts of green onions over top; pour in coconut juice and water. Place the bowl onto the steam rack in the pot.
  • Cover the pot and bring water to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until chicken is no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 35 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
  • While the chicken is cooking, combine Thai chiles, cilantro stems, garlic, ginger, fish sauce, vinegar, lime juice, and palm sugar in a food processor; pulse until mixture is well combined. Transfer sauce to a medium bowl and stir in green parts of green onions.
  • Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat until smoking, about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat, pour hot oil into sauce mixture, and stir to combine.
  • Use an oven mitt or dish retriever tool to carefully remove chicken bowls from the pot. Transfer chicken to a plate; discard ginger and green onion pieces.
  • Pour remaining cooking liquid through a sieve into sauce mixture; stir to combine.
  • Pour sauce over chicken. Garnish with cilantro leaves.
  • Nutrition

    314 cal.

    • Total Fat: 18g
    • Saturated Fat: 5g
    • Cholesterol: 69mg
    • Sodium: 935mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 19g
    • Dietary Fiber: 1g
    • Total Sugars: 2g
    • Protein: 20g
    • Vitamin C: 25mg
    • Calcium: 27mg
    • Iron: 9mg
    • Potassium: 263mg