Spicy Maple Chicken Coconut Rice (Printer-friendly)

Tender chicken in spicy maple glaze over aromatic coconut rice

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Spicy Maple Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
04 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce (use gluten-free if needed)
05 - 1 tablespoon Sriracha or hot sauce (adjust to taste)
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
08 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

→ For the Coconut Rice

11 - 1 cup jasmine rice
12 - 1 cup coconut milk (full-fat, unsweetened)
13 - 1 cup water
14 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Garnishes (optional)

15 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
16 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
17 - Lime wedges

# How to Prepare:

01 - In a small bowl, whisk together maple syrup, soy sauce, Sriracha, garlic, ginger, smoked paprika, and lime juice. Set aside.
02 - Pat the chicken thighs dry and season both sides lightly with salt and pepper.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken thighs and sear for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown.
04 - Reduce heat to medium. Pour the maple sauce over the chicken. Simmer, turning occasionally, until chicken is cooked through and sauce is thickened and sticky, about 10-12 minutes.
05 - Meanwhile, rinse the jasmine rice under cold water until the water runs clear.
06 - In a medium saucepan, combine the rinsed rice, coconut milk, water, and salt. Bring to a boil, stir once, then reduce heat to low. Cover and cook for 15 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender. Remove from heat and let sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
07 - Serve the spicy maple chicken over coconut rice. Garnish with cilantro, sesame seeds, and lime wedges as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The maple syrup creates a gorgeous sticky glaze that coats every bite of chicken
  • Coconut rice is the ultimate comfort food that somehow feels fancy enough for dinner guests
  • You get that perfect sweet heat balance without ordering delivery
02 -
  • The sauce will look too thin at first but trust the process as it simmers down into that perfect consistency
  • Resist the urge to lift the lid on the rice or youll mess up the steaming process
  • Room temperature chicken sears more evenly than cold straight from the fridge
03 -
  • Pat your chicken really dry before searing for the best browning
  • Use a light colored skillet so you can see when the glaze reaches that perfect amber color
  • Fresh lime at the end wakes up all the flavors

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