Textual Chef

Pressure Cooker Vietnamese Caramel Chicken

Juicy chicken thighs glazed in a bold Vietnamese caramel sauce of fish sauce, sugar, ginger, and chili — deeply savory, slightly sweet, and ready in minutes from the pressure cooker.

45 minEasyServes 4400 cal/serving

VietnameseDinnerPressure CookerStandardDairy-FreeNut-Free

Ingredients

  • 4 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup fish sauce
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 8 slices fresh ginger, sliced thin
  • 4 cloves garlic cloves, smashed
  • 4 shallots, sliced
  • 2 fresh red chili (or 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes), sliced
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 4 scallions, sliced
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped

Instructions

  1. 1

    Set the pressure cooker to Sauté mode. Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar to the pot and cook without stirring for 3-4 minutes until it melts and turns a deep amber caramel. Watch closely to avoid burning.

  2. 2

    Carefully add 4 sliced shallots, 4 cloves smashed garlic cloves, and 8 slices sliced thin fresh ginger to the caramel and stir for 1 minute.

  3. 3

    Add 1/4 cup fish sauce, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 2 sliced fresh red chili (or 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes), and 1/2 cup chicken broth. Stir to combine and dissolve the caramel.

  4. 4

    Nestle 4 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs into the pot, skin side up. Seal the lid and cook on High Pressure for 15 minutes.

  5. 5

    Quick-release the pressure. Verify chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

  6. 6

    Transfer the chicken to a plate. Set pot to Sauté mode and simmer the sauce for 5-7 minutes until syrupy and reduced by about half.

  7. 7

    Return the chicken to the pot and spoon the glaze over the top. Serve garnished with 4 sliced scallions and 1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro.

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