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Hawaii-Style Shoyu Chicken

Hawaii-Style Shoyu Chicken

This Hawaii-Style Shoyu Chicken recipe features tender chicken thighs braised in a flavorful soy sauce mixture, perfect served with rice or Hawaiian mac salad.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Hawaiian
Servings 4 servings
Calories 450 kcal

Equipment

  • heavy-bottomed pot
  • dutch oven
  • Baking Sheet

Ingredients
  

  • 6 pieces bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs about 2–3 pounds
  • 1 cup water
  • cup shoyu
  • cup dark brown sugar
  • 4 pieces green onions thinly sliced
  • 5 cloves garlic finely chopped or grated
  • 3 inches ginger finely chopped or grated
  • cornstarch slurry optional
  • rice for serving, as desired
  • Hawaiian mac salad for serving, as desired
  • sautéed cabbage or bok choy for serving, as desired

Instructions
 

  • Mix the shoyu braising liquid: Add the water, shoyu, brown sugar, green onions, garlic, and ginger to a bowl. Whisk to combine. Set aside or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
  • Braise the shoyu chicken: Pour the braising liquid into a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven with a lid. Nestle the chicken thighs in the pot, submerging them in the shoyu braising liquid as much as possible. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low. Cover and simmer for 30-35 minutes, until the chicken is fall-apart tender and cooked through.
  • Optional: Broil for texture: Preheat your oven’s broiler to its highest setting, ensuring an oven rack is positioned about 6 inches below the broiler. Transfer the chicken thighs to a small baking sheet. Place under the broiler for 4-5 minutes, rotating the baking sheet halfway through, until the chicken skin is crispy and caramelized. As the chicken broils, you can also thicken the braising liquid. Increase the heat under the pot to high. Boil 5-10 minutes, until reduced as desired.
  • Serve the shoyu chicken immediately alongside rice and mac salad. Spoon the thickened shoyu sauce over the chicken and garnish with thinly sliced green onion as desired. Enjoy!

Notes

In Hawaii, soy sauce is most commonly called shoyu. This chicken stores incredibly well and gets more flavorful as it sits. You can prep the shoyu braising liquid in advance for easy meal prep.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 450kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 30gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 130mgSodium: 800mgPotassium: 450mgFiber: 1gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 2mg
Keyword braised chicken, Chicken, comfort food, Hawaii-Style Shoyu Chicken, Hawaiian recipes
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