Hawaii Garlic Chicken Recipe
Here's a Hawaii garlic chicken recipe that's as easy to make as delicious! This dish perfectly balances sweet pineapple with savory garlic, creating a harmonious blend of flavors that will transport your taste buds straight to the sunny shores of Hawaii.Whether you're cooking for your family or entertaining friends, this recipe promises a delightful and satisfying meal without the need for equipment or advanced cooking techniques. Plus, with its vibrant colors and mouthwatering aroma, it's sure to become a favorite in your culinary repertoire.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to recreate this island favorite:
- 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1/2 cup potato starch
- 1/3 cup pineapple juice
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 green onions sliced (for garnish)
- Cooked rice for serving
Instructions
Prep the Chicken
- Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
- Pat dry with paper towels and coat evenly with potato starch.
Cook the Chicken
- Heat sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken in a single layer and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side until golden brown and fully cooked. Remove and set aside.
Make the Sauce
- Reduce the heat to medium in the same skillet and add the minced garlic. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Stir in pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and black pepper. Let the mixture simmer for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened.
Combine
- Return the chicken to the skillet and toss to coat it evenly with the sauce. Simmer for another 2-3 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
Garnish and Serve
- Sprinkle sliced green onions over the top and serve hot with cooked rice.
Notes
1. Selecting the Cuts of Chicken
Boneless and skinless chicken breasts have been used for this specific recipe, as they are a leaner option. Chicken thighs can also be substituted, as they provide rich flavors and juicier textures. To ensure they are done cooking, changes in cooking time should be applied. 2. The Magic of Marinates
Enhance Flavours: To deepen the flavors in this recipe further, marinate the chicken in the sauce components—soy sauce, pineapple juice, honey, and garlic—for at least half an hour. However, overnight in the refrigerator is ideal for optimum flavor absorption by the meat. 3. Perfection with Pineapple
Fresh vs. canned: Fresh pineapple offers beautiful texture and an excellent burst of flavor in addition to the canned variety that works six ways from Sunday. For canned, instead, drain the juice from the pineapple and keep it for the sauce; this preserves the right consistency.
Caramelize toward: To add a great caramelized flavor, golden-brown the pineapple while cooking it separately before integrating it into the sauce. This enhances the sweet taste with contrasting textures for a pleasant experience. 4. Sauce consistency
Increase Slightly: To thicken the sauce, slightly increase the corn flour slurry. Reduce the corn flour or increase pineapple juice or water to lighten it. Other Options to Thicken: Arrowroot powder or tapioca starch are alternatives for corn flour; if you cannot use them, they can have a similar thickening effect. 5. Make it Even Tastier
Hotter: Add a pinch of dried red chili pepper or a drizzle of hot sauce to introduce some heat for the spicy-loving people around.
Put creative blends of fresh herbs like cilantro, basil, or mint to treat the dish to something else. 6. Serving Suggestions
Perfect Pairings: This Hawaii Garlic Chicken perfectly goes with a nice cold beer.
Boneless and skinless chicken breasts have been used for this specific recipe, as they are a leaner option. Chicken thighs can also be substituted, as they provide rich flavors and juicier textures. To ensure they are done cooking, changes in cooking time should be applied. 2. The Magic of Marinates
Enhance Flavours: To deepen the flavors in this recipe further, marinate the chicken in the sauce components—soy sauce, pineapple juice, honey, and garlic—for at least half an hour. However, overnight in the refrigerator is ideal for optimum flavor absorption by the meat. 3. Perfection with Pineapple
Fresh vs. canned: Fresh pineapple offers beautiful texture and an excellent burst of flavor in addition to the canned variety that works six ways from Sunday. For canned, instead, drain the juice from the pineapple and keep it for the sauce; this preserves the right consistency.
Caramelize toward: To add a great caramelized flavor, golden-brown the pineapple while cooking it separately before integrating it into the sauce. This enhances the sweet taste with contrasting textures for a pleasant experience. 4. Sauce consistency
Increase Slightly: To thicken the sauce, slightly increase the corn flour slurry. Reduce the corn flour or increase pineapple juice or water to lighten it. Other Options to Thicken: Arrowroot powder or tapioca starch are alternatives for corn flour; if you cannot use them, they can have a similar thickening effect. 5. Make it Even Tastier
Hotter: Add a pinch of dried red chili pepper or a drizzle of hot sauce to introduce some heat for the spicy-loving people around.
Put creative blends of fresh herbs like cilantro, basil, or mint to treat the dish to something else. 6. Serving Suggestions
Perfect Pairings: This Hawaii Garlic Chicken perfectly goes with a nice cold beer.