Vietnamese Sticky Chicken with Daikon and Carrot Pickle (for Bánh Mì)

Gourmet March 2005

The chicken and pickled vegetables are meant to be wrapped up in lettuce leaves and eaten with your hands.

  • Yield: Makes 4 servings
  • Active Time: 30 min
  • Total Time:  35 min

I used this recipe for the “bold flavors” in my chicken Bánh Mì recipe. I also used this recipe for my pickled carrots and beets. That’s all I got from this recipe

Ingredients

For Chicken

  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons Asian fish sauce
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Sriracha or other Asian hot chile sauce
  • 1 1/2 lb skinless boneless chicken breasts, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices

For Pickle

  • 2 medium carrots, peeled
  • 1/2 lb daikon radish, peeled
  • 1/2 cup rice vinegar (not seasoned)
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Special Equipment

  • A Japanese Benriner* or other adjustable-blade slicer; a well-seasoned ridged grill pan

Accompaniments

  • At least 8 large red- or green-leaf lettuce leaves; about 8 fresh mint, basil, and/or cilantro sprigs; Sriracha or other Asian hot chile sauce

Instructions

  1. Marinate chicken:
    • Whisk together garlic, sugar, fish sauce, oil, lime juice, and hot sauce in a large bowl until sugar is dissolved.
    • Add chicken and toss to coat, then marinate 15 minutes.
  2. Make pickle while chicken marinates:
    • Cut carrots and radish into 1/8-inch-thick matchsticks (2 inches long) with slicer.
    • Whisk together vinegar, sugar, and salt in a bowl until sugar is dissolved, then add vegetables and toss to combine.
    • Let stand, tossing occasionally, until wilted, about 15 minutes.
  3. Grill chicken:
    • Heat grill pan over moderately high heat until hot, then grill chicken in 4 batches, turning over once with tongs, until just cooked through, about 1 minute total per batch.
    • Transfer chicken to a plate as grilled and keep warm, covered with foil. Serve with pickle and accompaniments.

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