Description
This Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken recipe offers tender, flavorful chicken thighs simmered in a sweet and savory soy-based sauce, perfectly capturing the island-style taste. Ideal for a comforting main course, it’s simple to prepare and pairs wonderfully with steamed rice, garnished with fresh green onions and optional sesame seeds.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 3 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
Marinade and Sauce
- 1 cup shoyu (soy sauce)
- 1 cup water
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup mirin or dry sherry (optional)
Garnish
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Sauce: In a large pot or Dutch oven, combine the soy sauce, water, brown sugar, grated ginger, minced garlic, and mirin or dry sherry if using. Stir well until the sugar dissolves completely to create a balanced sweet and savory marinade.
- Add the Chicken: Place the bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs in the pot in a single layer to ensure even cooking. This allows the chicken to absorb the flavors thoroughly during simmering.
- Simmer the Chicken: Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook uncovered for 30 to 40 minutes, flipping the chicken occasionally to evenly coat with the sauce and ensure tenderness throughout.
- Reduce the Sauce and Glaze: Continue to simmer until the chicken is fully cooked and tender, and the sauce has reduced and thickened slightly, glazing the chicken beautifully. If a thicker sauce is preferred, remove the chicken and let the sauce simmer a few extra minutes.
- Serve: Serve the chicken hot over steamed rice, garnished with chopped green onions and optional sesame seeds for a fresh, nutty finish.
Notes
- For an extra thick sauce, remove the chicken after cooking and simmer the sauce a few more minutes until it reaches desired consistency.
- Add sliced onions or pineapple chunks during simmering to introduce additional sweetness and texture.
- Use mirin or dry sherry to add depth of flavor, but the recipe works well without it if unavailable.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 thigh with sauce
- Calories: 340
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 1080mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
