Description
A vibrant, tropical-inspired dish featuring tender chicken thighs tossed in a luscious honey-soy mango sauce. Served over aromatic coconut jasmine rice, this meal perfectly balances sweet, savory, and spicy flavors with fresh ginger, garlic, and bright lime juice.
Ingredients
Coconut Jasmine Rice
- 1 cup jasmine rice
- 1 cup chicken stock, 1 can (5.46 oz) coconut milk
- 1/2 tsp sugar, salt to taste
Mango Chicken & Sauce
- 2 lbs chicken thighs (bite-sized), 2 tbsp cornstarch, canola oil
- 1 ripe mango (diced), 2 tbsp butter
- 1/3 cup honey, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup chicken stock
- 3 cloves garlic, 1 lime (juiced), 1 tsp fresh ginger, red pepper flakes
Instructions
Rice: Whisk coconut milk, stock, sugar, and salt in a pot; bring to a boil. Add rice, reduce to lowest heat, cover tightly, and simmer 18–20 mins. Do not open the lid.
Chicken: Toss chicken in cornstarch. Sear in oil over medium-high heat until golden and nearly cooked. Remove from pan.
Sauce: Melt butter in the same pan; sauté mango for 2 mins. Whisk honey, soy sauce, stock, lime juice, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes; pour into pan and simmer.
Combine: Return chicken to the pan. Stir to coat and simmer 2–3 mins until the sauce thickens. Serve over fluffed coconut rice.
Notes
Thighs vs. Breasts: Chicken thighs are essential for this recipe; their higher fat content ensures they remain succulent during the high-heat searing and glazing process.
The ‘Velveting’ Effect: The cornstarch coating creates a protective barrier for the meat and serves as a built-in thickener for the mango sauce once the chicken is reintroduced.
No Peeking: Opening the rice lid releases the pressurized steam required for even hydration. Use a glass lid or trust the timer to ensure fluffy, non-mushy grains.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop / Simmering
- Cuisine: Tropical Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups (chicken and rice)
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 26
- Sodium: 780
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Unsaturated Fat: 10
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 52
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 34
- Cholesterol: 145
Keywords: mango chicken and rice, coconut jasmine rice, tropical chicken recipes, honey soy mango sauce, chicken thigh recipes