Description
These Thai Peanut Chicken Bowls are a vibrant and flavorful meal featuring tender marinated chicken cooked to caramelized perfection, served over vermicelli noodles with a refreshing cucumber and red onion salad, fresh herbs, and crunchy peanuts. The dish is brought together with a creamy Thai peanut satay sauce that adds a spicy and nutty kick, making it a quick, satisfying, and well-balanced bowl perfect for lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Marinade
- 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into thin slices
- 8-ounce jar Thai peanut satay sauce (from Trader Joe’s)
- 1 clove grated garlic
Salad
- 2 cups thinly sliced cucumber (1 large English cucumber)
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion (about 1/4 an onion)
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
- Salt and sugar to taste
Noodles and Garnish
- 4 ounces vermicelli noodles
- A few tablespoons of crushed peanuts
- A few sprigs of herbs – mint, cilantro, and basil recommended
Instructions
- Marinate Chicken: Combine half of the Thai peanut satay sauce with the grated garlic and sliced chicken. Let the chicken marinate for 30 minutes to an hour to absorb the flavors.
- Prepare Salad: Toss together the thinly sliced cucumbers, red onion, avocado oil, vinegar, salt, and sugar in a bowl to create a refreshing, tangy salad.
- Cook Chicken: Heat a small amount of oil in a nonstick pan over medium heat. Add the marinated chicken and allow it to cook undisturbed for a few minutes to develop caramelization. Flip the chicken slices and repeat until cooked through and golden brown. For enhanced caramelization, add a pinch of sugar toward the end of cooking.
- Assemble Bowls: Cook the vermicelli noodles according to package instructions and drain. Serve the caramelized chicken over the noodles, top with cucumber salad, fresh herbs, and crushed peanuts.
- Make Dressing: To finish, thin out the remaining Thai peanut satay sauce by adding a bit of water, soy sauce, or chili oil to the jar. Drizzle this dressing over the assembled bowls for added flavor before serving.
Notes
- Marinating the chicken for longer enhances the flavor and tenderness.
- The cucumber salad can be adjusted for sweetness and acidity to your preference.
- Use fresh herbs generously for the best flavor.
- You can substitute vermicelli noodles with rice noodles or other thin noodles of choice.
- Add chili oil to the dressing if you prefer extra heat.
