Hawker-inspired One-pan Chicken and Orzo
By Lily Morello
Hawker-inspired One-pan Chicken and Orzo
By Lily Morello
Yield/Serves:
Makes 4 servings
- 2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, trimmed of excess fat
- 3 teaspoons soy sauce, divided
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter, divided
- 11/2 cups chopped onion (about 1 medium onion)
- 2 teaspoons ginger, minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 sticks cinnamon
- 1 1/2 cups dry orzo pasta
- 2 tablespoons shao xing wine
- 2 cups low sodium chicken stock
- 1 1/2 teaspoons chicken powder
- 2 Persian cucumbers, sliced
- 1 stalk scallions, thinly sliced
- Cilantro, for garnish
- 2 bird’s eye chilies, sliced (optional)
- Ginger Scallion Garlic Oil, for serving
Prep and season the chicken: Trim the chicken thighs of excess skin and fat. Pat the thighs dry on both sides with paper towels. Combine with 2 teaspoons soy sauce and the white pepper. Mix until the chicken thighs are evenly coated and allow to marinade for 10 minutes.
Brown the chicken thighs: Heat olive oil and melt 1 tablespoon butter on medium high heat in a large cast iron pan (large enough to fit all of the chicken pieces) to coat the bottom of the pan. When the oil is hot, place thighs skin-side down in the pan. Pour over any excess marinade. Let cook for 5 minutes or until the chicken has browned on one side. Then turn the chicken pieces over and cook for another 4 minutes until lightly browned. Remove the chicken from the pan, set aside.
Brown the aromatics and orzo: Add the remaining butter to the pan and allow to melt. Add onion and ginger and fry for 2 to 3 minutes, or until fragrant and onions are slightly translucent. Add garlic and cinnamon sticks. Cook until the garlic becomes golden on the edges, about 1 minute more. Add orzo pasta to the pan. Stir to combine and let the pasta brown. Once the orzo starts to brown, add chicken powder, remaining soy sauce, and shao xing wine.
Add back chicken, pour stock over orzo: Place the chicken pieces skin-side up on top of the orzo. Pour the stock over the orzo. Increase heat to medium high and let the stock in the pan come to a full boil.
Cover and cook: Lower the heat to the lowest heat you need to maintain a bare simmer. Cover and let cook until the orzo has completely absorbed the liquid and the chicken is cooked through, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.
To serve: Divide chicken and orzo among 4 plates. Add cucumber slices on the side and garnish each with scallions, cilantro, and bird’s eye chilies (if using). Serve with a batch of Ginger Scallion Garlic Oil in a separate jar for everyone to add to taste.
Brown the chicken thighs: Heat olive oil and melt 1 tablespoon butter on medium high heat in a large cast iron pan (large enough to fit all of the chicken pieces) to coat the bottom of the pan. When the oil is hot, place thighs skin-side down in the pan. Pour over any excess marinade. Let cook for 5 minutes or until the chicken has browned on one side. Then turn the chicken pieces over and cook for another 4 minutes until lightly browned. Remove the chicken from the pan, set aside.
Brown the aromatics and orzo: Add the remaining butter to the pan and allow to melt. Add onion and ginger and fry for 2 to 3 minutes, or until fragrant and onions are slightly translucent. Add garlic and cinnamon sticks. Cook until the garlic becomes golden on the edges, about 1 minute more. Add orzo pasta to the pan. Stir to combine and let the pasta brown. Once the orzo starts to brown, add chicken powder, remaining soy sauce, and shao xing wine.
Add back chicken, pour stock over orzo: Place the chicken pieces skin-side up on top of the orzo. Pour the stock over the orzo. Increase heat to medium high and let the stock in the pan come to a full boil.
Cover and cook: Lower the heat to the lowest heat you need to maintain a bare simmer. Cover and let cook until the orzo has completely absorbed the liquid and the chicken is cooked through, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.
To serve: Divide chicken and orzo among 4 plates. Add cucumber slices on the side and garnish each with scallions, cilantro, and bird’s eye chilies (if using). Serve with a batch of Ginger Scallion Garlic Oil in a separate jar for everyone to add to taste.