Coconut-Braised Chicken Thighs with Lemongrass
The flavorful meat of chicken thighs is ideal for this aromatic Southeast Asian–style braise that is prepared in a single Dutch oven. Higher in fat and collagen than breasts, thighs are less likely to toughen during a long, slow simmer. An equal amount of baby spinach or baby mustard greens can replace the kale.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 lb. (1.25 kg) boneless chicken thighs
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
- 1 Tbs. olive oil
- 2 green onions, white and pale green portions, chopped
- 2 lemongrass stalks, white part only, thinly sliced
- 2 Tbs. minced serrano chile
- 2 cans (each 14 fl. oz./440 ml) coconut milk
- 1 lb. (500 g) Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch (5-cm) pieces
- 6 to 8 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
- 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 2 tsp. ground coriander
- 1 star anise
- 1 large lemon, cut into 8 wedges
- Juice of 1 lime
- 3 cups (5 oz./155 g) baby kale
- Steamed rice for serving
- Chopped fresh cilantro for garnish
Directions
Preheat an oven to 375°F (190°C).
Pat the chicken dry and season generously with salt and pepper. In a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil. Working in batches, add the chicken and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. Pour off all but 1 Tbs. of the fat from the pot.
Place the pot over medium heat, add the green onions, lemongrass and chile, and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 4 minutes.
Return the chicken to the pot. Add the coconut milk, potatoes, garlic, cinnamon, coriander, star anise and lemon wedges and bring to a simmer. Cover, transfer to the oven, and cook until the chicken is cooked through and the potatoes can be easily pierced with a knife, 30 to 45 minutes.
Remove the pot from the oven, discard the star anise and stir in the lime juice. Add the kale and stir until just wilted. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.
Serve over steamed rice, and garnish with cilantro. Serves 4.
Adapted from Williams-Sonoma The Dutch Oven Cookbook (Weldon Owen, 2016)