Today, we’re going to be looking at the best Hawaiian shoyu chicken recipe, and how to make this incredibly tasty dish at home. With summer finally here, you may be looking for inspiration for some new dishes to try. If that’s the case, then look no further! This Hawaiian shoyu chicken dish is perfect for any time of the year, but particularly in summer. It’s comfort food that’s the ideal pairing of sweet and savory. But how do you go about making it? Let’s take a look.
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What Is Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken?
You may already be familiar with shoyu chicken, but if you’re not – you’re in for a treat! It’s a staple dish in Hawaii, and of course, has Japanese roots. It works as an amazing comfort meal but isn’t too heavy; making it perfect for summer.
It’s chicken thighs that have been braised until they’re super tender and juicy from the shoyu sauce. The sauce is essentially a combination of brown sugar, ginger, and garlic flavors. It’s the ideal balance of sweet and salty.
Ingredients in Hawaiian shoyu chicken
Depending on which recipe you follow, you may need slightly different ingredients to make this dish. However, our recipe uses the following:
- chicken thighs
- shoyu
- dark brown sugar
- green onions
- garlic
- ginger
- cornstarch slurry (water and cornstarch)
2) Best Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken Recipe
Now let’s get down to the real reason you’re here – how to make the best Hawaiian shoyu chicken. This recipe is inspired by one from Plays Well With Butter. Let’s take a look at how to make this delicious dish.
Ingredients
The ingredients you’ll need for this recipe are:
- 2-3lb of chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on)
- 1 cup of water
- 2/3 cup of shoyu
- 2/3 cup of dark brown sugar
- 4 sliced green onions
- 4 cloves of grated garlic
- small piece of grated ginger
- slurry (1/3 of a cup of cornstarch and 1/3 of a cup of water)
Recipe
Now all you need to do is:
Step 1: Make the braising liquid
Grab a bowl and add the shoyu, brown sugar, onions, garlic, ginger, and water. Mix well until it’s well combined. Leave aside until ready to use.
Step 2: Braise the chicken
Using a large pot, add the braising liquid to it and place over a high heat. Place the thighs into the pot, ensuring the liquid is covering as much of the chicken as possible. Once the liquid is boiling, reduce to a low heat and leave to simmer for around 30-35 minutes, whilst covered. After this point, the chicken should be cooked through and tender.
Step 3: Broil the chicken
If you’re looking to add some texture to your chicken, you can also broil it once braised. Set the broiler on your oven to the highest setting and place the chicken thighs onto a baking sheet. Broil for a few minutes, and then turn the chicken around for a further few minutes. This helps to keep the skin crispy and gives an almost caramelized flavor. At this point, place the liquid still in the pot to high and make the sauce as thick as possible.
Step 4: Serve
Remove the chicken from the oven and plate alongside rice and salad. Now pour your sauce over your chicken and garnish with green onion. Your dish is now ready to serve. Enjoy! You can also try serving this dish with bok choy or sautéed cabbage.
2) Hawaiian Salad Recipe
If you’re looking for a quick, easy salad to accompany your shoyu chicken, a Hawaiian salad is the ideal partner. This recipe is inspired by one from Taste of Home.
Ingredients
The ingredients you’ll need for this recipe are:
- 1/2 cup of mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon of sugar
- 3/4 cup of pineapple with juice
- 6-8 cups of salad greens (torn)
- 1 cup of shredded cheese (cheddar)
Recipe
Now all you need to do is:
Drain your pineapple, ensuring you save around one tablespoon of juice for later. Now add the salad greens, pineapple, and cheese to a bowl. In a separate bowl, add the saved pineapple juice, sugar, and mayonnaise and mix well. Now pour the dressing over the salad and mix well to ensure well coated. Serve and enjoy!
What Is the Difference Between Soy Sauce and Shoyu?
You may be wondering what the difference is between the two. To put it simply, soy sauce is a term used for a range of different Japanese-style soy sauces, whereas shoyu is one particular type of soy sauce, rather than a general term. They’re both made from fermented soybeans.
Conclusion
I hope this post has helped you to become more familiar with the best Hawaiian shoyu chicken recipe. It’s super easy, and one the whole family will enjoy!
Do you have any tips or tricks when it comes to making shoyu chicken? If so, please feel free to let me know in the comments below. Sharing is caring.
FAQs
How Many Calories is in Shoyu Chicken?
The amount of calories in shoyu chicken can vary depending on which recipe you're following. However, each serving of our dish contains around 375 calories.
What is the Difference Between Tamari and Shoyu?
Tamari and shoyu are both types of soy sauce, that are made with fermented soybeans. However, the main difference between the two is that shoyu will usually have wheat added, whereas tamari will not. Tamari is a naturally gluten free soy sauce.
How Do You Use Smoked Shoyu?
Smoked shoyu is almost like a dipping sauce. Dip your favorite meats and vegetables into this sauce for maximum flavor.
How Do You Make Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken?
First you need to make the braising liquid. Then you need to braise the chicken in the liquid, and then broil the chicken for texture. It really is that easy!
Best Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken Recipe: How To
Ingredients
- 2-3 lb of chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on)
- 1 cup of water
- 2/3 cup of shoyu
- 2/3 cup of dark brown sugar
- 4 sliced green onions
- 4 cloves of grated garlic
- small piece of grated ginger
- slurry (1/3 of a cup of cornstarch and 1/3 of a cup of water)
Instructions
- Make the braising liquidGrab a bowl and add the shoyu, brown sugar, onions, garlic, ginger, and water. Mix well until it's well combined. Leave aside until ready to use.1 cup of water, 2/3 cup of shoyu, 2/3 cup of dark brown sugar, 4 sliced green onions, 4 cloves of grated garlic, small piece of grated ginger, slurry (1/3 of a cup of cornstarch and 1/3 of a cup of water)
- Braise the chickenUsing a large pot, add the braising liquid to it and place over a high heat. Place the thighs into the pot, ensuring the liquid is covering as much of the chicken as possible. Once the liquid is boiling, reduce to a low heat and leave to simmer for around 30-35 minutes, whilst covered. After this point, the chicken should be cooked through and tender.2-3 lb of chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on)
- Broil the chickenIf you're looking to add some texture to your chicken, you can also broil it once braised. Set the broiler on your oven to the highest setting and place the chicken thighs onto a baking sheet. Broil for a few minutes, and then turn the chicken around for a further few minutes. This helps to keep the skin crispy and gives an almost caramelized flavor. At this point, place the liquid still in the pot to high and make the sauce as thick as possible.
- ServeRemove the chicken from the oven and plate alongside rice and salad. Now pour your sauce over your chicken and garnish with green onion. Your dish is now ready to serve. Enjoy! You can also try serving this dish with bok choy or sautéed cabbage.
Nutrition
My name is Ania, and I am very glad to see you here. I have always loved cooking; even some of my earliest memories are flipping through a cookbook and making pudding standing on a stool because I was too small to reach the stove.
You should know that I am not a professionally trained chef, just a big food lover who grew up in a family obsessed with cooking and focused on what we eat.
