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Grilled Marinated Thai Chicken

This grilled marinated Thai chicken is packed with authentic Thai flavors and is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a special occasion, offering juicy bites with a smoky char.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Thai
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken
  • 2 lbs chicken thighs (or wings, or drumsticks) Thighs are recommended for juiciness.
  • 5 cloves garlic, smashed Essential for flavor.
  • 3 cilantro roots, chopped If unavailable, use stems.
  • 1 tbsp fish sauce Don't skip this for authentic taste.
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp palm sugar or brown sugar
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp chili flakes (optional) For those who prefer spiciness.
  • 1 stalk lemongrass, minced (optional)
  • 1 inch ginger, grated (optional)
Gai Yang Sauce
  • 1 cup sweet chili sauce Store-bought is fine.
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
  • 1 tbsp fish sauce
  • 1 tbsp toasted rice powder (optional)

Method
 

Marinade Preparation
  1. In a mortar and pestle or food processor, combine garlic, cilantro roots, fish sauce, soy sauce, palm sugar, black pepper, chili flakes, lemongrass, and ginger.
  2. Mix until well combined and aromatic.
Marinating the Chicken
  1. Place the chicken in a large bowl or bag and pour the marinade over it, ensuring the chicken is well coated.
  2. Marinate for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight, in the refrigerator.
Grilling
  1. Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
  2. Remove chicken from marinade and allow excess to drip off.
  3. Grill chicken for about 6-7 minutes per side, or until cooked through and charred.
  4. Optionally, brush with reserved marinade in the last few minutes of grilling.
Serve
  1. Serve the grilled chicken with gai yang sauce, sticky rice, and fresh cucumber slices.

Notes

For extra flavor, poke holes in the chicken before marinating if short on time. You can also use a broiler or stovetop grill pan if necessary.