Asian Lime Ginger Chicken with Spicy Cashew Dipping Sauce

Sweet, tangy, salty flavors of Vietnamese cooking come together in an exciting marinade for these easy baked chicken thighs. This perfect fusion of flavors makes weeknight dinners extraordinarily good.

Ingredients

1/4 cup soy sauce regular or gluten-free

2 tablespoons peeled minced fresh ginger

1/4 cup fish sauce

1 tablespoon minced fresh Garlic cloves

¼ cup brown sugar

¼ cup vegetable oil

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

1 4-inch piece lemongrass bruised

4 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs (2 to 2 ½ pounds)

1 recipe spicy cashew dipping sauce

Instructions

Prepare the marinade. In a small bowl combine the soy sauce, fresh ginger, fish sauce, garlic, brown sugar, oil, lime juice and cilantro. Stir to dissolve the sugar.

Add the lemongrass stalk.

Pour the marinade into a container or gallon plastic zipper top bag (preferred method). Add the chicken and coat in the marinade.

Place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour up to 4 hours.

Before removing the chicken from the refrigerator preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Prepare a rimmed baking sheet by lining it with foil. The chicken can be cooked directly on the foil or a wire rack may be inserted (allows any excess fat to drip into the pan below).

Place the chicken on the pan or rack with space in between. Cook for 35 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees F. Instant read food thermometer recommended.

Spicy Green Cashew Sauce

2 cups raw cashews

1 bunch cilantro

1 jalapeno, stem removed (you can keep the seeds in if you like it nice and spicy!)

2-3 cloves garlic

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1/2 cup fresh water

½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste

Freshly ground black pepper

Spicy Green Sauce Directions

First, soak the raw cashews in 4 cups of warm water for at least 2 hours, otherwise you can place them in a large bowl, then add 4 cups of boiling water and let the cashews soak in the hot water for approximately 45 minutes to speed up the process.