BLACKENED CHICKEN WITH CARAMEL AND CLEMENTINE DRESSING (Serves 4)
Ingredients: 6 large chicken thighs (1kg), boneless and skin on (850g); 1½tsp ground turmeric; 1tsp chilli flakes; 1tbsp fish sauce; 2tbsp olive oil; 12 spring onions, trimmed, washed well and dried; salt
For the caramel and clementine dressing: 85g caster sugar; 30g fresh ginger, peeled and julienned; 2 red chillies, deseeded, halved widthways and julienned; 3tbsp rice wine vinegar; 3-4 limes: 1 halved, to serve, and the rest juiced to get 3tbsp; 2tbsp fish sauce; 2-3 clementines, peeled; 5g fresh coriander, chopped.
Method
1. Put the chicken thighs, turmeric, chilli flakes, fish sauce, oil and 1 tsp of salt into a bowl and mix well. Marinate for an hour or overnight.
2. Place a large cast-iron sauté pan on a medium heat. Add half the chicken thighs, skin side down. Weigh down the thighs with a large saucepan. Cook until the skin is charred and blackened. Remove the top pan and set the chicken aside, then repeat with the remaining thighs. Remove chicken and let the pan cool.
3. Drain off all but 1½ tbsp of the fat and return to a medium heat. Add spring onions, coating them in the fat, then put back the chicken thighs, skin side up, and juices, nestling them into the onions, along with 90mm of water. Cook until cooked through. Transfer to a cutting board, leave to rest and slice each thigh into 2cm-wide strips.
4. While the chicken is cooking, make the dressing. Heat a medium saucepan. Once hot, turn the heat down and sprinkle in the sugar to coat the base. Swirl the pan, without stirring, so that the sugar melts and turns golden. Add the ginger and chillies, and stir for 45 seconds. Stir in the vinegar, lime juice and fish sauce. Cook for 30 seconds, then remove from the heat.
5. Use a small serrated knife to slice the clementines into 1cm rounds, then pull at them gently to halve them. Stir into the sauce. 6.Transfer spring onions to a platter and top with chicken and juices. Pour the dressing over, then sprinkle with the coriander and squeeze over the lime.