Today, let’s indulge in some comfort food with chicken thighs. With snow falling in many places recently, we all deserve some warm encouragement, and these recipes are just the ticket.
First, I present a warming and nutritious, no-added-water, vegetable and chicken stew. The vegetables and mushrooms create a flavorful base, allowing the chicken to braise in its own juices until tender and succulent. It’s a soul-soothing dish that will heal both your heart and stomach.
Next, I’ll share a couple of my other go-to chicken thigh recipes, one with carbs and one with a lighter approach. 
The second dish is teriyaki chicken and noodles. The pan-fried chicken is juicy, and every strand of noodle is coated in a rich teriyaki sauce. Served with a soft-boiled egg, it’s the perfect combination of carbohydrates and protein.
Third, we have a lemon pan-fried chicken, featuring onions, lemons, and fresh cilantro for a refreshing twist. The chicken is fragrant and juicy with a lightly caramelized skin. It is a perfect counterbalance to the richness of the chicken thighs.
Any of these dishes will be sure to make your evening warm and satisfying.
No-Water Chicken and Vegetable Stew
1、Debone 1 pound of chicken thighs: Use kitchen shears to cut around the bone at the top of the thigh, separating the bone from the meat. Cut down the middle of the bone to the end of the thigh and cut around the bone to separate the meat and sinew.
2、Wash and chop the chicken into large pieces.
3、Add 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of cooking wine, and 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce. Mix well and marinate for 15 minutes.
4、Lightly coat the bottom of a pot with cooking oil. Add 4 slices of ginger, 20g of sliced garlic, and half of a sliced onion, all to a cold pot with cold oil, and sauté over low heat until fragrant. Layer 200g of baby bok choy, 150g of king oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus eryngii), 50g of sliced carrots, and 50g of yellow bell pepper. Place the marinated chicken thighs on top. Cover the pot and simmer over medium heat for 18 minutes.
5、Remove the lid, stir well, cover again, and simmer for another 5 minutes.
Teriyaki Chicken and Noodles
1、Marinate one skin-on, boneless chicken thigh with 1/3 teaspoon of black pepper powder, 1/3 teaspoon of salt, and 1 tablespoon of cooking wine for 15 minutes. Heat 2 tablespoons of cooking oil in a non-stick pan over medium-low heat. Place the chicken skin-down and pan-fry for 1 minute, then flip the chicken skin-up for 30 seconds. Remove the chicken and set aside.
2、Using the leftover oil, continue to fry one bundle of green onion segments (about 30g) over medium-low heat for 1 minute, until they are dark brown and crispy. Remove the green onion segments. Then, add teriyaki sauce.
Or make your own sauce: Combine 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2/3 tablespoon of dark soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce, 1 tablespoon of white sugar, 1 tablespoon of cooking wine, and half a bowl of water.
3、Bring the sauce to a boil over high heat, add the pan-fried chicken and 2 sliced shiitake mushrooms, and simmer for 1 minute. Remove the chicken and set aside.
4、Add 300g of cooked udon noodles and toss to coat the noodles with the sauce.
5、Place the noodles and mushrooms in a bowl, then top with the sliced chicken, a halved soft-boiled egg, fried green onions, 1 tablespoon of crushed peanuts, and 1 tablespoon of chopped green onions.
Soft-boiled egg: Bring half a pot of water to a boil, add 1 room temperature egg, and boil over medium heat for 6 1/2 minutes. Remove the egg and immerse it in ice water for 5 minutes. Peel and slice in half.
Lemon Pan-Fried Chicken
1、Cut 4 boneless chicken thighs into pieces, add 3 slices of ginger, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce, 1/3 teaspoon of white pepper powder, 1/3 teaspoon of salt, and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch. Mix well and marinate for 10 minutes.
2、Lightly coat the bottom of a pan with cooking oil. Over medium heat, add the chicken pieces, and pan-fry for 5 minutes, until slightly caramelized on both sides.
3、Add sliced garlic, half of a sliced onion, half of a sliced red bell pepper, and half of a sliced lemon (remember to remove the seeds). Stir well. If you like cilantro, add chopped cilantro. Quickly stir and serve immediately.
