Honey Garlic Recipe

Inspired by The Yard Food Park

Time30m

Serves4

Make Honey Garlic Recipe in just 30m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.

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Ingredients

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Honey Garlic Sauce

1/2 cups Honey

1/4 cups soy sauce (preferably low-sodium)

1/4 cups water

2 tbs Rice vinegar

1 tsp Toasted sesame oil

4 pcs Garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp ginger, freshly grated

1 tbs Cornstarch

2 tbs cold water (for slurry)

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

1/4 tsp Celtic sea salt

Optional Protein & Garnish

1 lbs chicken thighs or breasts, bite-size (optional)

1 tbs vegetable oil (for cooking protein)

2 pcs green onions, thinly sliced

1 tbs toasted sesame seeds

Method

Honey Garlic Sauce

Whisk together honey, soy sauce, 1/4 cup water, rice vinegar, and sesame oil in a bowl until smooth and homogenous.

Add the minced garlic and grated ginger to the sauce mixture and stir to combine.

In a small cup, dissolve 1 tablespoon cornstarch into 2 tablespoons cold water to make a slurry; mix until no lumps remain.

Set a small saucepan over medium heat. Pour the honey-soy mixture into the pan and bring to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally.

Once simmering, slowly whisk in the cornstarch slurry. Continue to simmer and whisk until sauce thickens to a glossy consistency, about 1–2 minutes.

Taste and adjust: add 1/4 teaspoon salt if needed and red pepper flakes if you want a touch of heat. Remove from heat and let the sauce cool slightly; it will continue to thicken as it cools.

Optional Protein & Assembly

Cook the Protein

If using chicken or another protein, pat pieces dry and season lightly with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pieces in a single layer and cook until golden brown and cooked through (chicken: about 4–6 minutes per side depending on thickness). Remove from pan and set aside.

Reduce heat to medium-low. Return cooked protein to the skillet (or add cooked vegetables) and pour the honey garlic sauce over them. Toss or stir for 1–2 minutes to coat evenly and allow the sauce to heat through and cling to the pieces.

Turn off heat. Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately over steamed rice or noodles.