Sweet & Spicy Chicken

Remove the honey from the refrigerator to bring to room temperature. In a medium pot, combine the rice, a big pinch of salt, and 2 cups of water. Heat to boiling on high. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook, without stirring, 13 to 15 minutes, or until the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender. Turn off the heat and fluff with a fork. Cover to keep warm.

Meanwhile, wash and dry the fresh produce. Cut off and discard the stems of the peppers; remove the cores, then thinly slice into rings. Thinly slice the scallions, separating the white bottoms and hollow green tops. In a bowl, whisk together the hoisin sauce, sesame oil, vinegar, honey (kneading the packet before opening), 2 tablespoons of warm water, and as much of the gochujang as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be.

Pat the chicken dry with paper towels; season with salt and pepper. In a large pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Working in two batches, add the seasoned chicken in an even layer. Cook, without stirring, 3 to 4 minutes, or until lightly browned. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, 3 to 4 minutes, or until browned and cooked through. Leaving any browned bits (or fond) in the pan, transfer to a large bowl.

In the pan of reserved fond, heat the sautéed aromatics on medium-high until hot. Add the sliced peppers and sliced white bottoms of the scallions; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until slightly softened. Add the sauce (carefully, as the liquid may splatter). Cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until the sauce is slightly thickened. Turn off the heat; transfer to the bowl of the cooked chicken. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Serve the finished chicken, peppers, and sauce over the cooked rice. Garnish with the sliced green tops of the scallions. Enjoy!