MARTHASTEWART.COM

Soy-Ginger Chicken

Slow Cooking
Everyday Food, December 2006
  • Prep Time 30 minutes
  • Total Time 6 hours 30 minutes
  • Yield Serves 4
Add to Shopping List

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons dark-brown sugar
  • 5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 2/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped, plus sprigs for garnish
  • 1 piece fresh ginger (about 2 inches long), peeled and cut into thin strips
  • 5 scallions, thinly sliced on the diagonal (1 cup packed)
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
  • 4 chicken drumsticks and 4 thighs (about 2 1/2 pounds total), skin removed
  • 2 medium carrots, thinly sliced crosswise
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • For Serving

    • cooked white rice
  • Directions

    1. In a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker, stir together soy sauce, sugar, garlic, cilantro, ginger, 1/2 cup scallions, vinegar, coriander, and pepper. Add chicken and carrots; toss to coat. Cover, and cook on low until chicken is tender, about 6 hours. Using a large spoon, skim off and discard any fat from surface of cooking liquid.

    2. In a 2-cup glass measuring cup, whisk cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water. Ladle 1 cup cooking liquid into measuring cup; whisk to combine. Pour into a small saucepan, and bring to a boil; cook until thickened, about 1 minute. With slow cooker turned off, stir in cornstarch mixture. Serve chicken with white rice, and garnish with cilantro sprigs and remaining 1/2 cup scallions.

    Recipe Reviews

    Reviews (34)

    • Cris Puch
      30 Dec, 2012

      The reviews really helped me on this. First I browned my chicken on all sides first, removed the chicken, then I added in sliced mushrooms and browned them, then added in the carrots. Once they were all coated, I threw the rest of the ingredients in the crock pot with a 1 cup of chicken stock. Since I browned my chicken first, it only had to cook for 2 hours. The last few minutes, I added in some sliced baby bock choy and was wonderful! Next night even better! I will definitely be making this ag

    • Laurel MI
      25 Nov, 2012

      Great dish- the only change I made was adding about a cup of vegetable broth I had laying around. 4 hrs on low was perfect. Loved the ginger, green onion and cilantro.

    • tthirai
      7 Mar, 2012

      Delicious recipe.

    • Eviebelle
      13 Dec, 2011

      This was a good recipe, and will go into the rotation. Thank goodness I read the reviews, though. I cooked it for 3 hours (one hour on high, by accident, and then 2 more hours on low, once I realized my mistake). It probably could have cooked even less. I have no idea where they got 6 hours from! I've very rarely cooked with ground coriander, so it was nice to use something different for a change, and I think it added an interesting flavor. I served it with brown rice and sugar snap peas.

    • Nancyred83
      2 Nov, 2011

      This recipe needed MAJOR tweaking! I am so thankful that I read the reviews before I started making this.

      I halved the chicken portion, used 2 LARGE carrots, and doubled the recipe on everything else. I also browned the chicken first to add a little more color and flavor. Then I also added 2 1/2 cups of chicken stock to ensure there would be enough liquid. It only needed to be cooked for 3-4 hours. I added some baby bok choy in the last 30 minutes and served over brown rice! YUM!

    • Sojo16
      9 Aug, 2011

      Don't make this on a day you're staying at home, because it smells really good and will drive you crazy. I really like this recipe, except for pulling the skin off the legs.

    • rsmjcdorris
      3 Aug, 2011

      This is a good recipe! The chicken was flavorful, although I may not cook it for the entire 6 hours, But it was VERY tasty.

    • ttegtmeier
      22 Feb, 2011

      Chicken breasts tend to dry out in the crock pot because they are so low in fat. Thighs or drumsticks will turn out much better.

    • ekaplan42
      20 Feb, 2011

      This one of the worst recipes I have ever made in a slow cooker. I used two chicken breasts and cut the low cooking time in half. I ended up with "dead chicken". It was so dry I had to throw it away.

    • Americana
      17 Feb, 2011

      I add 1/2 cup stock and tossed a hand full of peas in at the end. My chicken was done in 3 hours. I also omitted the corn starch.

    • MegRuth
      16 Feb, 2011

      I used two FROZEN chicken breasts and put them right in with all the rest of the ingredients (didn't have carrots) and after three and a half hours I had a perfect meal. It was SUPER tasty! And I juices.

    • Suzanne1950
      10 Feb, 2011

      Can anyone tell me if we can make this with chicken breasts ?
      Thank you.

    • abenita
      23 Jun, 2010

      THIS IS A QUICK AND EASY AWESOME RECIPE.
      MY FAMILY LOVED IT.
      I LOVE CHICKEN,RICE AND VEGGIES ANY WAY.
      THANKS MARTHA.

    • shawna200
      26 Apr, 2010

      ++I+have+made+this+recipe+several+times+in+the+past+two+years+and+it+ALWAYS+turns+out+perfectly.+The+flavors+are+delicious+and+the+aroma+is+wonderful%21+Once+I+was+making+this+when+the+UPS+guy+came+to+deliver+a+package.+He+said+he+walked+all+the+way+back+to+his+truck%2C+but+just+had+to+come+back+and+tell+me+how+good+the+food+smelled%21+I+usually+don%27t+make+any+substitutions+except+I+use+whatever+chicken+parts+I+have+on+hand.+

    • tkking17
      13 Apr, 2010

      I REALLY liked this. In fact, it is one of my favorite slow-cooker receipes!

    • tkking17
      13 Apr, 2010

      I REALLY liked this. In fact, it is one of my favorite slow-cooker receipes!

    • mravens721
      21 Dec, 2009

      I really didn't enjoy this at all! The bones were falling apart so there were pieces everwhere. It was dry and not very tastey. I'm sure Martha would NEVER serve this!

    • Chicca14
      17 Sep, 2009

      I followed the quantities for the ingredients to the letter but there was no juice left after only 1 hour of cooking time! Could there be an ingredient missing? The taste was still great, but the chicken was a little dry...

    • larkin26
      2 Feb, 2009

      Very Yummy! There was plenty of juice, but the chicken was a little overcooked, so next time I will plan for 4 hours in the slow cooker. I did thighs and frozen boneless skinless breasts and they were both cooked about the same. Double the carrots!

    • shalum
      19 Jan, 2009

      this is practically chicken ADOBO!

    • Adriannap
      24 Oct, 2008

      I am allergic to the parsley family and therefore cannot eat the coriander and carrots - thugh with red peppers instead of carrots and a dash of cayenne instead of coriander - WOW this was delicious! I had to add more liquids at the end to thicken - but all else was delish

    • Adriannap
      24 Oct, 2008

      I am allergic to the parsley family and therefore cannot eat the coriander and carrots - thugh with red peppers instead of carrots and a dash of cayenne instead of coriander - WOW this was delicious! I had to add more liquids at the end to thicken - but all else was delish

    • NorbieK
      22 Oct, 2008

      My friends love it over rice. It is sooo comforting to have in a cold day.

    • moecook
      22 Oct, 2008

      After 4 hours on low, the liquid was mostly gone, carrots black and limp and the chicken was dry. Should there be water on the ingredient list?

    • talarc
      21 Oct, 2008

      for some reason, they NEVER give nutritional info for these recipes! very annoying! i wish they would, it's really helpful when you're trying to watch what you eat

    • BlessedFarm
      21 Oct, 2008

      Did a few adjustments, using boneless thighs, and dried herbs (didn't have any fresh on hand). Added sesame seeds, and used potatoe startch instead. VERY nice, easy to do, and yummy!

    • bienki
      21 Oct, 2008

      Where can I find the nutritional info for this recipe?

    • bienki
      21 Oct, 2008

      Where can I find the nutritional info for this recipe?

    • kickypants
      21 Oct, 2008

      If you like it less salty, but want the flavour of soy, use Bragg. I have completely discarded soy sauce from my fridge and now can't stand the extreme saltiness of it...even the low sodium type.

    • AFvet
      21 Oct, 2008

      ooops, depending on how small you cut your carrots might increase cooking time.

    • AFvet
      21 Oct, 2008

      hi Discob77,
      It should be a shorter cooking time so your chicken breast isn't dried out but you do have the juices in the dish. That recipe time is for the crock pot so put it on the shorter time 3-4 hours? or cook on stove, lower heat, if you're home and it shouldn't take an hour.

    • discob77
      4 Sep, 2008

      How would I adjust the cooking time if I'm only using chicken breast?

    • discob77
      4 Sep, 2008

      How would I adjust the cooking time if I'm only using chicken breast?

    • marthasmail
      29 Jan, 2008

      My family is absolutely crazy over this meal! I would recommend it to anyone