| Prep: 20 mins | Cook: 40 mins – 50 mins | Difficulty: Medium | Serves: 6 |
| kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
| 355 | 11g | 2g | 27g |
| sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
| 8g | 4g | 44g | 5.3g |
Why I Love Finnish Broiler Sauce with Soy Chunks
Today I am excited to share with you a recipe that’s a bona fide favorite in my kitchen: Broiler Sauce with Soy Chunks. I fell in love with this Finnish dish in a restaurant during a gastronomic tour of the Nordic countries, joie de vivre fueled by the pursuit of epic culinary proportions. What appealed to me most about this dish was its amalgamation of robust, earthy flavors with that very characteristic Finnish penchant for straightforward, nutritious meals.
The Charm of Simplicity
On the surface, the Broiler Sauce with Soy Chunks might come across as a humble, unpretentious dish. I mean, let’s look at its components: boneless chicken breasts, textured soy protein chunks, a selection of aromatic herbs and spices. Doesn’t sound too vibrant, does it? But you see, that’s the deception. The actual magnificence of this dish lies in how these elementary ingredients come together to create a symphony of flavors that delight the palate.
The Mouthwatering Melange of Flavors
What do you get when you simmer succulent strips of chicken in a luscious sauce, flavored with soy, minced garlic, and a blend of traditional spices? A gustatory rhapsody, that’s what! The saltiness of the soy sauce, balanced with the sweet hint of sugar, and the aroma of bay leaves and oregano, makes this dish a true dining delight. The textured soy protein chunks not only add to the dish’s nutritional profile but also lend it a pleasantly surprising element of texture. Take a look at the enticing [image](https://yourgourmetguru.com/wp-content/uploads/Broiler-Sauce-with-Soy-Chunks.png) of the final result, and tell me you aren’t already halfway to your kitchen!
I can’t profess that any famed chef specifically inspired this recipe. Still, there is certainly an unmistakable shadow of the great Finnish chef, [Chef Sami Garam](https://www.eater.com/2018/11/29/18117911/sami-garam-finnish-chef-profile-finland-helsinki-mikkeli-pop-up) (link to an article on Eater). Known for his ability to bring out the unadulterated flavors of Nordic ingredients, one can see a similar essence of honesty and love of simplicity in this Broiler Sauce with Soy Chunks.
Don’t let the seemingly stark ingredient list fool you. As the well-regarded French culinary maestro Auguste Escoffier once said, “Good cooking is when things taste of what they are”. And there you have it, the magic of the Broiler Sauce with Soy Chunks lies in the purity of flavor, the honest taste of each ingredient coming together to form a whole that’s irresistibly moreish.
What You’ll Need
- 1.5 pounds of boneless chicken breasts
- 1 cup of Textured Soy Protein Chunks
- 4 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 cup of soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons of tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon of sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon of paprika
- 1 cup of water
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano
- Salt to taste
Method
Step One
Start preparing the sauce by heating 4 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add in the finely chopped large onion, and cook until it starts to turn translucent or clear. This usually takes about 5 minutes.
Step Two
Add 3 cloves of minced garlic to the skillet and continue to cook for a further 2 minutes, until the garlic is fragrant. Be careful to not overcook the garlic, as it can easily turn bitter and ruin the flavor of the sauce.
Step Three
While the onions and garlic are cooking, rehydrate the textured soy protein chunks by allowing them to soak in warm water for around 10 minutes.
Step Four
Drain the soy chunks and add them to the skillet. Then, add the 1.5 pounds of boneless chicken breasts to the skillet. Allow this mixture to cook over medium heat. Make sure all sides of the chicken breasts are well browned.
Step Five
Stir in 1 cup of soy sauce, 3 tablespoons of tomato paste, 1 teaspoon of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon of paprika to the skillet. Mix well until the tomato paste is well incorporated into the sauce.
Step Six
Add in the 1 cup of water, 2 bay leaves, 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano, and salt to taste. Allow this mixture to come to a boil.
Step Seven
Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and cover the skillet. Let the sauce simmer for about 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken is thoroughly cooked through and the flavors are well blended.
Step Eight
Remove the bay leaves before serving. The Broiler Sauce with Soy Chunks is now ready to be enjoyed with your favorite sides!
