Chinese takeout meets the summer grill in gluten-free Honey Sriracha Coconut Grilled Chicken Fingers with dipping sauce. It’s the best of both worlds!
Hello and happy Friday to ya’! I hope you had a nice, shortened week!
Today is an especially exciting day because we find out if baby #2 is a boy or a girl! I have a pretty good idea of what we’ll see, but we’ll know for sure at 8am…eek!
An old wives’ tale says you can expect a boy if you’re craving salty foods, and a girl if you can’t get enough sweets, so I’m curious to know what the heck we’re having if I’m craving ALL OF THE TASTES. My appetite knows no bounds at the moment – salty, sweet, it’s all fair game. One craving I did not see coming though is for spicy foods. I have always considered myself a spice wimp – literally ordering meals from our favorite Thai restaurant at a “zero” spice level – but man have things changed over the past couple of months.
Asking for extra jalapeno slices in my Camarones al Ajillo? (Which I CANNOT get enough of.) Sure, why not? Eating spicy salsa and tortilla chips until it feels like my tongue is going to fall off? Can’t stop won’t stop. Shaking enough hot sauce onto egg casserole for Ben to ask if I’m the same girl he married? Bring it!
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not ready to sign a waiver to eat the hottest wings on the menu at a local wing joint, which my brother did in college causing him to lose his hearing for two hours (men,) and I’m not sure if the craving for spice will last after this baby arrives, but I’m embracing it in the here and now, especially in Honey Sriracha Coconut Grilled Chicken Fingers with dipping sauce. Spicy-sweet Chinese take out meets the summer grill in this delicious tongue-tingling recipe!
Dinner does not get easier than this, which I know you can all appreciate right now. I have to all but drag myself inside at 5pm every night to make dinner, but with a recipe as easy as this, I can stay put in my porch chair for a little bit longer.
All you need to do is marinate chicken breasts cut into strips (because isn’t finger food fun??) in a mixture of Sriracha, honey, lime juice, coconut milk and garlic then – wait for it – GRILL IT. That’s it! I suggest whipping up a batch of Coconut Rice (recipe in notes below) to pair with the chicken fingers as it cooks in the same amount of time as it takes to grill the chicken, and makes an excellent bed to soak up the spicy-sweet dipping sauce which is made of just Sriracha, honey, and coconut milk.
Speaking of, let’s talk about it. Coconut milk. I love using coconut milk in spicy recipes because it adds a cooling, tropical taste and flavor. I promise that your chicken fingers and rice will not taste like pina coladas. You’d need lots of sugar, pineapple, and rum to make that happen (mmmm rum…) Anyway, what was I talking about? Oh yes, coconut milk. I tested this recipe with and without it in both the marinade and dipping sauce, and the coconut milk really added a special touch so don’t be afraid to give it a try. Alrighty – fire up the grill and let’s go!
Start by making the marinade – in a large bowl whisk together 1/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons lite coconut milk, 1/4 cup honey, 2-4 Tablespoons Sriracha (I used 2 for moderate heat,) 3 Tablespoons gluten-free reduced-sodium Tamari or soy sauce, 2 Tablespoons each fresh lime juice and oil, 2 smashed garlic cloves, and a partridge and a pear tree. Just checking to see if you were still reading!
Pour the marinade into a large Ziplock bag then add 4 chicken breasts that have been cut into strips (could also use 1-3/4lb store-bought chicken tenderloins,) season with lots of salt and pepper, then squish to combine. Marinate in the refrigerator for 1-8 hours. This step is really easy to do ahead of time, ie prepare the marinade and slice the chicken then combine in the morning before heading off to work.
When it’s time to eat, heat your grill over medium-high heat for 10 minutes then remove the chicken fingers from the marinade and spray one side with nonstick spray. Turn the heat down to medium then place the chicken sprayed-side-down on the grates and grill for 1-2 minutes. Spray the tops then flip and grill for an additional minute or two. These cook really fast so don’t step away for too long!
As I mentioned, I like to serve these chicken fingers with Coconut Rice and grilled vegetables which cook right alongside the chicken. Just cut fresh zucchini into thick slices then spray or brush both sides with extra virgin olive oil and season with whatever you like (I always use my homemade seasoned salt.) Grill for 2-3 minutes a side over medium-high heat and you’ve got an easy, healthy side dish with no extra clean up!
Once the chicken fingers are cooked through, place them onto a platter and watch your family go to town. I like to make a really easy, spicy-sweet and slightly tropical-tasting dipping sauce to dunk the fingers into + drizzle over the Coconut Rice. Just stir together equal amounts of Sriracha and honey then add coconut milk to taste. Easy and SO DELICIOUS!!! Enjoy!
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Description
Chinese takeout meets the summer grill in gluten-free Honey Sriracha Coconut Grilled Chicken Fingers with dipping sauce. It's the best of both worlds!
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons lite coconut milk, plus more for dipping sauce
- 1/4 cup honey, plus more for dipping sauce
- 2- 4 Tablespoons sriracha (I used 2 for moderate heat,) plus more for dipping sauce
- 3 Tablespoons gluten-free reduced-sodium Tamari or soy sauce (dish will not be GF if using soy sauce)
- 2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 2 Tablespoons neutral tasting oil like avocado, almond, or vegetable
- 2 cloves garlic, smashed
- 4 chicken breasts, cut into strips OR 1-3/4lb chicken tenderloins
- salt and pepper
Directions
- Add ingredients, coconut milk through garlic, to a bowl then whisk to combine. Pour into a large Ziplock bag then add chicken strips, season with salt and pepper, and squish to coat. Marinate for 1 hour or up to 8 hours.
- Preheat grill over medium-high heat for 10 minutes then turn heat down to medium. Remove chicken strips from marinade then spray one side with nonstick spray and place sprayed side down on the grill. Grill for 1-2 minutes then carefully spray tops with nonstick spray, flip, and grill for another 1-2 minutes, or until chicken fingers are cooked through (they take very little time so be sure not to overcook.) Remove to a platter then serve with dipping sauce and coconut rice (see notes.)
Notes
- Create a sweet and spicy dipping sauce by combining equal parts sriracha and honey, then addding coconut milk to taste.
- I recommend serving these chicken fingers with Coconut Rice: In a medium-sized saucepan saute 1 chopped green onion and 1 minced garlic clove in 1 Tablespoon coconut oil for 1 minute then season with a big pinch of salt and a small pinch of dried thyme. Add 1 cup coconut milk and 3/4 cup water then bring to a boil. Add 1 cup long grain white rice then place a lid on top, turn heat down to medium-low, and simmer until liquid has been absorbed and rice is tender, 15 minutes. Fluff then serve.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
I craved all the spicy foods as well. Couldn’t get enough hot salsa and chips. Ended up having a girl and she is a super spunky and sweet little baby! Will definitely give this recipe a try.
I’ve pinned this to try! I’m always on the lookout for good gluten-free recipes. However, I might cut back on the Sriracha sauce. I’m not pregnant and definitely still a “spice wimp!”
I hope you love it, Cathy! Just as an FYI, all recipes from Feb 2014 and on are gluten-free. You can find them all here: http://iowagirleats.com/recipes/?diet=gluten-free :)
Ok so when will you let us know if it’s a boy or girl!!!!!???? I hope the ultrasound goes well. Exciting!!
I love your blog and recipes! This looks amazing…one question: are you using canned coconut milk or the carton in the refrigerated section?
Good question – the coconut milk from a can.
I don’t know about the salty/sweet cravings but I totally agree! I’m expecting a baby girl in mid-October, and cannot get enough sweets! It was bad even before I knew it was a girl. Makes total sense now. :)
Isn’t that funny!? Congrats!! :)
Making this tonight, but not grilling it (hoping that the broiler will do?). And YES to spicy foods (and sweet sour drinks like homemade limeade) during pregnancy. I can relate.
Um, YUM, to the limeade! Did you follow a recipe or just concoct to taste?
What do you usually do with your leftover coconut milk fo recipes that may not use a full can?
You can freeze leftover coconut milk, though you’ll use almost the entire can if you make both the chicken and rice in the recipe. Leftovers are also good added to smoothies and/or made into popsicles by blending with fresh fruit. Try it in your oatmeal instead of cow/almond milk OR drizzle it over a sliced banana with raw cashews, cinnamon and toasted coconut! :)
Yum! looks and sounds amazing! Congrats on your pregnancy! How exciting!!! :)
i LOVE siracha ANYTHING and this looks amazing. i love zucchini also but haven’t ever had it on the grill! will need to try this!
It’s one of my faaavorite easy summer side dishes!
Hi, i have never used cocinut milk. Does if taste like coconut? I am not fond of coconut, is why i asked. Whst could i use instead?
Hi Janet! Coconut milk does tastes like coconuts, so the rice especially might not be the best fit for you!
Oh man, these look delicious! But unfortunately I’m going to have to table this recipe for post-pregnancy once this babe comes in October, because I’m currently having nothing to do with spice! Or half the time with food in general, haha…no matter, totally worth it! Hope your ultrasound went well – we had ours last week and it’s such an incredible experience!
What’s your secret for coconut rice? Just replacing water with coconut milk? Thanks!
Hi Amy! I wrote out the recipe for the coconut rice in the “Notes” section of the recipe card, right under the instructions. Let me know if you can’t find it!
Completely missed it the first time. Thanks!
Made the honey siracha chicken last night with the coconut rice. We really liked them and will make again. Didn’t have limes so used lemon juice but still good.
Thank for the feedback, Mary, I’m so glad you enjoyed the dish! :)
This recipe looks palatable and refreshing. I have something better to prepare for my family this weekend. I can’t wait to try this out. Thanks for sharing. Kudos!!!
Just delicious! Made this recipe last weekend. Made excellent leftovers for lunch the next day. My co-workers were jealous!
YUM!! Glad you loved even the leftovers too!
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Any recommendations on how to alter this for cooking indoors instead of grilling?
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Hi I haven’t got any lime juice in and was wondering if I could use lemon instead? Thanks
I think that could work!