Step 1

Preheat an oven to 200C | 390F. Wash and pat chicken dry with a paper towel. Combine the soy sauce, honey, 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, 1 tablespoon of hoisin sauce, vinegar (or Chinese wine), sesame oil and a pinch of white pepper together in a shallow bowl. Add in the chicken and coat evenly in the sauce.

Step 2

Heat a small amount oil in a 10-12 inch cast iron pan over medium heat. Sear chicken thighs skin-side down, along with the sauce it was in, turning once until golden brown on both sides, (about 3 minutes each side). Transfer chicken to a plate.

Step 3

Add the onion and remaining garlic to the remaining sauce leftover from the chicken in the pan. (If the pan looks too dry, add in 1 tablespoon of cooking oil.) Fry, while stirring occasionally, until the garlic is fragrant (about 1 minute). Add in the rice and stir it through all of the flavours. Pour in the stock (or broth), water, oyster sauce, remaining hoisin sauce, and Chinese five spice powder, stirring all ingredients together well to combine. Salt to season (with a pinch of salt, ONLY if desired).

Step 4

Allow to simmer, uncovered, for about 5 minutes, while stirring occasionally. Return the chicken and any juices from the plate into the pan; cover with a lid or double layer of foil and transfer to the oven to bake for 40 minutes.

Step 5

Uncover the pan and check that rice is tender and the liquid has been absorbed. Stir in the carrots peas and corn around the chicken thighs, covering them with as much hot rice as much as possible; and bake for a further 10 minutes. Uncover; change oven setting to grill/broil (on medium-high heat - depending on your oven) and grill/broil for about 10 minutes OR until the chicken is golden and crisp, and the vegetables are cooked through. Garnish with fresh chopped green onions or scallions.