Prepare the marinade: In a medium-sized bowl mix the soy sauce, banana ketchup, chili sauce, calamansi juice, Sprite soda, garlic, sesame oil, salt, black pepper. Blend ingredients well. Pour over the boneless chicken thighs. Pierce some parts of the chicken with a fork for the marinade to absorb. Keep the marinated chicken pieces in a resealable plastic bag. Refrigerate overnight. (Or you can freeze the marinated chicken for a week or two till ready to grill. Just thaw it before hand).
To cook the chicken: The next day, skewer the chicken pieces in bamboo sticks that have been pre-soaked in water for at least 30 minutes. Use one bamboo skewer for each chicken thigh.
Prepare the basting liquid by using the marinade. Or if preferred make a new mix by using the same marinade ingredients listed above. Add the brown sugar to the basting liquid and blend well. (Note: I add the sugar at the very end. Sugar crystallizes and can toughen the meat if left in the marinade too long).
Pre-heat the grill to a medium high for at least 5 to 10 minutes. Grill the chicken pieces for a total time of 20 to 25 minutes, basting every now and then to have a shiny glaze. Flip the chicken pieces after the first half of cooking so they cook thoroughly on all sides.
To make a sandwich: Assemble in a large pan de sal bun (or any large bread roll, hamburger bun) the following in this order --lettuce leaves, barbecue chicken (remove skewers), cucumber, tomatoes, onion slices.
Cook's comments: Ingredients like banana ketchup and calamansi juice (frozen or from fresh limes) can be purchased at Asian markets by the Philippine section. If not available, substitute with tomato catsup and fresh lemon juice.
Recipe notes: Boneless chicken thighs are best for this recipe and cook fast. If preferred, substitute with chicken breast. If using chicken breast pieces, tenderize with a meat mallet before marinating.
Ingredients: The Martin's Pure Foods Chicken Barbecue product is pre-marinated and frozen, available in major supermarkets and Asian markets. They are a brand of cured meat products I trust and have used when I need 'extra help' in the kitchen.
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