Thai Chicken Thighs

Thanks to the slow cooker, a traditional Thai dish with peanut butter, jalapeno peppers and chili sauce becomes incredibly easy to prepare. If you want to crank up the spice a bit, use more jalapeno peppers.

—TASTE OF HOME TEST KITCHEN

PREP: 25 MIN. COOK: 5 HOURS MAKES: 8 SERVINGS

8 bone-in chicken thighs (about 3 pounds), skin removed

1/2 cup salsa

1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce

1 tablespoon chopped seeded jalapeno pepper

2 teaspoons Thai chili sauce

1 garlic clove, minced

1 teaspoon minced fresh gingerroot

2 green onions, sliced

2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted

Hot cooked basmati rice, optional

1. Place chicken in a 3-qt. slow cooker. In a small bowl, combine the salsa, peanut butter, lemon juice, soy sauce, jalapeno, Thai chili sauce, garlic and ginger; pour over chicken.

2. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or until chicken is tender. Sprinkle with green onions and sesame seeds. Serve with rice if desired.

NOTE Wear disposable gloves when cutting hot peppers; the oils can burn skin. Avoid touching your face.

PER SERVING 1 thigh with 1/4 cup sauce equals 261 cal., 15 g fat (4 g sat. fat), 87 mg chol., 350 mg sodium, 5 g carb., 1 g fiber, 27 g pro. Diabetic Exchanges: 4 lean meat, 1 fat, 1/2 starch.