Cantonese Steeped Chicken Recipes

CANTONESE POACHED CHICKEN (BAI QIE JI)

Steps:

• Make sure your chicken is at room temperature (trying to poach a cold chicken right out of the refrigerator will result in uneven cooking or undercooking). Clean the chicken by rinsing it under cold water, paying special attention to the cavity. Any giblets should already be removed but there may still be organs on the inside that should be removed or sometimes stray feathers that need to be plucked. Experts recommend that it's not necessary to wash your chicken before cutting and cooking but in this case for a whole chicken (especially if you get it from a live poultry place or even from Asian markets), it's a step that shouldn't be skipped, in my opinion. When washing and prepping the whole chicken, be very careful about splashing water and contaminating surfaces with unwanted bacteria. Be careful not to break or trim away any of the skin on the chicken, as you don't want the meat exposed to the boiling water as it cooks. This will ensure a moist, silky texture in the final product.
• Fill a large stock pot with water, just enough to submerge the chicken completely. You can determine this by putting the entire chicken in the pot, filling it with water until the chicken is submerged, and then removing the chicken. Do not turn on the heat while the chicken is still in the pot! This method of ensuring you have just enough water to submerge the chicken (and avoiding any extra) will ensure you have a more flavorful stock to save at the end. We used about 18 cups of water to submerge a 4 pound chicken in a deep stock pot.
• Once you have your water properly measured into the pot, add 2 scallions and 5 slices of ginger, and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, slowly lower the chicken into the pot, legs down and head up. It's ok if the breast is peeking out of the water a bit. The water will cool down and stop boiling when you add the chicken, so bring it up to a boil once again, and do not walk away from the pot.
• Once the water boils again, IMMEDIATELY lift the chicken out of the water very carefully. You can carefully hook two wooden spoons under the wings to lift the chicken up. The goal is to empty any colder water that may be trapped inside the cavity. Once you've released that water, lower the chicken back into the pot, and bring to a boil again.
• When the water is JUST starting to boil, turn the heat down. Keep it at barely a simmer. There should be very little movement in the water, but it also shouldn't be still. Cover the pot, and keep the heat around the lowest setting so the liquid continues to simmer slowly. Cook for about 35-40 minutes, roughly 10-11 minutes per pound. Depending on the size of your chicken, it may take more or less time to cook it through. You can check to make sure the water is bubbling slowly/gently and not boiling too vigorously, but try to avoid uncovering the pot while it's cooking.
• Poke a chopstick or skewer into the thigh to check for doneness. If the juices run clear, it's done. Carefully lift the chicken out of the pot and transfer it to a large bowl of ice water. Cool completely.
• While the chicken is cooling, make the sauce. You have the option to make two versions-one with just scallions, ginger, oil and salt, and one with soy sauce. The plain version is more traditional, as it really lets the flavors of chicken, ginger, and scallion shine through. Judy loves to add soy sauce, and it's also a tasty option! Start with the plain version, and then scoop some of it out into another bowl and add soy sauce. Try both and see which your loved ones like best!
• When the chicken is out of the ice water, you can brush it lightly with oil or some of the fat floating atop the poaching liquid to give it that enticing, shiny look!
• To serve, carve your chicken into pieces that you can easily grab with chopsticks. Serve with your sauce(s) and some steamed rice.

CANTONESE CHICKEN RECIPE

Steps:

• Take chicken, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, salt and vinegar in a bowl and mix well.
• Heat oil in a pan, add ginger, garlic and onions. Saute for a min.
• Add in the chicken and stir fry for 2 mins.
• Add in chicken stock and bring it to a boil. Simmer for 5 mins.
• Now add in cornflour which is mixed with water into this. Stir well. Cook till it is thickened as per your liking.
• Serve over rice.

CANTONESE STEEPED CHICKEN

Steps:

• If the chicken is tied, undo it, then rub it evenly with the salt. Place in a large pan, cover with water and bring to the boil. (If your pan is not large enough cut the chicken into quarters.) Add the ginger and whole spring onions. Reduce the heat and simmer continuously for 30 minutes, skimming all the while. Cover tightly, turn off the heat and leave for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, make the dipping sauce. Combine the spring onions, ginger and salt in a small heatproof bowl. Heat the oil until very hot and pour over the spring onion mixture. Allow to cool. This sauce can also be made hours in advance or even the day before.
• When the chicken is ready, remove it from the broth and discard the ginger and spring onions. At this point you can leave the chicken in the broth and chill up to a day ahead. Remove the chicken meat from the carcass. Remove and discard the chicken skin. Using a fork pull the meat into finger-sized shreds. Place on a platter, sprinkle with the shredded spring onions and serve with the dipping sauce.

STEEPED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil in a covered 5- to 6-quart pan over high heat.
• Rinse chicken breasts.
• Add chicken to boiling water, cover, and return to a boil.
• As soon as water returns to boil, remove from heat and let stand, covered, until chicken is no longer pink in center of thickest part (cut to test), 12 to 18 minutes.
• If chicken is still pink, return it to the hot water, cover pan, and let steep a few minutes longer.
• Remove chicken from water and let cool, about 20 minutes.
• With your hands, tear chicken along the grain into shreds about 1/2 inch thick.