Hollys Lemon Chicken Adapted From Yan Can Cook Recipes

HONEY LEMON CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first 10 ingredients. Pour 2/3 cup marinade into a large resealable plastic bag; add the chicken. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. Cover and refrigerate the remaining marinade., Drain and discard marinade. Using long-handled tongs, moisten a paper towel with cooking oil and lightly coat the grill rack. Grill chicken, uncovered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from the heat for 6-8 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 170°, basting occasionally with reserved marinade.

HOLLY'S LEMON CHICKEN ADAPTED FROM YAN CAN COOK

Steps:

• spray or brush pan with oil and stir fry chicken for 2 min on high heat.
• add sauce and tofu (if using), mix well.
• reduce heat to med low, cover and simmer 2 minute.
• add water and cornstarch mixture stir well til thickened.
• Serve with rice and sliced red bell pepper garnish.

YAN CAN LO MEIN

Steps:

• Bring a large pot filled with water to a boil over high heat; add the noodles and cook according to package directions; drain and rinse with cold water, and drain again.
• Place a stir-fry pan over high heat until hot.
• Add the vegetable oil, swirling to coat the sides.
• Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 10 seconds.
• Add the carrot, celery, bean sprouts, snow peas, bamboo shoots, and green onion; stir-fry until the vegetables wilt slightly, about 2 minutes.
• Add the noodles, oyster sauce, and sesame oil; toss to mix the noodles with the vegetables.
• Cook, stirring, until all the vegetables are tender, about 2 minutes.
• Transfer to a serving plate and serve.
• **fresh Chinese noodles are best due to their texture, but can substitute spaghetti or angel hair pasta; may add 1/4 lb cubed tofu, chicken, or shrimp for more substance.

MARCELLA HAZAN'S ROAST CHICKEN WITH LEMONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Wash the chicken thoroughly in cold water, both inside and out. Remove all the bits of fat hanging loose. Let the bird sit for about 10 minutes on a slightly tilted plate to let all the water drain out of it. Pat it thoroughly dry all over with cloth or paper towels.
• Sprinkle a generous amount of salt and black pepper on the chicken, rubbing it with your fingers over all its body and into its cavity.
• Wash the lemons in cold water and dry them with a towel. Soften each lemon by placing it on a counter and rolling it back and forth as you put firm downward pressure on it with the palm of your hand. Puncture the lemons in at least 20 places each, using a sturdy round toothpick, a trussing needle, a sharp-pointed fork, or similar implement.
• Place both lemons in the bird's cavity. Close up the opening with toothpicks or with trussing needle and string. Close it well, but don't make an absolutely airtight job of it because the chicken may burst. Run kitchen string from one leg to the other, tying it at both knuckle ends. Leave the legs in their natural position without pulling them tight. If the skin is unbroken, the chicken will puff up as it cooks, and the string serves only to keep the thighs from spreading apart and splitting the skin.
• Put the chicken into a roasting pan, breast facing down. Do not add cooking fat of any kind. This bird is self-basting, so you need not fear it will stick to the pan. Place it in the upper third of the preheated oven. After 30 minutes, turn the chicken over to have the breast face up. When turning it, try not to puncture the skin. If kept intact, the chicken will swell like a balloon, which makes for an arresting presentation at the table later. Do not worry too much about it, however, because even if it fails to swell, the flavor will not be affected.
• Cook for another 30 to 35 minutes, then turn the oven thermostat up to 400 degrees, and cook for an additional 20 minutes. Calculate between 20 and 25 minutes total cooking time for each pound. There is no need to turn the chicken again.
• Whether your bird has puffed up or not, bring it to the table whole and leave the lemons inside until it is carved and opened. The juices that run out are perfectly delicious. Be sure to spoon them over the chicken slices. The lemons will have shriveled up, but they still contain some juice; do not squeeze them, they may squirt.

LEMON CHICKEN

Steps:

• Butterfly the chicken breasts, then slice them lengthwise into 1/2-inch thick strips. Cut the strips in half, place in a bowl and refrigerate.
• In a medium bowl, beat the eggs until smooth. Gradually beat in 1/2 cup of the potato flour. Mix in the baking soda and 1 teaspoon of the salt. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Place the remaining potato flour in a bowl, season with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and set aside.
• Prepare the sauce: Combine the lemon juice and zest, sugar, vinegar, salt and 3/4 cup water in a saucepan and place over medium heat. In a bowl, stir together 1/2 cup of the sauce and the cornstarch. Transfer this mixture back to the pan. Simmer for 15 minutes.
• Place a wok over medium-high heat and add the oil. Working in batches, cook the chicken: dredge a small portion of chicken in the egg mixture. Shake off excess egg from the chicken and coat it in the seasoned potato flour. Shake again. Lower the chicken into the hot oil one piece at a time. Cook until crisp, about 2 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels. Arrange chicken in a shallow bowl. Reheat the sauce and pour it over the chicken.

DOUBLE LEMON CHICKEN

Steps:

• Prepare the chicken: In a large bowl, whisk together the egg whites, soy sauce, cornstarch (cornflour), 1/2 teaspoon salt and a good grind of pepper just until there aren't any lumps, about 30 seconds. Working one breast at a time, place the chicken between 2 pieces of parchment paper and use a meat mallet (or the bottom of a pan) to pound the chicken evenly so it's a scant 1/2-inch/1-centimeter thick. Transfer to the egg white bowl and continue with the remaining. Stir everything together gently to coat, and refrigerate to marinate for at least an hour (or overnight if you're getting ahead).
• Meanwhile make the preserved lemon paste: Add all the ingredients to a small, lidded saucepan set over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer, then lower the heat to medium-low, cover and cook for 12 to 14 minutes, or until the rinds start to look translucent and the juice has reduced by about half. Set aside to cool slightly, then transfer everything to a small food processor and blitz until you have a smooth, spreadable paste. (You should have about 1/4 cup.) Set aside 3 tablespoons for the sauce, then store the rest in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 weeks.
• Make the sauce: Add the 3 tablespoons preserved lemon paste, the stock, butter, garlic, sugar, turmeric and half the cumin to a medium saucepan, then place it over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes, until reduced by about a third. Measure out roughly 3 tablespoons of the sauce into a small bowl, then add the cornstarch (cornflour) and whisk until there are no lumps. Whisk this back into the sauce pot and cook for 1 minute, whisking continuously, until smooth and thickened slightly. Remove from the heat.
• Heat the oil in a large high-sided frying pan over a medium-high heat. Once hot (a sprinkle of cornstarch dropped into the oil should sizzle right away), fry two of the chicken breasts for 3 minutes per side, or until nicely browned and just cooked through. It should release easily from the skillet with a little help from a metal spatula. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and continue with the remaining 2 breasts. It might spit, so turn down the heat if needed. Wipe out the frying pan, add the sauce and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Add back all the chicken breasts and cook for just 3 minutes, gently turning them halfway. Remove from the heat and stir in the 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.
• Transfer the chicken breasts (cut them into strips, if you like) to a large serving platter with a lip and pour the sauce all over. Sprinkle with the remaining cumin. In a small bowl, toss together the spring onion, cilantro and remaining 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, and spoon this all over.