Red Cooked Chicken Recipes

RED-COOKED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Bring chicken, water, soy sauce, sugar, Sherry, ginger, and star anise to a simmer, covered, in a 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat. Cook until meat is tender, about 10 minutes.
• Transfer chicken to a serving bowl and keep warm, covered.
• Skim off any fat from sauce and boil sauce until syrupy and reduced by half, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir cornstarch mixture and whisk into sauce. Boil, whisking, until thickened and shiny, about 1 minute. Discard ginger and star anise.
• Pour sauce over chicken and sprinkle with scallions.

RED-COOKED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Over high heat, bring the first 8 ingredients to a boil in a large saute pan.
• Add the chicken and cover; reduce heat to medium.
• Simmer for 3o minutes, turn chicken over; cover and continue to cook an additional 10 minutes.
• Transfer the chicken to a plate and tent with foil.
• Boil the braising liquid, uncovered, until syrupy, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Strain through a sieve and spoon off any fat that rises.
• Brush sauce onto chicken to coat; garnish with sliced scallions and serve with extra sauce for dipping.

RED-COOKED CHICKEN WINGS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan combine the broth, the water, the soy sauce, the Sherry, the brown sugar, the vinegar, the cinnamon sticks, the star anise, the gingerroot, and the flattened scallions, bring the liquid to a boil, and simmer the mixture for 20 minutes. Cut off the wing tips, reserving them for another use such as stock if desired, halve the wings at the joint, and pat them dry. In a large deep fryer or large deep kettle heat 2 inches of the oil to 375°F. on a deep-fat thermometer and in it fry the wings, 5 pieces at a time, for 5 to 8 minutes, or until they are golden and crisp. Transfer the wings with a slotted spoon as they are fried to paper towels to drain and make sure the oil returns to 375°F. before adding each new batch. Add the wings to the soy-sauce mixture and braise them, covered, over moderately low heat for 45 minutes. Stir the cornstarch mixture, stir it into the braising liquid, and simmer the mixture for 1 minute, or until it is thickened. Serve the wings with the sauce over the rice, sprinkle with the minced scallion.

RED-COOKED CHICKEN WITH CHESTNUTS

Steps:

• Put the chicken in a medium saucepan and add enough water to cover the meat completely. Bring the water to a boil and parboil the chicken over medium heat for about 10 minutes, continuously skimming off any scum that forms on the surface. Drain the meat thoroughly.
• Put the chicken, chestnuts, 1½ cups water, wine, both soy sauces, ginger, and sugar in a large clay pot or Dutch oven with a cover. (Alternatively, this dish can be cooked in a slow cooker.) Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and gently simmer the chicken, covered, for 45 minutes or until the meat is tender when pierced with a knife. During that time, replenish the liquid as needed to prevent scorching.