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WenChang Hainan Chicken Rice

Here is a recipe for Hainanese Chicken Rice:

Ingredients:

  • 1 whole chicken (about 1.5-2 kg)
  • 1 knob of ginger (about 2 inches), peeled and thinly sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
  • 2 spring onions, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 2 cups of uncooked jasmine rice
  • 3 cups of chicken stock
  • 2 pandan leaves (optional)
  • 1 cucumber, sliced
  • 1 bunch of coriander, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon of sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
  • Salt and pepper to taste

For the dipping sauces:

  • Soy sauce and sliced red chili
  • Ginger and scallion oil (mix 1/4 cup of chopped scallions with 2 tablespoons of grated ginger, 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, and a pinch of salt)

Instructions:

  1. Rinse the chicken under cold running water and pat it dry with paper towels. Season the chicken cavity with salt and pepper.
  2. In a large pot, add the ginger, garlic, and spring onions, and then place the chicken on top of the aromatics. Fill the pot with enough water to cover the chicken by 2 inches.
  3. Bring the pot to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low and let the chicken simmer for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the chicken is cooked through and the juices run clear. Skim any foam or impurities that rise to the surface of the water during cooking.
  4. Remove the chicken from the pot and plunge it into a large bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process and cool it down quickly. Reserve the chicken stock for cooking the rice.
  5. In a rice cooker, combine the uncooked jasmine rice, chicken stock, and pandan leaves (if using). Cook the rice according to the rice cooker instructions.
  6. While the rice is cooking, chop the cucumber and coriander and set them aside.
  7. Once the chicken has cooled, remove the skin and bones, and slice the meat into bite-sized pieces. Arrange the chicken on a plate and drizzle with sesame oil and soy sauce.
  8. Serve the chicken with the rice, sliced cucumber, and chopped coriander. Serve the dipping sauces on the side.

Enjoy your homemade Hainanese Chicken Rice!

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