Cantonese steeped chicken

Prepare this Chinese meal ahead to enjoy a relaxed dinner with friends – it’s served at room temperature

  • Cook:50 mins
  • Serves 6
  • Easy

Nutrition per serving

  • kcal 326
  • fat 20g
  • saturates 2g
  • carbs 1g
  • sugars 0g
  • fibre 0g
  • protein 37g
  • salt 2.25g

Ingredients

  • 1.3-1½ kg/3-3½lb corn-fed chicken
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 6 slices fresh root ginger
  • 6 whole spring onions
  • shredded spring onion, to garnish
  • 6 tbsp finely chopped spring onions, white parts only
  • 1½tbsp finely chopped fresh root ginger
  • 2 tsp Maldon sea salt
  • 5 tbsp groundnut oil

Tip

Ken Hom's tip
Any liquid from the steeped chicken can be saved, frozen and reused - it is great for cooking rice in. Leftovers can be used for chicken salad.

Method

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

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