Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Hainanese Chicken Rice


I stir-fry, steam, braised, boiled but never baked before. For the past 2 weeks, I try to bake Chocolate Cookies. Three attempts, the 1st two failed miserably, the last attempts came out quite delicious but a bit too soft. Argghh... the frustration.

After 3 straight failures, I need a "success" to boast my confident before I give up cooking completely, so I decided to cook the oh-so-delicious Hainanese Chicken Rice.

Ingredients for Chicken:
1 whole chicken, cleaned.
4 inch fresh ginger, peeled, bruised.
6 cloves garlic, bruised.
1 stalk of local parsley.
1 tablespoon of salt.
Sesame oil.

Method to cook chicken:
Stuff ginger, garlic, parsley into the chicken cavity.
Boiled enough water in a large pot. Submerge chicken into the water, breast side down. Make sure water is enough to cover the chicken. Cover the pot lid, turn down the fire and let it simmers for 45 minutes. After 45 minutes, prepare another pot with cold water, take out the chicken and immediately submerge the chicken into the cold water, this is to stop the cooking process immediately. Submerge in the cold water for 2~4 minute, and take out the chicken.
Immediately you rub the whole chicken with plenty of sesame oil.
This step is very important, the sesame oil will give extra flavor to the chicken and stop the chicken skin from turning dry and black color. Skip this step and your chicken will look unappetizing
.
Ta da! You have cooked the chicken! IMPORTANT: Do not throw away the chicken stock, we need it to cook the rice and prepare the sauces.

Ingredient for Rice:
3 cups of white rice, washed.
4 shallots, finely chopped.
4 cloves of garlic, minced.
2 inch of fresh ginger, peeled, and minced.
2 inch of fresh ginger knob, peeled.

Heat 2 tablespoon of peanut oil in wok, add shallots, minced garlic and minced ginger, fry until fragrant or the mixture turn slightly brownish. Add in the rice, stir-fry until the rice mixture mix evenly for 6 minute.
Transfer rice into a rice cooker, add enough chicken stock to cook the rice. Add in the ginger knob and cook the rice.

Ingredients for Chilies sauce:
8 fresh chillies
2 cm of ginger, peeled, minced.
4 cloves of garlic.
Salt to taste.
3 limes, juice only.
4 tablespoon of Chicken stock.

Method: Blend all the ingredient!

Garnish with parsley and serve with cucumber.
Serve!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

As soon as I looked at the picture of this wonderful dish, my mouth watered. It looks really delicious. I'm thinking of trying the recipe sometime this week. Aside from this delicious dish, here are some funny videos to brighten your day: http://www.roomforyourimagination.com
My personal favorite is Room 222, the guy with toilet paper is hilarious! I work with Cambria Suites so I have the inside scoop.

Al said...

If you are really trying this dish, remember, plenty of sesame oil.. :)

hahha... funny room 222..

diko said...

hmmm sepertinya enak...Indonesia banget..cita rasa nya
oya ok deal if u trade the link address blog...

dari malaysia yah..salam kenal
kita tukar link blog yak..ok...

InspiredMumof2 said...

Hey Al, not bad for this dish ya! Sometimes, I get frustrated too, when some bakes doesn't turn out the way I wanted. But get over it, and try other recipes.

You are really good, can even cook hainanese chicken rice too. Have you worked as a cook/chef before? :-)

Seb said...

Oh my goodness... Love love love oriental food :)) thank you soo much for the recepies. since your log is about travel and food, maybe you might be interested with mine too :)) Drop by when you have time...http://hoteldealsturkey.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

That looks delicious...you gave a nice blog, grate job!!!

Al said...

Inspiredmumof2..
Thank you.
I just a guy who loves to cook and eat.. :)
I am planing to attend some beginner pastry making course sometime this year ..:)

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