Chinese Hainanese Chicken Rice Recipe

Introduction

Hainanese chicken rice is a traditional dish from Hainan, China, which is served in many parts of East and Southeast Asia. It consists of poached chicken and fragrant rice, cooked in a combination of chicken stock and pandan leaves. The accompanying sauces include a ginger-garlic paste, chilli sauce, and a dark soy sauce. The dish is usually served with cucumber slices and a bowl of soup. It is a popular dish among locals and tourists alike, and is a must-try when visiting Hainan.

Ingredients

To make a delicious plate of Hainanese chicken rice, you’ll need the following ingredients:

1 whole chicken
1 cup of long-grain rice
3 pandan leaves
1 inch of ginger
2 cloves of garlic
1 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of sugar
1 teaspoon of sesame oil
1 teaspoon of white pepper
1 tablespoon of dark soy sauce
1 tablespoon of light soy sauce
1 tablespoon of chilli sauce
2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
1 stalk of spring onion (optional)
1 cucumber (optional)

Instructions

To make this classic dish, follow these steps:

Rinse the chicken and pat it dry. Rub the chicken with a mixture of salt, sugar and white pepper, and set aside for 30 minutes.
Put the chicken, pandan leaves, ginger and garlic in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook for 20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
Meanwhile, rinse the rice and cook it in a separate pot. Once the rice is cooked, stir in the sesame oil and set aside.
Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pot and let it cool. Strain the chicken stock and reserve for later use.
Heat the vegetable oil in a wok. Add the ginger and garlic and stir-fry for a few minutes. Add the reserved chicken stock and bring to a boil. Add the soy sauces, chilli sauce and sugar and stir to combine.
Add the cooked chicken to the wok and simmer for 5 minutes. Serve the chicken with the fragrant rice, along with cucumber slices and a bowl of soup.

Nutrition

One serving of Hainanese chicken rice provides approximately 350 calories. It is a high-protein dish, with over 40g of protein in one serving. It is also a good source of carbohydrates, with nearly 40g of carbs in one serving. The dish is low in fat, with only 10g of fat per serving. The dish is also a good source of vitamins and minerals, with over 10% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of vitamins and minerals.

Conclusion

Hainanese chicken rice is a classic dish from Hainan, China, and is popular in many parts of East and Southeast Asia. It is a delicious and nutritious dish that can be served as a main course or as a side dish. The dish is relatively simple to make, and requires just a few ingredients. This dish is a must-try for anyone visiting Hainan, and is sure to please even the pickiest of eaters.