Authentic Hainanese Chicken Rice
Hainanese Chicken Rice is a beloved dish that combines the tenderness of poached chicken with fragrant rice and zesty dipping sauces. This recipe, inspired by family tradition, is perfect for satisfying cravings without the need for dining out. The secret to the incredible flavor lies in the chicken broth used to cook the rice and the delightful dipping sauces. While it may seem complex at first due to the variety of ingredients, this dish is surprisingly straightforward and delivers a delicious, authentic taste that will impress your family and friends. Enjoy it alongside a warm vegetable soup made from boiling the chicken bones, and discover why this dish has become a cherished favorite in my household!
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
32
Ingredients
Ingredients
Long grain rice
3 cups (washed and dried)
Chicken fat (with skin)
2 tablespoons (diced)
Water
2 tablespoons (for cooking rice)
Ginger
2-3 cm (grated)
Garlic cloves
3-4 (grated)
Salt
1-2 teaspoons (to taste)
Chicken stock
3 1/2 cups (according to rice package instructions or reserved from boiled chicken)
Screwpine leaves
2 (optional)
Whole chicken
1 (cleaned)
Water
sufficient (for boiling chicken)
Ginger
1 piece thumb-sized (smashed)
Garlic cloves
4-5 (peeled and smashed)
Salt
1 teaspoon (for boiling chicken)
Fresh red chilies
10 (fresh)
Ginger
2 cm (for chili sauce)
Garlic cloves
4 (for chili sauce)
Salt
1/4 teaspoon (for chili sauce)
Lime juice
1 teaspoon (for chili sauce)
Chicken stock
2 tablespoons (from boiled chicken for chili sauce)
Ginger
75 g (for ginger sauce)
Garlic cloves
6 (for ginger sauce)
Salt
1/2 teaspoon (for ginger sauce)
Lime juice
1 teaspoon (for ginger sauce)
Chicken stock
2 tablespoons (from boiled chicken for ginger sauce)
Garlic oil
1 tablespoon (for chicken sauce)
Sesame oil
1 teaspoon (for flavor)
Light soy sauce
5 tablespoons (to taste)
Sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons (to taste)
Chicken broth
3 tablespoons (from boiled chicken)
Fresh coriander leaves
to garnish (fresh)
Sliced spring onion
to garnish (fresh)
Sliced cucumber
to serve (fresh)
Instructions
1
Begin by washing the long-grain rice thoroughly, then place it on a tea towel or in a colander to dry. Next, prepare the chicken: bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, add the salt, smashed ginger, peeled smashed garlic cloves, and the whole chicken. Reduce the heat to low and simmer the chicken uncovered for 20-25 minutes. Afterward, turn off the heat and cover the pot, letting the chicken steep for another 20-25 minutes for maximum tenderness.
2
After steeping, carefully remove the chicken from the pot and immerse it in a basin of cold water for 5-6 minutes to stop it from cooking further. Drain the chicken and set it aside to dry while you prepare the rice.
3
In a heated wok, add the chicken fat and water, and allow it to simmer until the fat renders. Stir in the grated ginger and garlic, frying them gently without burning. Once fragrant, remove the chicken fat and skin from the wok, and add the dried rice with salt. Stir fry the rice briskly for about 1-2 minutes until well coated.
4
Transfer the rice to an electric rice cooker or a pot, adding the chicken broth from the boiled chicken along with the optional screwpine leaves. If using a pot, cook the rice over low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent burning, until fluffy and tender.
5
While the rice cooks, prepare the spicy chili garlic sauce by blending the fresh chilies, grated ginger, garlic, lime juice, salt, and chicken stock until smooth. Adjust the seasoning to taste and set aside in the refrigerator.
6
For the ginger sauce, blend the ginger, garlic, salt, lime juice, and chicken stock until well combined. The richness of the chicken broth enhances the flavor, making this a crucial step.
7
Once the rice is cooked and the chicken has cooled, chop the chicken into serving pieces. Combine all the sauce ingredients and pour evenly over the chicken pieces, adjusting with soy sauce and chicken stock to your preference.
8
For the finishing touches, prepare the garlic oil by frying a few cloves of garlic in oil, strain, and store the garlic oil for additional flavor.
9
Serve the chicken with garnishes of fresh coriander leaves, sliced spring onions, and cucumber, alongside the fragrant chicken rice and flavorful dipping sauces. Enjoy your meal!
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hainanese Chicken Rice?
Hainanese Chicken Rice is a traditional Asian dish consisting of tender poached chicken served with fragrant rice and zesty dipping sauces.
What type of rice should be used for this recipe?
This recipe recommends using 3 cups of long-grain rice.
How should the rice be prepared before cooking?
The rice should be washed thoroughly and then placed on a tea towel or in a colander to dry before being stir-fried.
What is the secret to making the chicken tender?
The secret lies in simmering the chicken for 20-25 minutes and then letting it steep in the covered pot for another 20-25 minutes.
How long does the chicken need to simmer?
The chicken should simmer uncovered on low heat for approximately 20-25 minutes.
What is the steeping method used in this recipe?
After simmering, the heat is turned off and the pot is covered, allowing the chicken to steep for 20-25 minutes to achieve maximum tenderness.
Why is the chicken placed in cold water after cooking?
Immersing the chicken in a basin of cold water for 5-6 minutes stops the cooking process and helps maintain the texture.
How is the chicken fat used in the recipe?
The chicken fat is simmered with water to render it, then used to stir-fry the ginger, garlic, and rice for added flavor.
What seasonings are used when stir-frying the rice?
The rice is stir-fried with rendered chicken fat, grated ginger, grated garlic, and salt.
Can I use a rice cooker for this dish?
Yes, after stir-frying the rice, you can transfer it to an electric rice cooker and add the chicken broth to finish cooking.
What are screwpine leaves?
Screwpine leaves, also known as Pandan leaves, are optional additions used to provide extra fragrance to the rice.
How do you make the spicy chili garlic sauce?
Blend fresh red chilies, grated ginger, garlic, lime juice, salt, and chicken stock until the mixture is smooth.
What are the ingredients for the ginger sauce?
The ginger sauce consists of blended ginger, garlic, salt, lime juice, and chicken stock.
How do you prepare the garlic oil?
Fry a few cloves of garlic in oil until fragrant, then strain the oil and store it for use as a flavor enhancer.
What sauce is poured over the chopped chicken?
A mixture of garlic oil, sesame oil, light soy sauce, sugar, and chicken broth is poured evenly over the chicken.
What garnishes are recommended for serving?
Serve the dish with fresh coriander leaves, sliced spring onions, and sliced cucumber.
Is this recipe suitable for families?
Yes, it is described as a family-friendly comfort food and a cherished favorite in the household.
What liquid is used to cook the rice?
The rice is cooked using the chicken broth reserved from the pot where the chicken was boiled.
How do you prevent rice from burning if cooking in a pot?
Cook the rice over low heat and stir it occasionally to prevent it from sticking or burning.
What can be done with the leftover chicken bones?
The chicken bones can be boiled to create a warm vegetable soup to serve alongside the meal.
How many garlic cloves are needed for the whole recipe?
The recipe uses approximately 17 to 19 garlic cloves distributed across the chicken, rice, sauces, and oil.
What kind of chilies are used in the chili sauce?
The recipe calls for 10 fresh red chilies.
How long should the rice be stir-fried?
The rice should be stir-fried briskly for about 1-2 minutes until it is well coated with the fat and aromatics.
When should the chicken be chopped?
The chicken should be chopped into serving pieces once it has cooled and the rice is fully cooked.
Where should the chili garlic sauce be stored?
After blending, the seasoning should be adjusted and the sauce set aside in the refrigerator until serving.
Why is the chicken stock essential for the sauces?
The richness of the chicken broth enhances the flavor of both the chili and ginger dipping sauces.
What provides the zesty flavor in the sauces?
Lime juice is used in both the chili garlic sauce and the ginger sauce to provide a zesty acidity.
What is the origin of this recipe's inspiration?
This recipe is inspired by family tradition to provide an authentic taste at home.
How much ginger is needed for the ginger sauce specifically?
The ginger sauce requires 75 grams of ginger.
Is this dish considered a one-dish meal?
Yes, it is tagged as a 'one dish meal' because it contains protein, starch, and vegetables in one serving.