We have given the traditional method for poaching the chicken, but you can cook it in a pressure cooker for 20 minutes with outstanding results
Nutrition and extra info
Nutrition: per serving
- kcal329
- fat22g
- saturates6g
- carbs1g
- sugars0g
- fibre0g
- protein31g
- salt0.6g
Ingredients
- 1 chicken, about 1½ kg (the best quality you can get)
Turkey
terk-eeWhile it's the traditional Christmas bird, turkey is good to eat all year round, though…
- bunch spring onions, green and white parts separated (keep the whites for ginger & chilli oil, see goes well with)
- 2 thumb-sized pieces ginger, sliced
Ginger
jin-jerMainly grown in Jamaica, Africa, India, China and Australia, ginger is the root of the plant. It…
- small pack coriander, leaves and stalks separated
- 3 garlic cloves, peeled and left whole
- 1 star anise
Star anise
star an-eeseStar anise is one of the central spices in Chinese cooking. It has a strong anise flavour, with…
- 500ml chicken stock, or a chicken stock cube
- 200ml Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
- 4 tbsp soy sauce
Soy sauce
soy sor-sAn Asian condiment and ingredient that comes in a variety of of varieties ranging from light to…
- cooked rice and Sichuan pepper, to serve
Rice
r-eye-sRice is a grain, the seed of a type of grass, which is the most widely grown and the most…
Method
Put the chicken in a saucepan or stock pot large enough to fit it comfortably. Add the green spring onion parts, ginger, coriander stalks, garlic and star anise. Pour over the stock (or crumble in the stock cube), rice wine and 3 tbsp of the soy sauce, then top up with water to just cover.
Bring everything to the boil and skim once. Turn down to a gentle simmer and poach for 20 mins, then turn off the heat and leave the chicken to cool in the broth for at least 1 hr. This can be done a day ahead but musn’t be chilled, otherwise the chicken will be too cold. Remove the chicken from the broth and leave to cool completely, then strain the broth, ready to pour some over the rice later.
To serve, carve the chicken as if you were jointing it. Arrange on a platter, drizzle over the remaining soy and scatter over the coriander leaves and Sichuan pepper. Serve with rice, ginger and chilli oil, and some of the heated broth to moisten the rice. Any leftover broth can be frozen.
Comments, questions and tips