Authentic Chinese Five Spice Roast Chicken Recipes

CHINESE FIVE-SPICE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place the chicken pieces in a large dish or plastic bag.
• Mix the remaining ingredients and pour over the chicken.
• Marinate refrigerated overnight or for 1 to 2 hours if time is short.
• Transfer the chicken to a baking dish and brush with the marinade.
• Cook uncovered in a preheated 350F (180C) oven, brushing once or twice with the marinade, until the chicken is done, about one hour.

CHINESE FIVE SPICE CHICKEN (五香烤鸡)

Steps:

• Place the chicken over a large tray with the breasts down and the legs towards you. Find its backbone in the middle. Use kitchen scissors/shears to cut along both sides of the backbone, separating it from the ribs (see images for reference in the post above).
• Flip over the chicken so that the breasts are facing up. Use the palm of your hand to firmly push the middle of the chicken until it's completely flattened.
• Pat dry the whole chicken with kitchen paper to remove any moisture.
• Mix salt, five spice powder, garlic powder and white pepper in a bowl. Rub half of the mixture over the cavity side.
• Flip over the chicken. Mix dark soy sauce and Shaoxing rice wine. Rub it over the skin side. Then spread the rest of the dry mix. Massage to evenly distribute.
• Leave to rest uncovered in the fridge overnight (12-24 hours).
• One hour before cooking, take the chicken out of the fridge and allow it to come back to room temperature.
• Preheat a fan-assisted oven at 390F°/200C°, or 425F°/220C° if using a conventional oven.
• Use a roasting tray with a wire rack that fits inside. Fill the tray with some water (lower than the rack) and put the chicken on the rack (skin facing up). Place the tray in the middle of the oven. Leave to cook for 15 minutes.
• Turn the oven down to 320F°/160C° (or 350F°/180C° if using a conventional oven). Continue cooking for a further 20 minutes. If your chicken is a little bigger or smaller, increase or reduce the time by 5 minutes or so (Check the water level in the tray and top up if necessary).
• Take out the chicken. Mix honey and soy sauce then brush a thin layer over the skin. Put back into the oven. Cook for another 5 minutes.
• Turn the heat back up to 390F°/200C° (or 425F°/220C° for a conventional oven). Take out the chicken and brush a second time. Roast for 5 more minutes to finish.
• Check the doneness (see footnote to learn how). Then take the chicken out and leave to rest for 10 minutes before carving into small pieces to serve.

FIVE-SPICE ROAST CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the garlic, ginger, honey, soy sauce, groundnut oil, rice wine, and five-spice powder. Add the drumsticks, and cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Then, let the chicken marinate in the refrigerator for as long as possible. Overnight is ideal, but 10 minutes is fine if you do not have enough time. When ready to cook, preheat an oven to 350 degrees F. Arrange the chicken drumsticks on a roasting pan, and roast for 30 minutes, or until their skins are golden.

FABULOUS FIVE SPICE CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a blender or food processor, blend the soy sauce, oil, sherry, shallots, garlic, ginger, Chinese five-spice powder, serrano pepper, brown sugar, anise, and salt until smooth. Place the chicken in a large bowl. Pour the blended mixture over the chicken, cover, and marinate at least 1 hour in the refrigerator.
• Preheat grill for high heat.
• Lightly oil the grill grate. Discard marinade. Place chicken on the grill, and cook 10 minutes on each side, or until juices run clear.

FIVE-SPICE, SOY & LEMON ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Put most of the sliced ginger into a large roasting tin, then sit the chicken on top. Stuff the chicken with remaining ginger, the green ends from one bunch of onions, half of the garlic and a lemon half. Mix the five-spice, 2 tsp oil and seasoning, then rub all over the chicken. Nestle the other half of the garlic nearby, and drizzle all with 1 tsp oil. Loosely re-tie the legs. Set aside at room temperature for half an hour or so.
• Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Roast the chicken for 1 hr. Toss the lemon wedges and the spring onion ends into the pan juices, then roast for 30 mins more or until the meat is cooked at the thickest part of the thigh and the lemon wedges are sticky. Lift the chicken from the pan and set aside, uncovered, to rest.
• Spoon away any excess fat from the pan, then put the pan onto a medium heat and bring to a simmer. Add 1 tsp sugar, the soy, hoisin, juice from the remaining half lemon and any resting juices. Simmer for a few mins until it thickens slightly, then check the seasoning and add more sugar if needed - don't add any extra salt as the soy and hoisin will add plenty. Serve with the chicken, rice and vegetables.

AUTHENTIC CHINESE FIVE SPICE ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• To make five-spice salt: Combine 5 tablespoons salt with 1 tablespoon five-spice seasoning. Place five spice salt in a dry skillet. Cook & stir over low heat 3-4 minutes.
• Rub salt mixture (1 teaspoon five spice salt per lb. of chicken) on inside and outside of chicken. Cover and refrigerate seasoned chicken for 4 hours or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 500 F.
• Insert green onions into chicken cavity.
• Place chicken, breast side down, on a rack sprayed with nonstick cooking spray in a shallow roasting pan.
• Roast chicken for 35 minutes. Turn chicken over and continue roasting another 20-25 minutes or until chicken tests done. (Chicken skin should be crisp).
• Serve slices of chicken hot or chilled with plum sauce.