China Moon Double Chicken Stock Recipes

CHINA MOON DOUBLE CHICKEN STOCK

Steps:

• Rinse chicken bones under cold running water.
• Place rinsed chicken bones in a heavy 8-quart stock pot.
• Add the cold water and set pot over high heat.
• Bring to a near boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes or until there is a thick foam on the surface.
• Skim off and discard the foam.
• Add remaining ingredients and simmer (very low simmer) for 3-4 hours or until the liquids are reduced by about half.
• DO NOT BOIL.
• Strain finished stock through several layers of cheesecloth.
• Refrigerate overnight and skim off the congealed fat.
• This makes about about 12 cups.
• The second day use this stock (warning: do not substitute canned) in place of 12 cups of water to repeat the entire stock making process.

DOUBLE LEMON CHICKEN

Steps:

• Prepare the chicken: In a large bowl, whisk together the egg whites, soy sauce, cornstarch (cornflour), 1/2 teaspoon salt and a good grind of pepper just until there aren't any lumps, about 30 seconds. Working one breast at a time, place the chicken between 2 pieces of parchment paper and use a meat mallet (or the bottom of a pan) to pound the chicken evenly so it's a scant 1/2-inch/1-centimeter thick. Transfer to the egg white bowl and continue with the remaining. Stir everything together gently to coat, and refrigerate to marinate for at least an hour (or overnight if you're getting ahead).
• Meanwhile make the preserved lemon paste: Add all the ingredients to a small, lidded saucepan set over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer, then lower the heat to medium-low, cover and cook for 12 to 14 minutes, or until the rinds start to look translucent and the juice has reduced by about half. Set aside to cool slightly, then transfer everything to a small food processor and blitz until you have a smooth, spreadable paste. (You should have about 1/4 cup.) Set aside 3 tablespoons for the sauce, then store the rest in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 weeks.
• Make the sauce: Add the 3 tablespoons preserved lemon paste, the stock, butter, garlic, sugar, turmeric and half the cumin to a medium saucepan, then place it over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes, until reduced by about a third. Measure out roughly 3 tablespoons of the sauce into a small bowl, then add the cornstarch (cornflour) and whisk until there are no lumps. Whisk this back into the sauce pot and cook for 1 minute, whisking continuously, until smooth and thickened slightly. Remove from the heat.
• Heat the oil in a large high-sided frying pan over a medium-high heat. Once hot (a sprinkle of cornstarch dropped into the oil should sizzle right away), fry two of the chicken breasts for 3 minutes per side, or until nicely browned and just cooked through. It should release easily from the skillet with a little help from a metal spatula. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and continue with the remaining 2 breasts. It might spit, so turn down the heat if needed. Wipe out the frying pan, add the sauce and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Add back all the chicken breasts and cook for just 3 minutes, gently turning them halfway. Remove from the heat and stir in the 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.
• Transfer the chicken breasts (cut them into strips, if you like) to a large serving platter with a lip and pour the sauce all over. Sprinkle with the remaining cumin. In a small bowl, toss together the spring onion, cilantro and remaining 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, and spoon this all over.

CHICKEN CHINA MOON

Steps:

• Combine sesame seeds, ginger, sugar and soy sauce.
• Grill chicken over medium coals, or broil 6 inches from heat source, until cooked through, about 4 minutes per side. Baste with soy mixture frequently.
• Garnish with green onions and serve over rice.

VIETNAMESE CHICKEN STOCK

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients plus 1 gallon of water in a large dutch oven. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 3 hours.
• Strain broth through a cheesecloth lined colander into a bowl and discard the solids.

CHINESE CHICKEN STOCK

Steps:

• Rinse the bones with cool water and put in a heavy 6-quart non-aluminum stockpot. Add cold water to come within 1 inch of the top of the pot, then set the pot over high heat. Bring to a near boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a steady simmer.
• After 5 to 10 minutes, when a thick foam has risen to the surface, use a large shallow spoon to skim off and discard the scum. Continue skimming for 4 to 5 minutes, when it no longer clusters thickly on the surface.
• Lightly smash the ginger and scallion with the blunt side of a knife to release their juices. Add them to the stock with the peppercorns, if using, and reduce the heat to maintain a weak simmer, with bubbles rising lazily to the top of the pot.
• Simmer undisturbed for 3 to 4 hours, or until the liquid is reduced by about half and is 1/2 to 1 inch below the bones. Do not stir the stock while it is simmering, and do not let it boil.
• Turn off the heat and let the pot sit for 30 minutes or more, so the impurities will coagulate on the surface or sink to the bottom. Line a strainer or colander with a triple layer of damp cheesecloth and set it securely over a large pot or bowl.
• Push the thin, congealed surface grease gently to one side, then very gently ladle the stock into the strainer. Tilt the pot slowly as you ladle, and disturb the bones as little as possible. When you near the bottom of the pot, hold the bones in place with an overturned plate or a small pot lid, then pour the last of the clear liquid through the strainer. Discard the sediment-filled liquid and the ginger, scallion, peppercorns and bones.
• Refrigerate or briefly freeze the stock until the fat rises and hardens on the surface. Scrape off the fat. Divide the stock into convenient portions, and refrigerate it 4 to 5 days or store it indefinitely in the freezer.