Ginger Scallion Chicken Parchment Pack Recipes

GINGER-SCALLION CHICKEN BREASTS BAKED IN PARCHMENT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. If using shiitake mushrooms, place them in a small bowl; pour the boiling water over, and let the mushrooms soak until soft, about 15 minutes. Lift mushrooms from bowl; reserve soaking liquid for another use (such as making stock or risotto), or discard. Cut mushrooms into 12 thin slices.
• Stir together soy sauce, oil, vinegar, honey, and sliced ginger in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish; set aside. Stir together the chopped scallion and grated ginger in a small bowl; set aside.
• Rinse chicken, and pat dry. Cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise to make 4 pieces total; trim any fat. Using a sharp paring knife, make a long, deep horizontal cut in one side of each chicken piece to create a pocket, being careful not to cut all the way through. Spoon the scallion-ginger mixture into each piece, dividing evenly and spreading.
• Transfer stuffed chicken pieces to baking dish with soy-sauce mixture. Marinate at room temperature, turning halfway through, 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place a rimmed baking sheet in oven to heat. Prepare packets (for tips on folding parchment, see Enlightened Cooking). Stack packets; weight with a baking sheet until ready to use (to help seams stay sealed).
• Open one short end of each packet. Using a spatula, slide a chicken piece inside. Top each piece with 3 mushroom slices. Crease firmly to reseal.
• Carefully transfer packets to preheated baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes; the chicken should be cooked through. Transfer packets to plates. Serve immediately, opening packets at the table. Garnish with remaining scallions.

COLD POACHED CHICKEN WITH GINGER SCALLION OIL

Steps:

• Poached chicken:
• In a 1 1/2-quart saucepan bring water to a boil with gingerroot; Scotch or Sherry, and salt to taste. Add chicken and simmer, covered, 12 minutes, or until just cooked through. Transfer chicken with tongs to a bowl and chill, covered, 20 minutes.
• Make ginger scallion oil while chicken is cooling:
• In a small bowl stir together ginger scallion oil ingredients.
• Halve chicken lengthwise and cut across grain into thin slices. Stir oil and spoon over chicken.

GINGER-SCALLION CHICKEN

Steps:

• Cut the scallions in quarters lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1 1/2-inch-long pieces. You should end up with thin blades of scallions. Separate out the dark green tops from the pale green and white parts. (You don't have to be very thorough; some mixing of colors is fine.)
• Heat oil in a wok or 12-inch skillet over very high heat. When it's shimmering but not smoking, stir in chicken and salt. Cook, stirring almost constantly, until chicken is barely cooked and no longer pink, 3 to 5 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer chicken onto a serving plate, leaving the oil in the pan. Immediately scatter cilantro and scallion greens (not whites) over hot chicken.
• Return wok to medium-high heat. Make sure there are at least 2 tablespoons oil in the wok. If not, add more oil. Stir in ginger and cook until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Stir in scallion whites, soy sauce and sugar, and cook for another 30 seconds (if using a skillet, remove from heat). Immediately spoon the contents of the pan evenly over chicken and herbs. Serve right away.