Soy Glazed Chicken Breast With Scallion Ginger Oil Recipes

CANTONESE POACHED CHICKEN (BAI QIE JI)

Steps:

• Make sure your chicken is at room temperature (trying to poach a cold chicken right out of the refrigerator will result in uneven cooking or undercooking). Clean the chicken by rinsing it under cold water, paying special attention to the cavity. Any giblets should already be removed but there may still be organs on the inside that should be removed or sometimes stray feathers that need to be plucked. Experts recommend that it's not necessary to wash your chicken before cutting and cooking but in this case for a whole chicken (especially if you get it from a live poultry place or even from Asian markets), it's a step that shouldn't be skipped, in my opinion. When washing and prepping the whole chicken, be very careful about splashing water and contaminating surfaces with unwanted bacteria. Be careful not to break or trim away any of the skin on the chicken, as you don't want the meat exposed to the boiling water as it cooks. This will ensure a moist, silky texture in the final product.
• Fill a large stock pot with water, just enough to submerge the chicken completely. You can determine this by putting the entire chicken in the pot, filling it with water until the chicken is submerged, and then removing the chicken. Do not turn on the heat while the chicken is still in the pot! This method of ensuring you have just enough water to submerge the chicken (and avoiding any extra) will ensure you have a more flavorful stock to save at the end. We used about 18 cups of water to submerge a 4 pound chicken in a deep stock pot.
• Once you have your water properly measured into the pot, add 2 scallions and 5 slices of ginger, and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, slowly lower the chicken into the pot, legs down and head up. It's ok if the breast is peeking out of the water a bit. The water will cool down and stop boiling when you add the chicken, so bring it up to a boil once again, and do not walk away from the pot.
• Once the water boils again, IMMEDIATELY lift the chicken out of the water very carefully. You can carefully hook two wooden spoons under the wings to lift the chicken up. The goal is to empty any colder water that may be trapped inside the cavity. Once you've released that water, lower the chicken back into the pot, and bring to a boil again.
• When the water is JUST starting to boil, turn the heat down. Keep it at barely a simmer. There should be very little movement in the water, but it also shouldn't be still. Cover the pot, and keep the heat around the lowest setting so the liquid continues to simmer slowly. Cook for about 35-40 minutes, roughly 10-11 minutes per pound. Depending on the size of your chicken, it may take more or less time to cook it through. You can check to make sure the water is bubbling slowly/gently and not boiling too vigorously, but try to avoid uncovering the pot while it's cooking.
• Poke a chopstick or skewer into the thigh to check for doneness. If the juices run clear, it's done. Carefully lift the chicken out of the pot and transfer it to a large bowl of ice water. Cool completely.
• While the chicken is cooling, make the sauce. You have the option to make two versions-one with just scallions, ginger, oil and salt, and one with soy sauce. The plain version is more traditional, as it really lets the flavors of chicken, ginger, and scallion shine through. Judy loves to add soy sauce, and it's also a tasty option! Start with the plain version, and then scoop some of it out into another bowl and add soy sauce. Try both and see which your loved ones like best!
• When the chicken is out of the ice water, you can brush it lightly with oil or some of the fat floating atop the poaching liquid to give it that enticing, shiny look!
• To serve, carve your chicken into pieces that you can easily grab with chopsticks. Serve with your sauce(s) and some steamed rice.

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.

GRILLED CHICKEN BREAST WITH GINGER AND SOY

Steps:

• Combine the 1 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons sesame oil, half of the lime juice, ginger, and garlic, and 1/4 cup cilantro in the bottom of each of 2 large freezer bags. Put 2 chicken breasts in each bag and get them coated with the marinade. Then set the bags on a work surface, force the air out and seal them. Allow chicken to marinade for 1 hour. You can also freeze the chicken right in the marinade at this point. To do so fold each bag over the chicken 3 times, tape them well, and date them. Put it in the freezer for up to 2 months.
• Place a large grill pan on 2 burners over medium-high heat, or preheat an outdoor gas or charcoal grill. Fold a few paper towels into a thick square. Blot some oil on the paper towels and then carefully and quickly wipe the ridges of the gill pan or the hot grates of the grill to make a non-stick surface.
• Remove the chicken breasts from the marinade and season with salt and pepper. Lay the chicken on the hot grill and cook 3 to 5 minutes on each side until charred and firm. Serve with the sesame noodles and cucumber pickles.

SOY-GLAZED ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• About 30 minutes before roasting, bring the chickens to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Combine the vegetable oil, 2 teaspoons salt, the white pepper, coriander and five-spice powder in a small bowl; rub all over the chickens. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine and tuck the wings under the body.
• Arrange the chickens breast-side up on a rack set on a rimmed baking sheet or in a shallow roasting pan, leaving a bit of space between them. Roast until the skin is slightly golden and crisp, about 1 hour.
• Make the glaze: Combine the honey, soy sauce, ginger and sesame oil in a small bowl. Increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees F. Brush the chickens all over (including the underside) with half of the glaze. Continue roasting, brushing with the remaining glaze halfway through, until the skin is deep golden brown and crisp and a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F, about 20 more minutes.
• Remove the chickens from the oven; transfer to a cutting board or platter. Pour the pan drippings into a small bowl; skim off any excess fat. Brush the chickens with the pan drippings and let rest 15 minutes. Sprinkle the chickens with the scallions and sesame seeds. Remove the twine and carve the chickens; serve with any remaining pan drippings.

SOY-GLAZED CHICKEN BREASTS WITH PICKLED CUCUMBERS

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, toss to combine the cucumber, shallot, vinegar, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; set aside while you make the chicken.
• In a shallow dish, stir soy sauce and honey together; add chicken and turn to coat.
• In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Add garlic and coriander and stir to coat. Add chicken breasts (reserve the marinade) and cook until browned on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. (Browning happens a little faster than usual here because of the honey and soy; if the marinade is getting too dark, lower the heat slightly.)
• Add reserved marinade and 1/4 cup water to the skillet. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low and cook, covered, until cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes more per side.
• Uncover the skillet, increase heat to medium-high and cook, turning chicken occasionally, until liquid is reduced and chicken is glazed, about 5 minutes. Serve chicken drizzled with any leftover glaze over rice with cucumber salad and cilantro.

GRILLED SOY-HONEY GLAZED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Combine scallions, garlic, honey, sherry, ginger and soy sauce.
• Place chicken in a resealable plastic bag and pour the sauce over the chicken.
• Close the bag and marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Or, refrigerate it overnight.
• Turn occasionally to keep sauce distributed evenly on the chicken.
• Remove chicken from bag and pour sauce into a small saucepan.
• Bring sauce to a boil and let boil for one full minute.
• Grill chicken over hot coals, turning as needed to prevent charring and to cook evenly.
• Grill until just done, about 25 minutes.
• Brush with sauce as needed to keep moist.
• Serve chicken with remaining sauce and hot cooked rice.

SLOW-COOKED SOY-GLAZED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine the marinade ingredients in a small bowl. Sit the chicken in a casserole dish, rub the marinade all over, and put the ginger peel in the cavity. Cover and leave at room temperature to marinate for 1 hr, or in the fridge overnight.
• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Mix the stock ingredients in a jug, then pour over the chicken. Roast for 1 hr, uncovered, then baste with the liquid in the dish. Roast for 30-40 mins more, basting every 10 mins, until the chicken is deep brown. Keep an eye on the glaze in the base of the dish - you may need to add a splash of water to keep it from burning.
• Leave the chicken to rest for 20 mins, then transfer to a board. Skim the fat from the juices, bring to the boil, then turn off the heat. Shred the thigh and leg meat and wrap in the lettuce leaves along with the spring onions, cucumber, chilli, coriander and nuts. Slice the breast meat and serve withthe rice and warm roasting juices.