Back To Basics: Make Chinese Soy Sauce Chicken

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Every lover of poultry and Asian food needs a Chinese soy sauce chicken recipe in their life, so pick up a copy of the newest comprehensive guide to the world-renowned cuisine of China. We're talking all provinces, all dishes, for every meal of the day. Whether you're craving sweet and savory barbecued meats, wok-crisped vegetables, steaming bowls of noodles, fluffy stuffed buns or hard-to-find specialty and holiday dishes, China: The Cookbook is exactly what you need.

Follow best-selling authors Kei Lum Chan and Diora Fong Chan through the cities and countryside, and pick up a few key techniques while you're at it.

Reprinted with permission from China: The Cookbook

Back To Basics: Make Chinese Soy Sauce Chicken
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Every lover of poultry and Asian food needs a Chinese soy sauce chicken recipe in their life. Make this glossy, savory delight for dinner tonight.
Prep Time
10
minutes
Cook Time
1
hour
Servings
0
servings
Ingredients
  • 1 3 1/4-pound whole chicken
  • 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
  • 2 cups vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup light soy sauce
  • 8 tablespoons rock sugar
  • 2 star anise
  • 1 1-inch piece ginger
  • steamed rice
Directions
  1. Air-dry the chicken in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Rub the dark soy sauce all over the chicken and air-dry for another hour.
  2. Heat the oil in a wok or large saucepan to 300°F, or until a cube of bread browns in 1 1/2 minutes. Carefully add the chicken and use a slotted spoon to gently roll it in the hot oil for 3-4 minutes, until the skin is golden. Carefully remove the chicken from the oil and drain in a colander.
  3. Pour out most of the oil, leaving about 2 tablespoons in the wok. Add the light soy sauce, rock sugar, star anise, ginger, and 3 cups water. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce to low heat, and simmer. Put the chicken, side down, into the wok and cook for 18 minutes, basting with the sauce as it cooks. Turn the chicken over, cook for another 18 minutes, and baste occasionally. Turn chicken again with the breast facing down and cook for another 5 minutes, or until cooked through.
  4. Carefully transfer the chicken to a colander to drain and set aside to cool. Cut into pieces.
  5. Heat the sauce in the wok over high heat and boil for 3-4 minutes until reduced to 1/2 cup. Pour the sauce over the chicken, then serve with rice.
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