Braised Chicken With Smoked Ham, Chestnuts, and Ginger

Preparation

1. Marinate chicken 1 day ahead:

   Step 1

   Bring water to a simmer in a small saucepan, then stir in mushrooms and simmer 10 minutes. Cool to room temperature, then strain through a sieve into a large bowl. Discard stems, then chill mushroom caps, covered, until ready to braise chicken. Stir remaining marinade ingredients into mushroom liquid, then add chicken and marinate, chilled, stirring occasionally, 1 day.

2. Brown chicken in 3 batches and make sauce:

   Step 2

   Remove chicken from marinade and pat dry (discard marinade).

   Step 3

   Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Just before browning each batch of chicken, sprinkle with 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Brown, skin side down first, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.

   Step 4

   Pour off all but 1 tablespoon oil from skillet, then reduce heat to medium-low and sauté ginger, stirring, 1 minute (do not brown). Add white wine and Shaoxing and boil until reduced by three fourths, about 5 minutes. Add broth, 1 1/2 cups water, sugar, soy sauce, white pepper, and remaining 2 teaspoons kosher salt and bring to a simmer.

   Step 5

   Combine cornstarch and remaining 2 tablespoons cold water and whisk into sauce, then boil 1 minute.

3. Braise chicken:

   Step 6

   Transfer chicken, skin side up, to a 6-to 8-quart heavy pot (place white meat on top). Add sauce, chestnuts, and reserved mushroom caps. Gently simmer, covered, until chicken is just cooked through, 15 to 25 minutes.

   Step 7

   Cut breasts in half and return to pot. Add ham. Gently simmer 3 minutes more.