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Red-Cooked Chicken With Chestnuts

By Kian Lam Kho

3.3

(3)

A clay pot of Red Cook Chicken in a small bowl and a glass of beer on the side.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Lillian Chou

This is one of the most beloved home-style braised chicken dishes anywhere in China. The combination of tender chicken and sweet chestnuts makes for classic Chinese comfort food. This red-cooked chicken recipe feeds two or more when served with rice and additional Chinese side dishes.

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Cooks' Note:

To rehydrate chestnuts, soak them in water for 1-2 hours, until completely rehydrated. To expedite the process, use boiling water.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Serves 2

Ingredients

1½ pounds broiler chicken parts, cut into 1-inch thick pieces
8 ounces peeled fresh chestnuts (from 12 ounces in the shell), or 3 ounces dried chestnuts, rehydrated (see note)
¼ cup Shaoxing cooking wine
1 Tbsp. dark soy sauce
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 (1-inch-long) piece of fresh ginger
1 tsp. sugar

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Put the chicken in a medium saucepan and add enough water to cover the meat completely. Bring the water to a boil and parboil the chicken over medium heat for about 10 minutes, continuously skimming off any scum that forms on the surface. Drain the meat thoroughly. 

    Step 2

    Put the chicken, chestnuts, 1½ cups water, wine, both soy sauces, ginger, and sugar in a large clay pot or Dutch oven with a cover. (Alternatively, this dish can be cooked in a slow cooker.) Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and gently simmer the chicken, covered, for 45 minutes or until the meat is tender when pierced with a knife. During that time, replenish the liquid as needed to prevent scorching. 

Cookbook cover of Phoenix Claws and Jade Trees by Kian Lam Kho.
Copyright © 2015 Phoenix Claws and Jade Trees by Kian Lam Kho. Photographs copyright © 2015 by Jody Horton. Published by Clarkson Potter, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Buy the full book from Penguin Random House, Bookshop, or Amazon.
TagsStewSoup/StewChineseEast AsianAsianChickenPoultryChestnutNutGingerHerbs & SpicesChicken BreastChicken DrumstickChicken WingChicken ThighMainDinnerDairy FreeGluten FreeBraiseDutch OvenSlow CookerLunar New YearCookbooks

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