Hainanese Chicken Rice (Ayam Hainan)
Ingredients:
- 1 whole free-range chicken (ayam kampung)
- 3 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger, crushed
- Salt to taste
- Sugar to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Soy sauce for dipping
- Sesame oil
- Bird’s eye chilies, sliced
- Fried garlic, finely chopped
Instructions:
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Prepare the Chicken and Broth:
- Begin by boiling a large pot of water until it reaches a rolling boil.
- Add the crushed ginger, crushed garlic, salt, sugar, and black pepper to the boiling water.
- Carefully place the whole chicken into the boiling water.
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Initial Boiling:
- Let the chicken boil for 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, carefully remove the chicken and immediately plunge it into a bowl of ice water. This helps to tighten the skin and enhance its texture.
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Second Boiling:
- Return the chicken to the boiling water and continue to cook for an additional 15 minutes.
- Once again, remove the chicken and place it into the ice water.
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Final Boiling:
- Return the chicken to the boiling water one last time and boil for another 20 minutes.
- After this final boiling, remove the chicken and let it drain thoroughly.
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Serving the Chicken:
- Once the chicken has drained and cooled, cut it into serving pieces.
- Lightly brush the chicken pieces with sesame oil for added flavor and a glossy finish.
- Sprinkle the finely chopped fried garlic over the chicken.
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Preparing the Dipping Sauce:
- Serve the chicken with a dipping sauce made of soy sauce and sliced bird’s eye chilies. This adds a spicy kick to the tender chicken.
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Hainanese Rice (Optional):
- Do not discard the broth. It can be used to prepare the fragrant Hainanese rice. Cook the rice using the flavorful broth instead of plain water for a truly authentic experience.
Enjoy this delicious and aromatic Hainanese Chicken Rice, a dish that perfectly balances tender, juicy chicken with a rich, flavorful broth and spicy dipping sauce.
