Happy Bird Crosses The Golden Bridge 🐦🌉

Overview:

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour and 5 minutes
Servings: 12
Cuisine: Chinese
Keywords: Poultry, Grains, Melons, Beans, Fruit, Vegetable, Meat, Chinese, Asian, Winter, Weeknight, Oven, Stove Top, Stir Fry

Description:

“Happy Bird Crosses The Golden Bridge” presents an enticing culinary creation featuring the humble pigeon, symbolizing happiness in Chinese culture. This dish cleverly incorporates winter melon, a seasonal vegetable abundant in summertime, metaphorically representing the “golden bridge.” By melding two traditional dishes, it bridges the gap between their distinct textures and flavors. The garnish of flowering chives not only adds visual appeal but also symbolizes the verdant greenery lining the water’s edge.

Ingredients:

Nutritional Information (per serving):

• Calories: 101.8
• Fat Content: 2.6g
• Saturated Fat Content: 0.7g
• Cholesterol Content: 39.2mg
• Sodium Content: 1340.9mg
• Carbohydrate Content: 6.9g
• Fiber Content: 0.1g
• Sugar Content: 1.9g
• Protein Content: 12.2g

Instructions:

To Prepare:

1. Marinate the Cornish Game Hens:

   • Mix the marinade and coat Cornish game hens with it for 2 to 3 minutes.

2. Prepare the Winter Melon:

   • Remove the skin of the winter melon and cut it into 12 slices, approximately 2 inches wide, 1¼ inches long, and 1 inch thick.
   • Make a slit sideways on the longest side of each piece and insert one ham slice.

To Cook:

1. Fry the Cornish Hens:

   • Deep-fry Cornish hens over medium flame until golden.

2. Prepare the Braising Mixture:

   • Heat a wok or pot and add 1 tablespoon of oil.
   • When the oil is very hot, stir-fry the ginger and shallots for 1 minute.
   • Add the stewing seasoning ingredients and Cornish hens. Cover and braise over a slow flame for 20 to 25 minutes.

3. Prepare the Winter Melon:

   • Remove the Cornish hens from the wok.
   • Reserve 1 cup of the Cornish hen braising stock to make sauce later.
   • Double the remaining braising stock’s liquid volume by adding water, then immerse the winter melon slices.
   • Cook for 5 minutes, then turn off the heat.
   • Cover the wok and let the winter melon slices sit for an additional 5 minutes to retain their shape.

4. Make the Sauce:

   • Mix sauce ingredients with the reserved cup of Cornish hen braising stock and heat.

To Present:

1. Arrange the Dish:

   • Cut the Cornish hens into pieces and arrange them across the serving dish.
   • Place 6 overlapping winter melon slices on each side of the Cornish hens.

2. Add the Finishing Touches:

   • Pour the sauce over the dish.
   • Garnish with flowering chives.

Enjoy Your Culinary Journey 🍽️

Prepare to delight your taste buds with this harmonious fusion of flavors and textures, where the Happy Bird gracefully crosses the Golden Bridge to culinary bliss!