Delicious poached chicken

poached chicken, also known as "bai zhan ji" or "san huang you ji," is a traditional Chinese dish originating from Guangdong province and is a classic Cantonese cuisine. It is characterized by its visually appealing presentation with yellow skin and white meat. The chicken is tender, juicy, and exceptionally flavorful, making it highly delicious. The meat is pure white with a layer of yellowish skin, imparting a delightful aroma of scallion oil. Garnished with scallion flowers, it is typically served with ginger paste, minced garlic, and soy sauce, maintaining the chicken's freshness and original taste, leaving a memorable impression.

7 Reviews
7 Comments
POSTED:16/06/2024
Level:Medium
Yield:2-3 servings
Total:40 min
(includes chilling time)
Active:8 min

If you want to make tender and juicy poached chicken, it's actually not as difficult as it may seem. Here's what you need to know about preparing this dish to ensure it's both well-cooked and delicious:


1.What is poached chicken?

poached chicken is a distinctive dish of the Chinese cuisine, originating from Guangdong province and a traditional Cantonese delicacy. It is a cold dish that originated in Qing Dynasty folk restaurants, where chickens are boiled without seasoning, resulting in its name "poached chicken" (白斩鸡) or "white-sliced chicken." The dish features golden-yellow skin, smooth and tender meat, exceptionally delicious flavor, and is known for its enduring popularity.


2.How to cook poached chicken to be tender?

To achieve tender poached chicken, the key lies in ingredient selection, cooking time, and culinary technique.

Firstly, start with choosing tender chicken. Opt for chickens with tender meat, such as young roosters around 3 months old, preferably of the "three-yellow" variety. These chickens have tender meat and minimal gaminess.

Next, the cooking time and technique are also crucial. When cooking poached chicken, start by bringing water to a boil over high heat. Then, immerse the chicken into the pot and perform the "three blanching and three cooling" method. This involves dipping the chicken into boiling water for 10 seconds, lifting it out and letting it cool for 10 seconds, and repeating this process three times. This method helps the chicken skin to contract, sealing in moisture and ensuring the meat remains tender.

Afterward, place the chicken back into the boiling water, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for a short time, approximately 10 minutes. Cooking the chicken for too long will result in tough meat.

Finally, after cooking, the chicken should be immediately immersed in ice water. This technique utilizes the principle of thermal expansion and contraction to make the chicken firm and smooth, while also crisping up the skin.


3.How long does poached chicken generally need to cook?

The cooking time for poached chicken can vary depending on the size of the chicken, its variety, and the cooking method used. Generally, the cooking time for poached chicken ranges from 10 to 30 minutes. It's important to control the heat during cooking—start by bringing the water to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer over low heat to ensure the chicken cooks evenly without becoming tough from overcooking.

After cooking, it's beneficial to let the chicken steep in the hot broth for a period of time, typically between 15 to 30 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld and helps maintain the chicken's tenderness. The exact timing can also depend on the size of the chicken and the specific cooking method employed.


4.Should poached chicken be cooked in cold water or hot water?

poached chicken can be cooked using either cold water or hot water, each method offering its own unique charm.

The traditional method of "hot water cooking" preserves the essence of poached chicken by instantly locking in its tenderness and original flavors through high temperature. On the other hand, the emerging technique of "cold water cooking" gradually heats up the chicken during the cooking process, resulting in a tender and flavorful texture that differs significantly from the traditional method.


5.What type of chicken is used for poached chicken?

poached chicken is often made with "san huang ji" (three-yellow chicken) as the main ingredient. This type of chicken is primarily found in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, and Yunnan provinces, known for its tender texture and delicious flavor. It has low fat content, high protein content, and is nutritionally rich.


The following recipe can produce the most delicious and tender chicken. It's one of the simplest methods to ensure the chicken is juicy and flavorful. I personally enjoy this approach very much and encourage you to save and try it out.

INGREDIENTS

MAIN INGREDIENTS

  • 1 whole chicken

SEASONINGS

  • 2 stalks of green onions
  • a large piece of ginger
  • 2 tablespoons of salt
  • some oil
  • some cooking wine (shaoxing wine)
  • a large bowl of ice water

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1

Use Sanhuang chicken or Qingyuan chicken; if not available, you can also use regular free-range chicken. Prepare the chicken accordingly and set aside.

Use Sanhuang or Qingyuan chicken; free-range chicken can be substituted. Prepare and set aside.

STEP 2

Prepare a deep pot with water covering the chicken. Add green onions and ginger to the water. Once the water boils, reduce to medium heat. Submerge the chicken in the water for 5 seconds, lift it out for 5 seconds, repeat this process 3 times.

Tip:

Repeating this process 3 times, known as "three dips," helps seal the surface of the chicken, locking in its freshness and flavor.

Prepare chicken with green onions and ginger. Submerge in water using the three dips method for freshness.

STEP 3

After blanching in hot water, place the chicken into ice water (pure water + ice cubes) for about 2-3 minutes.

Tip:

After removing from the ice water, this process helps enhance the chicken's texture, making it more tender, juicy, and delicious.

Blanch chicken in hot water, then ice water for tender, juicy meat.

STEP 4

Then, place the chicken back into the pot, cover with a lid, and cook over medium heat for 7 minutes. After that, turn off the heat and let it simmer with the residual heat for 20-25 minutes.

Tip:

Letting the chicken simmer in the broth for a while allows it to absorb more flavor and remain tender. Avoid simmering for too long to prevent the chicken from becoming tough.

Simmer chicken in broth for maximum flavor and tenderness.

STEP 5

At this point, you can prepare the ginger and scallion sauce. Use the back of a knife to slowly crush the ginger into minced ginger.

Prepare ginger and scallion sauce by crushing fresh ginger with a knife.

STEP 6

After chopping the scallions into small pieces, use the back of a knife to lightly crush them.

Chop scallions, then lightly crush with back of knife.

STEP 7

Put the chopped scallions into a bowl, add 2 tablespoons (using a seasoning spoon) of salt, and stir gently. The ginger and scallion sauce should have a slightly salty taste.

Mix chopped scallions with 2 tablespoons of salt for a flavorful ginger and scallion sauce.

STEP 8

Drizzle with hot oil and stir again.

tip:

There are many ways to prepare dipping sauces. Some people may prefer a stronger flavor or spicier taste and can adjust the sauce according to their preferences, adding chili peppers for extra spice.

To enhance flavor, add hot oil; adjust dipping sauce with chili peppers for spice.

STEP 9

Drizzle with hot oil and stir again.

tip:

There are many ways to prepare dipping sauces. Some people may prefer a stronger flavor or spicier taste and can adjust the sauce according to their preferences, adding chili peppers for extra spice.

Tip for preparing dipping sauces: Customize flavors by adding chili peppers for extra spice.

STEP 10

Cut the chicken into pieces, arrange them on a serving plate, and sprinkle the previously prepared seasoning on top. Your dish is now ready!

Tip:

Depending on personal preference, some people like to drizzle the seasoning over the chicken, while others prefer to dip the chicken into it. Adjust according to your taste!

Tip for serving chicken: Sprinkle or dip with seasoning based on preference.

Recipe analyzer

  • Recipes: Delicious poached chicken
  • Main Ingredients:6
  • Servings per recipe:1
  • Servings size:156 g
Nutritional Summary of Recipe
Amount per 81 g= 1 serving(s)
  • Energy (calories):6 kcal
    12%
  • Protein:0.23 g
    2%
  • Fat:0.11 g Why gray?
    52%
  • Carbohydrates:1.38 g
    3%
Calorie breakdown
  • Protein: 9%
    1 kcal
  • Fat: 15%
    1 kcal
  • Carbohydrates: 76%
    5 kcal
The chart shows the percentage of calories intake (energy) coming from the respective macronutrients (fats, protein and carbohydrates).
Omega 6 : Omega 3
1:1
20:1
7:1
Both fatty acids are essential, but nowadays the majority of western diets include excessive amounts of Omega 6 acid.

The ratio shows whether the proportion of both fatty acids in your diet is optimal. Red color means too much of Omega 6 or too little of Omega 3. The data are rounded off and approximate.

7 REVIEWS

Review
Your rating:
JosephOctober 14, 2024

The poached chicken I made tasted great and was just as described in the recipe.
RichardSeptember 29, 2024

This poached chicken recipe is very healthy, I like it very much.
reply:
October 02, 2024
Thank you very much, the poaching method retains the maximum nutrients of the chicken.
BarbaraSeptember 16, 2024

Can I add some other spices to the water to enhance the flavor?
reply:
September 18, 2024
Of course you can, for example, adding some traditional spices such as peppercorns, star anise and cinnamon will give the poached chicken more flavor.
ElizabethJuly 22, 2024

It's amazing how simple it is to make and how delicious the results are.
AnnaJune 16, 2024

Super love this white cut chicken! The recipe is easy to follow, no extra seasonings, and the pure chicken flavor is just perfect for a home cooked meal!
ennieJune 16, 2024

This white cut chicken recipe is truly a model of instruction! Every step is detailed and on point, and the value and flavor of the white cut chicken you make can't be beat, so be sure to try it!
damJune 16, 2024

This White Cut Chicken recipe is succinct in its instruction, and after following it once, I was super satisfied with the tenderness of the chicken and the freshness of the broth!
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