Chicken doesn’t have to be boring! Chef John shares a unique chicken recipe that uses frying, braising, steaming to transform the chicken into a culinary pot of gold. Every bite of chicken meat is flavorful and juicy.
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Chicken With Chestnut
Recipe
PRE TIME: 2 hr 15 min
COOKING TIME: 1 hr 45 min
TOTAL TIME: 4 hr
6 SERVING
Ingredients:
- 2.5 lb. Yellow Chicken
- 3 oz. Chestnuts
- [Marinade] for step 1
- 0.25 cup Soy Sauce
- Braising liquid for step 3
- 1 tbsp. Chef Made Assorted Aroma Oil (See "Chef John's Signature Oils" Video)
- 0.5 cup Green Onion and Ginger, A Few Pieces of Each
- 2 Cinnamon Stick
- 3 Star Anise
- 1 tbsp. Shaoxing Wine
- 1 L Water
- 1 cup Soy Sauce
- 0.25 cup Shaoxing Wine
- 1 oz. Brown Sugar
- 1 tsp. Five Spice Powder
- 1 tsp. Salt
- [Seasoning] for step 6
- 1.5 tbsp. Shaoxing Wine
- 1 tbsp. Soy Sauce
- 1 tbsp. Rock Sugar
- 1 Cinnamon Stick
- 2 Star Anise
- Thickening the sauce
- 2 tbsp. Water + Corn Starch (a mixture of one part starch and 2 parts water)
Directions:
Step 1
![Step 1](https://img.tastelife.tv/assets/uploads/2020/02/00575_Steamed_Chestnut_Chicken_Chef_John_1-684x480.jpg)
1
Spread soy sauce over entire chicken skin and rub it thoroughly.
Step 2
![Step 2](https://img.tastelife.tv/assets/uploads/2020/02/00575_Steamed_Chestnut_Chicken_Chef_John_2-684x480.jpg)
2
In a deep cooking pot, bring enough cooking oil to 350-420°F/180-220°C, and deep fry whole chicken until the skin is golden and crispy. (Tip: frying gives the chicken skin a pleasing color and helps to hold its shape. )
Step 3
![Step 3](https://img.tastelife.tv/assets/uploads/2020/02/00575_Steamed_Chestnut_Chicken_Chef_John_3-684x480.jpg)
3
In a cooking pan, add a tablespoon of oil, green onion, ginger, cinnamon stick, star anise, water, soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, and dark brown sugar. Bring to a boil, then add the fried chicken. Lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 1 hour.
Step 4
![Step 4](https://img.tastelife.tv/assets/uploads/2020/02/00575_Steamed_Chestnut_Chicken_Chef_John_4-684x480.jpg)
4
Remove the lid, bring up the heat, and thicken the liquid. Then remove the whole chicken from the cooking pan. Refrigerate for 2 hour.
Step 5
![Step 5](https://img.tastelife.tv/assets/uploads/2020/02/00575_Steamed_Chestnut_Chicken_Chef_John_5-684x480.jpg)
5
Place the chicken with breast side facing down in a bowl and de-bone the whole chicken carefully.
Step 6
![Step 6](https://img.tastelife.tv/assets/uploads/2020/02/00575_Steamed_Chestnut_Chicken_Chef_John_6-684x480.jpg)
6
Add chestnuts over the boneless chicken in the bowl. Then add soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, rock sugar, star anises, and cinnamon stick.
Step 7
![Step 7](https://img.tastelife.tv/assets/uploads/2020/02/00575_Steamed_Chestnut_Chicken_Chef_John_7-684x480.jpg)
7
Steam for 30 minutes.
Step 8
![Step 8](https://img.tastelife.tv/assets/uploads/2020/02/00575_Steamed_Chestnut_Chicken_Chef_John_8-684x480.jpg)
8
Remove the bowl from the steamer, pour the liquid into a cooking pan, and bring to a boil. Add the slurry to thicken the sauce.
Step 9
![Step 9](https://img.tastelife.tv/assets/uploads/2020/02/00575_Steamed_Chestnut_Chicken_Chef_John_9-684x480.jpg)
9
Cover the bowl with a plate, flip it over, and remove the bowl.
Step 10
![Step 10](https://img.tastelife.tv/assets/uploads/2020/02/00575_Steamed_Chestnut_Chicken_Chef_John_10-684x480.jpg)
10
Drizzle with thickened sauce over the chicken.
Step 11
![Step 11](https://img.tastelife.tv/assets/uploads/2020/02/00575_Steamed_Chestnut_Chicken_Chef_John_P3-684x480.jpg)
11
Enjoy!
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