HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE

     This is my 100th post, and I was long wondering, what to write, as for my 1st Post.  May be a family favourite.  Then it was only recently that I had perfected this recipe and even my daughter found time to click some pictures when I cooked Hainanese Chicken Rice.  If my husband likes a dish, I can easily make it out, as he would ask me to make it quite frequently.  And for my son, he eats this dish 7 days a week in his University Food Court, where its one of the best dish. And my daughter loves this dish as she would always search for Hainanese Chicken Rice, whenever we go to a Food Court. For me, I like this dish for so many reasons mainly it's easy to prepare, very convenient, and so tasty. So here it's my 100th Post - HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE.
      Hainanese Chicken Rice though originated in Hainan, China, this dish crossed borders along with Chinese migrant workers and caught its popularity in South East Asian countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.  The reason behind it because a major population of Chinese live in these countries. Hainanese Chicken Rice is a very popular dish in Singapore and Malaysia. In fact, Singapore has claimed this as their national dish! Chicken is served either roasted, poached, or steamed.
     This recipe is considered to be authentic when cooked with Ayam Kampung (where Ayam means chicken and kampung means village in Malay).  It is quite similar to the free-range chickens.These chickens though skinny to prevailing standards, they are packed with amazing flavours and does a great justice to any dish it's cooked with.
     As the name refers the main ingredient of the dish is 'CHICKEN', but the credit is bagged by the tasty & aromatic 'RICE', which is cooked with chicken fat and chicken stock. Though it’s a luxury to cook rice in Chicken Stock, the taste it adds to the rice is the reason behind its popularity. The flavour of the rice is out of this world! It’s not just plain white rice.
     Needless to say the skillful cooking of perfectly textured chicken - Moist, Succulent and Silky. The Chicken is poached in a stock pot and finally given an ice bath to get the required texture. And finally, the heavenly add-ons to drench the Chicken and the Rice - the Sauces & Soup

          - Dipping Soup
          - Ginger-Garlic Sauce &
          - Soy Sauce

For a quick version or while cooking small portions try -  HAINANSE CHICKEN IN RICE COOKER, Click here...


Cuisine : Chinese (Hainanese)
Course : Main Course
Difficulty : Medium
Spice Level : Low
Serves : 3-4
Author : SM

Preparation Time : 10-15 Minutes
Cooking Time : 25 - 30 Minutes

HOW TO COOK AUTHENTIC HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE 

FOR CHICKEN

INGREDIENTS :

Chicken Pieces - 400 Gms
Water - 5- 6 Cups
Salt - To Taste
Ginger - 1" Piece
Scallions - Few
Ice - For Ice Bath

METHOD :

NOTES :

• Usually, this recipe is cooked with a whole Chicken.
• For convenience, I have used Chicken Pieces.
• Rubbing the chicken with the salt will give the chicken a pretty sheen. 
• Plunging the chicken pieces in an ice bath stops the cooking process and also tightens the skin, making it springy and firm.
• Also, it makes the chicken juicy and succulent.
• The Chicken stock can be used to cook the rice and for the soup.

FOR RICE:

INGREDIENTS :

Rice - 2 Cups
Chicken Fat / Vegetable Oil - 2 Tbspns
Garlic - 4 Cloves
Chicken Stock - 31/2 - 4 Cups
Screw pine/Pandan Leaves - 2 Leaves
Salt - To Taste

For a detailed Recipe on HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN STOCK, Click here...

METHOD:

• Heat a pan, add the chicken fat and allow it to melt.
• Saute finely minced garlic on a low flame for few minutes.(It shouldn't burn)
• Add the rice and fry this for about two minutes in a low flame.
• Turn off the heat and scoop the rice into the rice cooker.
• Boil the Chicken Stock along with salt and pour it into the rice.
• Tie the Screw pine Leaves into a knot and drop it into the rice cooker
• Close the lid and press START.
• Allow it to cook until the switch falls to WARM UP mode.
• Fluff it up with a fork, and close the lid.
• Let it sit in warm-mode for another 15-20 minutes.
• Switch off, fluff the rice with a fork.
• Serve Hainanese Chicken Rice hot or cold with Chicken Slices, Soup and Sauces.

NOTES:

• Rice Water Ratio for cooking in Rice Cooker is 1:11/2 Cups.
• Wash the rice until the water runs clear and allow it to soak for about 15-20 minutes 
• Drain the water from the rice, before cooking. 
• Alternatively, the rice can be cooked in a sauce pan.  
• Follow the above steps, and instead of scooping it into the rice cooker, scoop it into a Sauce pan.
• Pour the Chicken Stock into it.
• Rice Water Ratio for cooking in a Sauce Pan is 1:21/2 Cups. 
• Cover the lid and bring it to boil.
• Once the stock has boiled, reduce the flame.
• Let the rice cook on low flame for 10-15 Minutes or until all the water is absorbed and the rice is well cooked.
• Care should be taken not to burn the garlic and rice while frying.
• The best results, I prefer cooking the rice in Rice cooker.

GINGER & GARLIC SAUCE FOR HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE

GINGER & GARLIC SAUCE FOR HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE

 

INGREDIENTS :

GINGER & GARLIC SAUCE:

Ginger- 2" Piece.
Garlic - 2 Clove
Chicken Stock - 2 Tbspns
Sweet Chilli Sauce - 2 Tbspn
Sriracha Chilli Sauce - 2 Tbspn
Rice Wine vinegar - 1 Tspn
Lemon Juice - 1 Tbspn
Salt - To Taste
Sugar - 1 Tspn

METHOD :

• Pound Ginger & Garlic with a mortar & a pestle into a fine paste.
• Add Chicken Stock, Sweet Chilli Sauce and Sriracha Sauce to the above.
• Add Salt, Sugar and Lemon Juice and Mix well.
• This dipping Sauce is a bit spicy version, as I have used Sriracha sauce.

 

SOUP FOR HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE

SOUP FOR HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE

INGREDIENTS :

For the Soup:

Vegetable Oil - 2 Tspns
Garlic - 2 Cloves
Chicken Stock - 1 Cup
Light Soy Sauce - 1 Tspn
Salt - To Taste
Sugar - a Pinch

For Garnishing:

Spring Onions - Few

METHOD :

• Heat Oil in a pan and saute minced Garlic until aromatic.
• Pour in the Chicken Stock, Light Soy Sauce, Salt and Sugar.
• Allow it to boil for few minutes.
• Garnish with Spring Onions and serve it along with Hainanese Chicken Rice.

 

SERVING SUGGESTION:

     To plate it up - scoop out a bowl of Rice, serve it along with thinly sliced Chicken Pieces, Soup and Sauces.  Can serve it along with slices of fresh Cucumber and Tomatoes, if preferred.  Can serve hot or cold - both ways Hainanese Chicken Rice taste heavenly.